L.E.R.T. Chainsaw Training and Service Event Workday at Walcamp, Kingston, Illinois

Lutheran Church Charities held a L.E.R.T. chainsaw training and service event workday at Walcamp in Kingston, Illinois, on October 22-23, 2021. On Friday evening, the Basic LCMS Chainsaw class was co-led by LCC/LCMS Chainsaw Certified Instructors Marty Johnson and Pete Springmire.

On Saturday, thirty-seven basic and advanced chainsaw certified LCC staff and L.E.R.T. team members worked as chainsaw and heavy equipment operators and draggers to clear very overgrown paths of downed and dead trees, limbs and brush.
 
These walking paths will now connect the family campground area to the recreational fields on the other side of the creek. Bill Indelli, Walcamp Executive Director, expressed his sincere thanks for all of the work completed to restore access to camp areas for those that visit.

The fourteen first-time chainsaw operators received individual instruction and guidance from advanced team leaders as they began to safely practice felling, cutting trees and limbs, and serving with chainsaw team members.

These L.E.R.T. team volunteers came from the following Illinois and Wisconsin churches:
 
Illinois

• Christ the King, Rockford – William Davidson, Matthew Robert
• Good Shepherd, Frankfort – Joel Powless
• Immanuel, Bartlett – Brad Kuehn
• Immanuel, DeKalb – Pete and Christel Springmire
• Lord of Life, Elburn – Nicole Karabetsos, Jeff Straughn, Larry Zagorski
• Prince of Peace, Palatine – Jim Beckley
• Shepherd of the Hills, McHenry – Alan Holm
• St. Paul, Brookfield – Brandon Greco
• St. Paul, Rockford – Dean Ulrich
• St. John, Wheaton – Steve Chester, Palmer Goodwin, Byron Heidorn, Marty Johnson, Dave Mummah, Anna Piro, Rich Wren
• St. Peter, Schaumburg – Missy Dieckman, Sean Freres, Ken and Vicki Kiviranta, Barb Royce
• Trinity, Lisle – Mike Kostecki
• Trinity, Carol Stream – Jim Long

 
Wisconsin

• Brookfield, Brookfield – Laura Ciletti, Mark and Denise Cychosz, Curt Kollell, CJ Kraft
• St. Paul, Grafton – Mark and Beverly Brueggemann, Stu Natale

 
One of the participants from Wisconsin sent the following note of thanks after the training:

Just a word of thanks for another great chainsaw training session at Walcamp. I know that many of the new cutters were impressed with the training, the camp and especially the people. As always, everything was professionally done.
 
It was good to see all of you and the group again and especially to get to know the people from other Wisconsin teams. We look forward to serving with LCC again in the future!