17th of October, 2025
Last spring, Eastside Elementary School Principal Joe Smith attended one of Park County Search and Rescue’s (PCSAR) “Backcountry Readiness” classes and was inspired by the incredible work the organization does—and the wide range of skills their volunteers must master in their roles.
“While participating in the class, I couldn’t help but think of the students at Eastside,” said Smith. “It struck me what an incredible learning opportunity it would be for them to gain some of these same skills and resilience for life that are so well represented within PCSAR. After all, what organization better represents Wyoming than Park County Search and Rescue and the work they do? This kind of learning could eventually save their life in the backcountry, lead to an incredible career, or at the least encourage an active and healthy lifestyle.”
Following that class, Smith met with the day’s instructor and a PCSAR board member to share his idea for a “Youth Readiness Series” in partnership with Eastside’s 5th Grade team and students. The idea was met with enthusiasm, and within a week, representatives from PCSAR visited Eastside to begin planning. Over the summer, the 5th Grade Team collaborated closely with PCSAR instructor Gigi Budd to design the inaugural Youth Readiness Series, which launched on October 17th.
This new initiative will give students hands-on, real world learning experiences that build problem-solving, teamwork, communication, and practical outdoor readiness skills—all directly aligned with Wyoming State Learning Standards, and Governor Mark Gordon's RIDE initiative which aims to reimagine education in Wyoming.
“This is what we do, what we are good at. We in Park 6 Schools prepare scholars to chart their own course through learning experiences that equip them with the knowledge, skills, and resilience to discover their unique path to success,” said Smith. “At Eastside, we achieve this through high-quality teaching and learning each day, and by collaborating with community leaders and organizations to blend classroom standards with real-world applications. PCSAR is a perfect partner in this mission.”
Through this partnership, students will learn from real Search and Rescue volunteers about navigation, communication, emergency preparedness, teamwork, and the importance of community service—all while developing confidence and a deep appreciation for the Wyoming outdoors. Classroom teachers at Eastside will then connect the Wyoming State standards to these learning experiences through researching, presenting, producing podcasts, and writing informational text.
“The future of Wyoming is passing through our halls, and community partners like Park County Search and Rescue help us share the skills and resilience for life that go far beyond textbooks,” said Smith. "We are deeply grateful to Gigi Budd, Bill Brown, and the PCSAR Team for their time, expertise, and commitment to our students and community.”