Trainings & Deployments From: LCMS Disaster Response & Training

Lutheran Church Charities has been invited by the Atlantic District to provide LERT Basic & Intermediate Chainsaw training on August 7th-8th  in Albany, NY. This chainsaw training increases our dedicated LERT volunteers’ capabilities and gives them the capacity to extend mercy from the congregation to those who lack the means or skills to perform this dangerous work in their communities.

You must have previously completed the LERT Basic training class to participate in this class.

During the training, you will learn the following:

Safe operation of a chainsaw Personal protective equipment (PPE) Injury prevention Physics of cutting trees How to buck and limb fallen trees How to fell a tree How to clear debris in a safe and efficient manner

To be authorized as a LCMS LERT Chainsaw operator or dragger, volunteers must attend both the classroom and hands-on training/workday.

 Volunteers will need to bring the following if they have:

Chainsaw, bar oil, gas, extra chains and bar Chaps (sawyers only) and other Personal Protection Gear (hard hat, heavy work gloves, eye & ear protection, work boots)  Outdoor work clothes appropriate for the weather at that time. (It is always wise to dress in layers) Bug Spray Lawn chair

BASIC & INTERMEDIATE CHAINSAW TRAINING & WORKDAY SCHEDULE
 
Friday, August 7, Classroom   
5:00 – 5:30 pm  Check-in/Registration
5:30 – 9:30 pm  Basic Chainsaw Safety Training
 
Saturday, August 8, Hands-on Training & Workday
8:00 - 8:15 am    Check-in/Registration 
8:15 - 4:00 pm    Hands-on Chainsaw Training & Workday

Location: 

Our Savior Lutheran Church
63 Mountain View Ave.
Albany, NY 12205

**Attendees will travel to a site in Fuera Bush, NY, for Hands-on Training & Workday.

Cost: There is a $35.00 fee for those taking Chainsaw Training.

Our Savior Lutheran Church will provide dinner on Friday and lunch on Saturday.  

 

The LCMS Missouri District will provide a one-day Intermediate Chainsaw training on Saturday, November 7, 2026. It will be held at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis, Mo.

We encourage any LERT chainsaw volunteer who desires to take this class to participate in several chainsaw deployments before this class.

Our two instructors are able to train 10 students, and in addition, we can have LERT-trained pullers to help with clean-up.

The chainsaw training serves to increase our dedicated LERT volunteers’ capabilities to help those who haven’t the means or skills to perform this dangerous work following a disaster. We want to equip LERT members with the ability to safely and efficiently provide this service to homeowners impacted by disaster.

Participants must complete Basic LERT Training and Chainsaw Basic Training before participating in this class.  

During the training, you will learn the following:
   Safe tree-felling techniques
   Safe limbing techniques
   Binds and pressures on limbs
   Use of a pole saw
   Basic rope use

Participants should bring, if they have:

   Chainsaw, bar oil, gas-oil or synthetic fuel mix
   Chaps and other Personal Protective Equipment (helmet, eye protection, gloves, steel-toed boots)
   Participants must wear steel-toed work boots. Tennis shoes or sandals/flip-flops are not allowed.
   Outdoor work clothes and boots appropriate for the weather at the time. Shorts not allowed.
   Some chainsaws and PPE will be available for training if you do not have your own.

Training Costs: 
$50 ($75/couple)
Participants will receive snacks, drinks, and lunch. 

Payment may be made by cash or check (payable to "Immanuel Lutheran Church").

Send to: Immanuel Lutheran Church, 632 E. Hwy. N, Wentzville, Mo. 63385.

Please write: "LERT Intermediate Chainsaw Class" in the note section of the check.

Should you have any questions, please contact Kris Schuldt at 314-971-5747 or pitchatent@centurytel.net.

The classroom portion of this class will be held in one of the classrooms at Concordia Seminary in St. Louis. The field portion of this class will be held on the campus of Concordia Seminary.