Saturn Electric supports Camp Paradise, a ministry of Willow Creek Community Church (WCCC), in South Barrington, Illinois. Camp Paradise, has for over 30 years, provided a summer camp experience for dads and their kids on 1000 acres of woods in the Upper Peninsula of Michigan. Each summer 1200 campers spend 5 days at camp, one on one with their dad. Activities include a high ropes course, climbing tower, water sports and more.

Our first project involved the installation of a 100 foot communications tower. The tower serves to facilitate communications both at camp and with the main church in South Barrington. We were fortunate to receive the donation of an 80 foot tower from one our customers.  We donated an additional 20 foot section for added height, then painted and assembled the five sections at our warehouse. Next, we loaded the sections onto a trailer and traveled 460 miles to the camp.  With the assistance of several volunteers, we assembled the sections and set the tower onto the prepared concrete base using a crane. To complete the project, we installed a grounding ring and several underground conduits for future cabling between the barn and tower.   

Having proved ourselves with the tower project, we earned the privilege to lead a second volunteer effort. The next project was to complete the first phase of a two year building project that would generate and distribute electricity to augment solar electric panels at staff support buildings. The project also involved outfitting a 4800 square foot barn with lighting, receptacles and power for equipment. One of the underground distribution lines was a quarter mile in length.

Our involvement began by "owning the project" as camp director Tim Vanden Bos, would describe it. We truly did own it. Several months prior to the start of the project, we began with a series of meetings to discuss the camp requirements and develop a design. Upon completion of the final design, a schedule of manpower, tools, equipment and materials were produced to execute the project in the timeframe specified. Several trailers loaded with donated materials, tools and equipment made the journey to camp. Saturn Electric sent two electricians, Noe and Gerry in addition to myself, as project manager, for a six day work week. We were assisted at various times during the workweek by other volunteers including seven electricians, and a dozen semi-skilled and skilled tradesmen. We worked, ate, roomed and fellowshipped alongside each other, united by a common goal and spirit.

This was truly a Win, Win, Win Project:

• The camp, staff and campers will benefit for many years to come, through the efforts of the volunteer’s and donated materials
• Noe and Gerry, benefited by participating in a community volunteer effort; working along side tradesmen from other companies and witnessing the work practices of a biblical community
• I received the gratification of applying some of the resources and gifts entrusted to me, for the betterment of those around me

George Schembari, Owner,
Saturn Electrical Services.