Training Seminar Details

Maine Search and Rescue Dogs Is Hosting a Training Seminar
(With IPWDA Testing Offered)

September 20, 21, 22, 2024
40 Acre Air Scent tests available Sept. 19
Topsham Fairgrounds
Fairgrounds Road
Topsham, ME 04086

Register now! 2024 Registration Form

CONTACTS:

IPWDA Master Trainer Deborah Palman
dpalman1@gmail.com
Cell: 207-944-1131
Maine K9 Services  |  Maine Search And Rescue Dogs

IPWDA Master Trainer Celeste Robitaille
robok99@aol.com
Cell: 203-650-8859

IPWDA SAR Instructor Spencer Fuller (Tentative)
scfuller@me.com
Cell: 207-838-9884
Maine Search And Rescue Dogs

IPWDA SAR Instructor Michele Fleury
mfleury110@gmail.com
Cell: 207-242-1245
Maine Search And Rescue Dogs

IPWDA SAR Instructor Kathryn Bamford
kbamford@prodigy.net
Cell: 585-704-0859
Massasauga Search and Rescue Team

IPWDA SAR Instructor Jennifer Anderson
tughollow@cox.net
Cell: 401-323-3646
Rhode Island Search and Rescue Team

SCHEDULE: IPWDA Annual Regional Workshop 2024

Friday, September 20

  • 0900-1000: Orientation (Exhibition Hall)
  • 1000-1200: Training & testing/Obedience testing and Prerequisites
  • 1200-1300: Lunch
  • 1300-1700: Training & testing

Saturday, September 21

  • 0800-0900: Daily Debriefing and Briefing (Exhibition Hall)
  • 0900-1200: Training & testing
  • 1200-1300: Lunch
  • 1300-1700: Training & testing
  • 1700-1745: Raffle

Sunday, September 22

  • 0800-0900: Daily Debriefing and Briefing (Exhibition Hall)
  • 0900-1200: Training and completing testing as needed
  • 1200-1300: Lunch
  • 1300-1600: Training

 

FEES:

  • $370 Dog Handler and one dog
  • $80 each additional dog – 3 dogs maximum with preapproval from Deb Palman
  • $170 Auditing
  • $75 fee for Wilderness testing on September 19th
  • Testing offered: SAR Wilderness 40-acre, Land HRD, HRD Crime Scene, possibly the 20-acre large area HRD, Trailing and Article Search. Water HRD available on Sept. 22, possibly the 21st also. Because of time constraints, we may not be able to offer re-testing. If you have scheduling restrictions, please contact Deb Palman.
  • Current membership in IPWDA is needed for testing (but not for training only).
  • Please review the IPWDA testing standards because there are many prerequisites for testing.

 

Lodging in the area that will take dogs (please double check as these have not been checked for 2024):

  • Fairfield Inn & Suites, 36 Old Portland Road, Brunswick, ME 04411, Tel. 207-721-0300
  • Rodeway Inn and Suites, 287 Bath Road, Brunswick, ME 04411 Tel. 207-729-6661
  • Comfort Inn, 199 Pleasant ST., Brunswick, Me 04411, Tel. 207-729-1129
  • Days Inn, Brunswick Bath Area, 224 Bath Road, Brunswick, ME 04011, Tel. 207-725-8883
  • Residence Inn by Marriott, 139 Richardson St., Bath, ME 04530, Tel. (207) 443-9741
  • Hotel 44 North, 500 US-1, Freeport, ME 04032, Tel. (207) 865-9300
  • Econo Lodge Brunswick Freeport, 537 US-1, Freeport, ME 04032, Tel. (207) 865-3777
  • Maine Idyll Motor Court, 1411 US Route 1, Freeport, ME 04032, Tel. 207-865-4201
  • Thomas Point Beach Campground, Off Route 24, Cook’s Corner, Brunswick, ME 04011, Tel. 207-725-6009, Toll Free: 877-TPB-4321
    Sorry, but many motels near Bath are full, possibly due to Bath Iron Works housing workers in motels.
 

CAMPING AT THE FAIRGROUNDS:

$25 a night with full hookup. Tent or RV welcomed. Showers will be available. Some sites are in the fairground’s half near the grandstand and restrooms, others are on the side by the horse ring where it will be quieter.

Tentative Schedule: Thursday 8 am to 5 pm (Wilderness only) Friday 9 am to 5 pm, Saturday 8 am to 5 pm, Sunday 8 am to 5 pm. Venues for training will be provided for teams that are waiting for testing, but instructors may not be available until testing is over. In some cases, handlers may be able to observe testing for training purposes. We will meet at the Exhibition Hall each morning at the Topsham Fair Grounds. Boat training and testing will probably be available off site at a small pond. Shoreline is available in a small stream at the fairgrounds and off site. Boat work would be conducted primarily on Sunday or possibly also Saturday.

Testing for 40 acre Wilderness Air Scent teams will take place off site on Thursday, 9/19. Please meet at the Fairgrounds at 8:00 am for obedience testing and other prerequisites. A $75.00 fee is needed for this testing. We may be able to offer a discount for those registering for Thursday and the weekend, depending on how many register to test. 40-acre tests may have to be limited depending on how many sign up.