Tall Oaks Board of Directors

Rev. Dr. Lara Blackwood Pickrel is an ordained minister in the CC (DOC) and has served congregations in the Greater Kansas City Region since 2009. She is passionate about outdoor education and ministry with young people. Tall Oaks is her favorite holy ground, and she is delighted to serve the communities who call it home.

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Rev. Lisa Engelken has been called to invite all to find their Sacred Spaces. The best place to start is "The First Body of Christ-Nature itself" (Richard Rohr). Lisa is serving as the treasurer who is responsible for managing Tall Oaks financial operations, budgeting, and financial reporting.

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Anna Godsey attended Tall Oaks as a camper starting in 2007 and has been a counselor, director, and chaplain at Tall Oaks camps since 2014. Anna graduated with a Master's Degree in Human Development with an emphasis on non-profit management in 2021. Tall Oaks has been Anna's home since the minute she arrived for her very first camp.

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Rev. Kevin is a lifelong resident of the Kansas City area and has served churches in the Greater Kansas City Region of the Christian Church (Disciples of Christ) for nearly 30 years. He has served as a counselor at Tall Oaks for over a decade and as an adult sponsor for the Regional Youth Cabinet. In addition to the Tall Oaks Board, Kevin serves on the Camp and Conference Committee and is the Chair of Ministry for Young Disciples in the Region.

Amy Traylor Oleszczak has been a camper, counselor, camp director, and Regional Youth Cabinet adult. She was also a Tall Oaks staff member for close to ten years, including roles as summer staff and as the Camp and Conference Coordinator. The Tall Oaks community has played a big role in her life. Amy is now leading the Volunteer Council, planning multiple events to bring more community out to camp to build connections, work hard, and have fun!

Leslie is a retired teacher and school administrator turned builder and all-around handywoman. While she is relatively new to Tall Oaks, her handiwork has been present for over a decade in the form of the communion table and lectern found in the Lifelong Learning Center.

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Keith is a graduate of Culver-Stockton  College in Canton, MO, where he earned a B.S. in Business Administration. With over 15 years of experience in the mutual fund and output industries, Keith recently shifted his career focus to elementary education. Keith holds fond memories of when he attended camps at Tall Oaks as a youth. He resides in Belton, Mo, with his two large dogs, Patra and Sosisi.

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Bio coming soon.

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