Alton PRIDE Volunteers recently related an interesting, and important, volunteer experience to PRIDE Staff, and Jan and I decided it would be a wonderful experience to share! From Ginger of Alton PRIDE:

The state of Kansas hosted a national certification event for search and rescue dogs on April 24th at a place named Crisis City.  This is an area right outside of Salina that simulates various disaster zones. They have large rubble piles that are similar to what happens when buildings are collapsed from hurricanes or tornados, they have a plane crash and a train wreck. Volunteers are needed to be placed into the rubble down in non-visible areas in order to allow the dogs and the handlers of the dogs to be tested.  Cindy and I were placed in such areas and had to stay still and quiet for about three to four hours. Staying still and quite is something that is difficult for both Cindy and myself. So for us were helping the rescue teams get certified as well as developing a much needed skill for ourselves.  As a team the handler and the dog have to identify a five foot area where a human is alive and is located under the debris to pass the test.  Once a dog and a handler pass certification they are available to be deployed to disaster areas anywhere in the United States and will save countless lives.  We have our very own team here in Kansas that can be called upon at any time and is 100 % free and is 100% volunteer. Our Kansas team has search and rescue dogs as well as tracking dogs that can help if and when there is a missing person. Lastly they do have cadaver dogs that can find human remains.   This is a wonderful asset to have available to our community. Cindy and myself were very proud to be a small part of this life saving program.  - Ginger Howell, Alton PRIDE

The online workshop is designed to be presented to participants in two 3-hour courses and will cost $60. Local Extension agents are the hosts for the workshops, but since workshops are online, you can attend any workshop in the state. There are two ways to participate: go to our website (https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/community/) and under "Events" on the right side you can register at a scheduled workshop or ask your local extension agent to host. 

For more information, contact Nancy Daniels nkdaniels@ksu.edu

K-State Research and Extension offers entrepreneurship webinars every first Friday of the month, and there have already been some great sessions this year.  If you missed them, they’ve been recorded and are available to view at your convenience along with the slides and some notes.  Visit: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/community/business/entrepreneurship/ for all past sessions. Registration information for upcoming sessions can be found here: https://www.ksre.k-state.edu/community/events/.