Members of the Boys Ranch Volunteer Fire Department attended the Unofficial State Rescue Rappelling Championships at Garner State Park in October. This year’s team included two Boys Ranch residents and several staff members. The team members trained extensively in preparation for the competition.

This year’s Championships provided a unique opportunity for the volunteer members to observe competition rescue scenarios set up by Utopia Fire and Rescue.

Learning new techniques in rescue and safety is just one of many benefits. While at the park, the members of the team performed many of the new maneuvers they learned. They were also exposed to extreme high angle rappels, cave access and ascent.

In 2003, members of Boys Ranch’s team were invited to compete as part of the Fort Worth ROPES team, which placed third in the competition.