MN NAPWDA Search and Rescue Certification Workshop

October 5th – 9th, 2025

Each year, CLSAR hosts the MN NAPWDA Search and Rescue Certification Workshop.  This 4 day event is held at Camp Ripley, a 55,000 acre Military Reservation which allows multiple training venues, and free lodging.  The only workshop of its kind in Minnesota, we have K-9 handlers from across the Upper Midwest (and beyond!) attending each year.

The MN NAPWDA SAR Certification Workshop offers three different K-9 Search and Rescue disciplines:  Area Search, Tracking, and Human Remains Detection. Training is provided by NAPWDA Trainers.   

Class sizes are limited & will be filled as registration and payment is received.

If you are interested in learning more about NAPWDA:
www.NAPWDA.com

Schedule

  • Monday 0800: Safety Briefing
  • Monday 0830: Instructor Introductions
  • Monday 0900: Field Work
  • Tuesday 0800: Field Work
  • Wednesday 0800: Field Work
  • Thursday 1000: Checkout

Classes

Area Search

The NAPWDA (North American Police Work Dog Association) Area Search Certification is a rigorous and specialized program designed to train and certify law enforcement K9 teams in the skill of area search, which involves locating and apprehending suspects or locating missing persons in outdoor environments. This certification emphasizes the development of a dog’s ability to search a defined area for human scent, even in challenging terrain such as forests, fields, and urban settings. The certification process requires K9 teams to demonstrate a high level of proficiency in tracking, scent detection, and handler-dog communication. Teams must successfully complete a series of realistic, time-sensitive scenarios to prove their ability to work effectively under pressure. The NAPWDA Area Search Certification is recognized as a standard for excellence in the field of K9 law enforcement, ensuring that certified teams are fully prepared for complex search and rescue operations.

Register

Rick Ashabranner

Napwda Master Trainer Rick Ashabranner has over 45 years of continuous K9, and Law enforcement operational, and training experience with an extensive background in Law Enforcement and Military K9/handler training and instruction. With a strong focus on K9 training and expertise in explosive and narcotic detection. He has worked on multiple DOS and DOD contacts working alongside with our allies overseas to combat terrorism. He has been a guest speaker at HITS, K9 Police and K9 Cop conferences. He is a lifetime member of Napwda and has been an accredited Master Trainer in Patrol, Explosives, Narcotics, Wildlife, and SAR for 30 years, where he has certified 2000+ K9 teams to the high standards of NAPWDA

Tracking/Trailing

The NAPWDA (North American Police Work Dog Association) Tracking/Trailing Certification is a comprehensive program designed to train and certify law enforcement K9 teams in the specialized skill of tracking and trailing human scent over a variety of terrains. This certification focuses on the K9’s ability to follow a suspect’s or missing person’s scent trail, often over long distances and through challenging environments such as woods, urban areas, or open fields. Teams must demonstrate their dog’s proficiency in scent discrimination, endurance, and ability to stay focused on the trail, while handlers must show mastery in managing their K9s during high-stress scenarios. Successful certification requires K9 teams to pass rigorous testing that includes tracking over different timeframes, varying weather conditions, and complex scent situations. NAPWDA’s Tracking/Trailing Certification ensures that these teams are highly skilled in locating fleeing suspects or missing persons, making them essential assets in law enforcement and search-and-rescue operations.

Register for Waitlist

Roy Lopez

Roy Lopez is a combat veteran and former U.S. Navy SEAL who served in Operations Desert Shield and Desert Storm. After joining the U.S. Border Patrol in 1997, he became a founding member of the Border Patrol’s Search, Trauma and Rescue Team (BORSTAR) and its K9 Program. As the first certified trailing canine handler, he recorded nearly 2,000 finds and helped develop the CBP canine trailing course, leading to the apprehension of thousands of criminals. Roy expanded the use of canines to detect human remains in land and water, contributing to the creation of the Federal Government’s Human Remains Detection Course. He is a Master Trainer with the North American Police Work Dog Association (NAPWDA) and has trained law enforcement teams nationwide. After retiring in 2019, Roy founded Core Canine Concepts, LLC, where he continues to share his expertise with K9 teams globally. He resides in Prescott, AZ with his wife of 27 years.