New Lenox Search and Rescue

NEW LENOX SEARCH AND RESCUE / ANNUAL FIT TEST – April 14, 2026
At 6:30pm on Tuesday, April 14, 2026 sixteen members of New Lenox Search and Rescue met at Messenger Woods for the team’s Annual Fit Test. One member had an excused absence and will complete a make-up test on a date TBD.

Lisa Murphy had the lead on this training. Lisa and three other team members had made prior trips to Messenger Woods to design a course (fit test) that would closely resemble what we (ground searchers) do during a real activation. This test is the same course that was used for this fit test the last three years. It is a departure from the previous 3-mile course on a paved surface that our team had completed for many years. Instead, this course was designed to go through the woods on a dirt (muddy) trail, with many obstacles (tree roots, rocks, branches, etc.) to step over. The course, designed by Lisa and fellow team members, was approximately 2.6 miles and included changes in grade throughout the course.

Four team members who had previously completed the course went out to pre-designated locations to ensure that those taking the fit test stayed on course and were safe. Lisa provided a short briefing at 6:30pm and stayed at the start / finish line to ensure all finished within the allotted time. The course was challenging and MUCH different than the “standard” 3-mile course on a paved surface. There was some mud on the trail due to the recent storms. Everyone did a great job completing the course on time. Most importantly, team members found THIS course more reflective of what we actually do as searchers. Team members had their radios with them and random radio checks were made with everyone during the test. This ensured the safety of the walkers and it was a good test of our SAR radios.

Everyone finished within 5 minutes of each other and the average time was around 43 minutes. Following completion of the test a short de-briefing was held to discuss the course and ensure all were safe with no medical issues.

After the debrief, Joe Frigo spoke to the team to prep for the upcoming May NLSAR training which will include compass, navigation and map reading. He provided some key directions on these topics and answered questions from the team members.

Special thanks to Lisa, Joe and Rich who assisted her with designing the course and facilitating the test. Also, great job by Joe to help everyone understand navigation. Congratulations to everyone that completed the course!

MAY TRAINING: The next NLSAR training will take place 6:30 – 8:30pm on Tuesday, May 14th tentatively scheduled at Hickory Creek Preserve off of Route 30. The topic will be Navigation, Compass and Maps.

SEARCH AND RESCUE MANAGEMENT TRAINING – MARCH 9, 2026

At 6:30pm on Monday March 9, 2026 two members of NLSAR attended the monthly Search and Rescue Management (SARM) Training. This was once again hosted by Naperville EMA (Mark Hinch) that provides SARM participants the opportunity to collaborate on SAR scenarios and work through the various disciplines to begin the planning for a search.

For this month’s training, the scenario focused on a missing 3-year-old boy. He was last seen eating ice cream in his house. After the family searched for him on their property, they called neighbors to help then the police.

Initially there was an open discussion to strategize on the best plan forward. We covered Lost Person Behavior (LPB) profile, SARTopo Map and questions for the Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ). We also discussed the forms that would be needed for the initial briefing to all the searchers. The meeting concluded at 7:30pm.

In this scenario, the boy was found 2 miles north of the Point Last Seen (PLS) about 12 hours later. We were all very surprised that he could have gone that far in that timeframe.

Overall, this was a valuable training that allowed all of us to once again practice our SARM skills. Special thanks to Mark Hinch, Naperville EMA for leading this monthly training.

The next training will take place on Monday, April 13th 6:30 – 8:00pm.

NEW LENOX SAR ANNUAL MEETING – JANUARY 16, 2025
At 6:30pm on Tuesday, January 13, 2026 our team met for dinner in the Community Room at the New Lenox Village Hall. Prior to the dinner, the following handouts were provided: Meeting Agenda, 2025 Training Summaries, 2025 Activations Summaries and 2025 Team Member Participation Logs. Also, everyone on the team received a new NLSAR hi-vis long-sleeved shirt and zip-up hoodie.

At 7:00pm Dan Johnson, New Lenox SAR Program Coordinator, called the meeting to order and welcomed those in attendance.

At this time the “2025 Year in Review” commenced, to include the following:
• Training (576 hours) – discussion included summaries of each of the training events.
• Activations (221.5 hours) – discussion included summaries of each of the activations.
• Annual Meeting (47.5 hours) – total number of hours for the 20254 meeting was noted.

The 2025 total (volunteer hours) was 845 compared to 1,077.5 in 2024. The drop in hours is due to the retirement of Dan Martin and three other NLSAR members exiting the team in 2025. Another also announced her SAR retirement at the end of year celebration in December, so the total number of NLSAR team members now stands at 17.

Next, the Team Member Participation Log was discussed. Areas that are measured include:
• Attendance at Annual Meeting
• Training Hours
• Activation Hours
• Number of Activations
• Total Number of Volunteer Hours

Minimum Standards are spelled out in our team’s Operational Guidelines and each year at the Annual Meeting those standards are reviewed. The thresholds for some of the SAR metrics have been modified due to changes on the team and number of callouts we have been receiving. In short, our team did very well in 2025 and areas in need of improvement were discussed.

At this time the 2026 Training Schedule (attached) was outlined as follows. Please mark these dates down in your calendar, topics are subject to change.

• January 13, 2026 – Annual Meeting
• February 19, 2026 – CPR / AED Certification
• March 18, 2026 – Night Search
• April 14, 2026 – Fit Test / Team Building
• May 14, 2026 – Compass / Map Reading
• June 13, 2026 – Navigation / Compass / Flagging / BBQ
• July 14, 2026 – Search and Extraction
• August 12, 2026 – Gear Check and Hike
• September 16, 2026 – Navigation (GPS/CALTOPO)
• October 13, 2026 – Search Transport / Hike
• November 13-15, 2026 – ISARC Conference
• November 19, 2026 – Building Search / Evidence (SAR/CERT Combined Training)
• December 15, 2026 – End of Year Dinner

Following the discussion regarding New Lenox SAR 2026 Monthly trainings, the following were discussed as well:
• Multi-Agency Training - typically, the 2nd Saturday of the month
• 16-Hour GSAR Course
• 2025 ISARC Conference (Nov 13-15)
• NIMS Courses - IS-100.c; IS-200.c; IS-700.b; IS-800.c
• Fit Test
• NLSAR Volunteer Manual

The meeting concluded at approximately 8:15pm. Special thanks to everyone that attended and best of luck in 2026!

NEXT TRAINING: The February training will be at the NLFD 261 E. Maple Street (Rt 30 & Prairie St) for CPR/AED training.

On Saturday, November 8th four members of the New Lenox Search and Rescue Team met at the New Lenox Commons at 6:30am to carpool to the ISARC Summit in Urbana, Il. They arrived at 8:30am and met a fifth member of the NLSAR Team.

The Summit kicked off with a Keynote Address by Brian Brauner, Executive Director of Emergency Management at the University of Illinois. Brian discussed the emotional toll that responders face and how to manage those feelings in a healthy manner. He offered strategies and tactics to prevent the need to rescue yourself based on his 35-year career as a first responder. The next session included an ISARC Update, including topics around the ISARC organization, newly certified GSAR and BNAV instructors and what’s coming up in 2026. Since the Summit, the ISARC Conference in 2026 has been confirmed for Nov 13-15 at Little Galilee Christian Camp.

After a short break, the NLSAR Team attended the breakout session for Cornfield Search, led by Ralph Kuchenbrod, Program Manager for the University of Illinois/Illinois Fire Service Institute Wilderness Search and Rescue Program. Ralph discussed techniques that work and don’t work while searching in a cornfield. He cited previous searches and potential hazards and how to prepare for them.

After Lunch, the team attended their last session of the day Effective Litter Evacuation of an Injured Subject. This was also led by Ralph Kuchenbrod and the class went outside to practice on how to correctly package the subject so that they are comfortable and to prevent further injury during transport. He used various backboards, litter baskets and ropes to demonstrate the best techniques for transporting a subject.

The team left the Summit at 2:45 and arrived back at the NL Commons at 5:00pm. Thank you to our five team members that attended and to ISARC for hosting this very educational SAR event!

So proud to be a part of this NLSAR team!

On Saturday, September 27th ten members of the NLSAR Team participated in the first ever Illinois Search and Rescue Council (ISARC) Challenge in Oregon, Il. Nine NLSAR members met in Decatur, Il on Friday night at a hotel and strategized our gameplan over pizza and beverages.

We all arrived at 8:00am Saturday morning at Camp Emmaus in Oregon, Il., where we registered and got ready for the day. After the posting of colors at 8:30am, the forty-plus SAR members in attendance were given a briefing for the day’s events.

The ten members of NLSAR were split into two teams NLSAR1 and NLSAR2, based on experience and skillsets.

The sessions for the day included:

• Rope Throw Bag – Each team threw throw bags into the rings laid on the grass for points. Rings further away scored more points.
• SAR Pack Relay – Participants took clothing out of a backpack (hat, gloves, safety glasses) and ran about 50 yards and took it off and placed back into backpack, then another did the same, etc.
• Close Grid Search – Teams had 20 minutes to search for playing cards hidden in the woods.
• Flagging Straight Line – Participants needed to follow an azimuth and drop flags in a straight line into the woods.
• Compass Star – Teams started at a point in the field with a Letter on a card and followed an azimuth for 100 meters where another card was located, and so on for 5 cards.
• Gear Check – Various Search and Rescue items were called out and if you didn’t have it on your vest or backpack, you sat down until the last person was standing.

Our teams performed very well in all of these events. I’m happy to report that both of our teams placed in the top three, taking First and Third place! We won a nice trophy and some cool SAR items too!

The ISARC members did an outstanding job coordinating this event. They kept things moving throughout the day and the evaluators at each station were very courteous and supportive. The Salvation Army was there with breakfast, lunch and drinks. It was a hot day for late September and the refreshments were very much appreciated. Thank you to all who planned and supported this event!

Congratulations to our NLSAR team members on a very strong showing in this competition. You represented our SAR team very well and should be proud of your performance in this Challenge. GREAT JOB TEAM!