SCRG has been a vital part of the Summit County community and saving lives in the backcountry for close to 50 years. We are one of the busiest teams in the state, and we are fundraising for a badly-needed new headquarters building. Our current facility is a dilapidated metal garage built in the 1960s that does not fit all of our equipment and has no space for us to train in. Donate today or schedule a donation for Colorado Gives Day and help us build our new facility!
In 2021, Colorado Representative Joe Neguse said, “Building a facility to safely store vehicles and centralize emergency response training is absolutely essential, as Summit County sees a rising number of search and rescue calls due to high tourist traffic and a robust outdoor recreation economy."
Summit County Rescue Group is a 100% all-volunteer organization, located in one of the busiest outdoor recreation areas in the country. Members freely give their time and resources to selflessly help others, train to the highest standards, manage administrative matters and even fundraise for the group.
Today SCRG has about 70 volunteer members that respond to 911 emergency rescue calls 365 days a year. In 2020 we had a record number of calls at 185, and in 2021, we exceeded that record at 217 calls.
Summit County Rescue Group (SCRG) truly saves lives in Summit County, at no cost, since 1972. The group has responded to over 4,500 missions. Whether a lost hiker, avalanche victim or injured backcountry skier, mountain search and rescue teams like SCRG are accustomed to dealing with people having the worst moment of their lives. Trauma, suffering and death are only a part of the story; the men and women of SCRG also contend with and help ease the grief of the family members and friends of those they help.
SCRG also plays an important role in supporting the local and state economies, which are heavily dependent on tourism and outdoor recreation. According to the Colorado Tourism Office, outdoor recreation spending in the state is in the billions, and we are the safety net for that industry in Summit County. The people that SCRG rescues and assists are from all walks of life, from all over the state, the country and beyond.
SCRG also engages in preventative search and rescue (PSAR) programs by participating in community safety events such as Safe Summer Kick-off, Frisco Historical Society lunchtime lectures, Copper Mountain Safety Fest, Silverthorne Winter Carnival, and other local events. We visit elementary schools to teach the Hug a Tree program, help the local snowmobile club with their avalanche rescue skills, visit high school emergency medical skills classes and events, and teach local community members about the importance of being prepared in the backcountry. We have hosted the premier avalanche rescue seminar for rescue teams across the state for 45 years. We also use our social media channels to educate the public about backcountry safety on an almost daily basis.
The planned new facility will offer enough space to house all equipment and vehicles in one central, climate-controlled location with drive-through bays to improve response times and mission readiness. It will include a training classroom we can use for public education events as well as our own training, and the necessary office space to conduct the business of the team, including running rescue missions from a dedicated command room. The building plan envisions a dedicated indoor training wall to enable us to practice the important and difficult technical skills required to safely perform challenging backcountry rescues. The facility will also house the Summit County Water Rescue Team, the only high-altitude dive rescue team in the state, and their equipment, along with the Summit County Sheriff’s Office Special Operations equipment, which is used for both mountain rescue and dive rescue missions.
To help ensure the continued safety of visitors and residents, and the economic vitality of backcountry recreation, please join us in giving back to the community.
Organization name
Summit County Rescue Group
1973
Tax id (EIN)
84-0722874
Category
Public Safety, Disaster Preparedness & Relief
Organization Size
Medium Organization
Address
0225 County Shops RoadMailing
PO Box 1794Summit County, CO, US