TCSAR History

Watch: What Advice do Original TCSAR Volunteers have for Current and Future Members?

Original TCSAR members Alan Merrell, Keith Benefiel, and Diane Benefiel offer some lessons they learned while being on the team. Help support TCSAR volunteers by donating to OldBills.org until Friday, September 15, 2023.

Donations to TCSAR Foundation during Old Bill’s helps volunteers receive advanced rescue training, stay fed, and promotes physical and emotional well being.

Video by Orijin Media.

Watch: The Newspaper Ad from 1993 that Started it All

Do you like the OUTDOORS? Have you ever wanted to SAVE LIVES? Would you like to SERVE YOUR COMMUNITY?

And so read the little square ad placed on page B6 of the Jackson Hole Guide on February 3, 1993, launching the effort to build Teton County's first organized volunteer Search & Rescue team.

More than 100 people applied after seeing that ad, which led to the original 30 volunteers for Teton County Search & Rescue. Of those original 30, three members continue to serve: Mike Estes, Mike Moyer, and Tim Ciocarlan. We are all indebted to their incredible service.

"From my earliest years on the team and up through the present, what I treasure most about the team is the honor and privilege of doing hard things with good people; deploying into tough rescue settings to help people on their worst days alongside some of the very finest people I have ever worked with." — Mike Moyer, SR #10

Help us support this proud legacy by donating to TCSAR Foundation during Old Bill’s, the most important fundraiser of the year for TCSAR volunteers.

Watch: Times may have Changed, the Mission Remains the Same

Teton County Search & Rescue began in 1993 with an original class of 30 volunteers. In this video, we look back on an important moment that helped shape the strength and unity of the team, and how the original values of commitment and service became bedrock components that continue to this day.

Please help us maintain this proud legacy by donating to TCSAR Foundation during Old Bill's. Learn more about the team’s 30th anniversary and why the team today needs your help by clicking the button below.

Thank you for being on our team.

Video produced by Orijin Media.