Join TERT
Volunteer with the Timpanogos Emergency Response Team
To join TERT, you must:
- Be at least 18 years old
- Pass the Sheriff's Office background checkUtah County Sheriff's Office checks are done annually for all members.
- Hold current CPR & Basic First AidOr a higher license (EMT, WFR, Paramedic, RN, MD) by the start of the season.
- Attend both spring training daysMarch 6 in Provo and May 15 at Aspen Grove (first season).
Learn about spring training → - Complete online station trainingOnce you're accepted, you'll get access to the team portal. Complete each station's course before you sign up for shifts there.
- Serve your first-season shifts1 full weekend + 1 single day, or 3 single days.
- Priority Amateur (ham) radio license
- Priority Advanced medical: WFR, EMT, Paramedic, or higher
Here's what a weekend on the mountain looks like at each duty station.
Tap or click a station to see its weekend.
High Camp
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FridayAfternoon
Meet at Aspen Grove & hike in
Meet the team at the TERT shack just north of the Aspen Grove parking lot, then hike about 5 miles with all your weekend gear, gaining roughly 3,200 feet of elevation, to the Hidden Lakes area and set up camp. It's a strenuous hike.
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FridayOvernight
Ready around the clock
Many hikers climb overnight to watch the sunrise. If someone needs help, the team is positioned to respond quickly.
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SaturdayAll day
Emerald Lake & the summit
The team bases at the Emerald Lake shelter to help hikers who need it. Members may hike to the summit, talking with hikers and sharing safety information.
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SaturdayOvernight
Second night on the mountain
Another night at camp, on call for anyone who needs help.
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SundayMorning
Pack up & hike out
Break camp and hike down. The shift ends Sunday by noon.*
No backpacking experience required, but this is a strenuous hike with a full pack. You'll need the right gear and conditioning for any weather, from thunderstorms to snow.
High Camp packing list → More about High Camp →
Trail Heads
TERT staffs the trailhead shacks at both Aspen Grove and Timpooneke. Trail Head members are the communication hub, relaying information between High Camp, Stewart Falls, the other trailhead, and the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
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FridayAbout 4:30 PM
Open the trailhead shack
Arrive, set up, and check in with dispatch. Members camp at the nearby campgrounds, and family members are welcome to camp with you.
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SaturdayAll day
Keep everyone connected
Greet hikers and share trail conditions, weather, distances, and Leave No Trace information. Relay radio traffic between High Camp and other locations when necessary, perform regular check-ins with dispatch, occasionally help hikers who may need assistance when they are closer to the trailhead than to High Camp.
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SundayUntil mid-afternoon*
Wrap up
Staff the trailhead through Sunday when the High Camp team comes down.
Stewart Falls
A great fit if you can't do overnights. The Stewart Falls team spends the day at this popular waterfall as a visible safety presence, providing first aid and directions to hikers. It's about 3.5 miles round trip with 650 feet of elevation gain, carrying team gear.
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Saturday8 AM
Gear up & hike in
Meet at the TERT shack north of the Aspen Grove parking lot and pick up the team gear: medical kit, chairs, sun shade, radio, and water filter. Then hike to the falls.
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Saturday9 AM – approximately 5 PM
On duty at the falls
Treat hikers who need first aid and give directions, including to hikers arriving from Sundance. The team stays in radio contact with the Aspen Grove Trailhead and High Camp team leader.
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SaturdayAbout 5 PM*
Hike out & head home
Hike back down and return the team gear to the shack.
* End times are approximate. If the team is helping with an incident, your shift may run later until it's resolved or handed off to Search and Rescue.
From application to your first shift.
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By January 2
Apply
Submit your application. You'll get an acknowledgment when we receive it.
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Early January
Video interview
Selected applicants meet with a panel of team leaders.
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End of January
Selection & vetting
You'll be notified of your status. New members are then vetted by the Utah County Sheriff's Office.
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March 6 & May 15
Spring training
New members attend both: indoor training in Provo (8 AM–12 PM) and hands-on outdoor training at Aspen Grove (8 AM–about 1 PM).
Learn about spring training → -
After you're accepted
Online station training New
Once you're accepted, you'll get access to the TERT team portal and online training. Each duty station has its own course. Complete it before you can sign up for shifts at that station.
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Memorial Day – mid-September
Sign up & serve
Complete 1 full weekend + 1 single day, or 3 single days, during your first season.
Every spot on the team counts
- We have a limited number of spots each season, set by what the Sheriff's Office can fund for volunteer liability insurance.
- Once you commit, that spot is yours for the season. Your insurance is paid up front for you and only you, so if you drop out or can't make it, we cannot replace you.
Please apply if you can truly commit this season. If school, a move, or a new job might get in the way, we'd love to see your application next year.
TERT is an all-volunteer team. Here's what the team provides and what you'll need to cover yourself.
The team provides
- Liability insurancePaid by the Utah County Sheriff's Office for each committed member.
- Medical packsStocked packs at both trailheads, Stewart Falls, and High Camp.
- Public safety radiosFurnished by the Sheriff's Office for team communication.
- Parking permitsIssued by your team leader for your assigned shifts.
- TrainingSpring training days and online station courses.
You provide
- A TERT shirtYou'll need at least one to wear on duty. Shirts are ordered before the season.
- CPR & First Aid certificationPlus any higher-level medical training or license renewals.
- Clothing & personal gearLayers, a warm jacket, and rain gear for mountain weather.
- Backpacking gear (High Camp)Pack, sleeping bag and pad, and everything else on the packing list.
- Ham radio equipmentIf you're a licensed operator, your own handheld radio.
- Gas & foodTravel to and from your station, and your own meals.
How much time does TERT take?
In your first season:
- Two spring training days (March and May)
- Online training for each station you'll serve at
- Either 1 full weekend plus 1 single day, or 3 single days, between Memorial Day and mid-September
Do I need medical experience? Priority
You need current CPR and Basic First Aid certification by the start of the season, or a higher-level license (EMT, WFR, Paramedic, RN, MD). Advanced medical providers are a big help to the team and are given priority.
Do I need a ham radio license? Priority
It's not required, but communication in the field is critical, so applicants with an amateur radio license are given preference.
I can't do overnights. Can I still join?
Yes. Three single-day assignments (Saturdays and holidays) meet the first-season requirement. Stewart Falls is a single-day station.
Do I need backpacking experience for High Camp?
No, but a High Camp shift is like a two-night backpacking trip, starting with a strenuous hike of about 5 miles and 3,200 feet of elevation gain. You'll need the right gear and conditioning for any weather, from thunderstorms to freezing temperatures to snow. See the High Camp packing list.
Can I choose where and when I serve?
Yes. Once you're accepted, you'll get access to the team portal, where members sign up for their own shifts. You'll need to complete a station's online training before you can sign up for shifts there.
What if my plans change after I commit?
Your liability insurance is paid when you commit, and spots are limited, so we cannot replace you once that insurance has been paid for. Before you commit, think about what's coming up: school, exams, a move, a new job, a wedding. If something might get in the way, it's completely okay to wait a season.
Does it cost anything to volunteer?
The Sheriff's Office covers your liability insurance, and the team provides medical packs, radios, and training. You'll pay for your own TERT shirt, CPR and First Aid certification, gear and clothing, and travel and food. See Costs & Equipment for the full list.
Is there an age requirement?
Yes, you must be at least 18.
When will I hear back about my application?
You'll get an acknowledgment when we receive your application. Selected applicants are contacted for video interviews in early January, and final decisions go out by the end of January.