2018 Staff Spotlight - Asher Borstein

Its the Big Ten for Asher Borstein. The Chicago area native graduated from Francis Parker High School where he played softball and chess. He is now finishing up his freshman year at Northwestern University.

At NU he's studying math and economics. He's involved with Greek life and plays intramural. At camp you'll find Asher on the tennis course, teaching disc golf as well as chess. We're excited to have Asher back!

More about Asher

What is your favorite camp meal?
- Waffles, easily. Favorite dessert is churros.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?

- I would be a bird, flying would be sweet

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- The office and breaking bad. West world is pretty amazing as well.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:

- Council ring

What is your dream Job:

- General manager of a baseball team

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:

- I would have dinner with LeBron James, Jeff Bezos, and Barack Obama

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:

- Best Hannukkah gift was when my Dad gave me his baseball card collection

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:

- Math and economics (my majors!)

What are your top three movies of all time:

- Usual Suspects, Get Out, Slumdog Millionaire

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- I have yet to go to the nook and not get Butterfinger

What sports teams do you root for:
- I root for all Cleveland Sports: Cavaliers, Indians, etc.  (I attempt to root for the browns but this is difficult)


Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- I was a top 50 high school chess player in the state of Illinois a couple years ago!

2018 Staff Spotlight - Harry Williams

1st year counselor Harry Williams joins us from Chester in the UK. He's a student at the University of Manchester where he is studying Mechanical Engineering. Growing up Harry was involved with scouts and would go on 2-3 camping trips per year.

Guitar and soccer (or futbol) are two of Harry's big interests. He's been playing guitar for six years and has taught kids. He's been playing soccer much of his life and reads up quite a bit on coaching and strategy, looking into analytics and other areas of the sport.

More about Harry

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- I always wanted to work on an American summer camp and in the UK you can sign up to an agency who will put you in contact with camps. Then North Star got in touch with me, the camp looked amazing so I said yes!

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- I would be a cheetah because who wouldn't want to be the world fastest mammal?

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- A British kids show called Tracy Beaker which I used to love watching but I didn't tell anyone!

What is your dream Job:
- When I graduate I hope to become an Engineer in a field that makes a difference to people's lives, that could be coming up with solutions to climate change or working on prosthetic limbs.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- I would have dinner with Stephen Hawking because he was a great man with an incredible mind, I would love to learn from him. Malcolm X, I read his autobiography and was amazed by what he achieved in life by overcoming awful circumstances. I could learn a lot from his life experience. Finally, Jurgen Klopp! He is the manager of my favourite football (soccer) team, Liverpool FC, it would be so cool to talk to him about what goes on at the club and to talk to him about his life.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present that you've ever gotten:
- I had asked for a bike but wasn't expecting to get one. I was so happy when I did!

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Maths and Physics were my favourites, the teachers I had for both were great and they gave me an important foundation for my Engineering studies.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Forrest Gump, It's a Wonderful Life & Superbad

What sports teams do you root for:
- Liverpool FC (Soccer), England (Cricket, Rugby, Soccer).

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
- I fed my neighbour's cats for a few years. They had a very luxurious menu laid out by their owners, being one of those cats wouldn't be a bad gig!

What did you do last summer?
- I went camping in Portugal with my mates from uni and after that I went to Sorrento in the Amalfi Coast, Italy with my family. Both were amazing, the Amalfi coast is beautiful.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Andrew Cohen

Andrew Cohen is back for his seventh summer at North Star and his second year on staff. The native of Deerfield, IL is just finishing up his junior year at Deerfield High School. There he's involved with student council, which he's been on since his freshman year.

This year he's been managing the JV volleyball team. Earlier in the winter, he traveled to New York City with other high schoolers as part of a youth group trip.

More about Andrew

What is your favorite camp meal?
- My favorite meal at camp has to be cinnamon rolls.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- If I could be any animal I’d be a dog. They always make people happy and they don’t have to worry about very much.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- I still love watching Phineas and Ferb whenever it comes on the TV.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- My favorite spot at camp is definitely the Council Ring. It’s always so peaceful there and the sunsets are incredible. I have countless memories from the Council Ring from my years as a camper and a counselor.

What is your dream Job:
- I’d want to be a pilot so I could travel the world.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- First on this list has to be Kyrie Irving because I’m a huge Celtics fan. Chance the Rapper would also be there because I love his music and he seems like a really nice guy. Finally, I’d have Jimmy John so I could thank him for making such delicious sandwiches.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- When I was five years old my parents got me and my sister a Wii and that’s been by far the best gift I’ve received.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- My favorite subjects are anything related to math or science.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- In no particular order my top three movies are Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone, Star Wars Return of the Jedi and the Avengers.

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- My favorite is the apple pie

What sports teams do you root for:
- I’m a huge Celtics fan and I also love watching the Cubs play.

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- Not a lot of people know that I play guitar

2018 Staff Spotlight - Elliot Robinson

Elliot Robinson joins us for his first summer. He's currently a second year bio engineering student in Sheffield in the UK. He grew up in the town of Barnsley and was on a swim team as a kid and also served as a volunteer coach while in grades 9-12.

Upon going to university, Elliot got into archery. He joined the university archery team and is currently the club's safety officer. He has his Golden Duke of Edinburgh award and took an expedition to Ecuador. He's also taken up competitive lifesaving so he'll be a valuable member of our waterfront as well as archery staff.


More about Elliot

 How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
 - I learned about North Star through Camp Leaders and applied through Camp Leaders as well.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
 - I would be a dog (probably a German Shepherd), so I could give people reassurance and protect them, as well as, being really adorable and playful.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- I will watch almost any sit-com just to relax, my favourites are; How I Met Your Mother, Brooklyn 99, Friends, Big Bang Theory and Scrubs.

What is your dream Job:
- CEO of a Biotechnology and future technologies company.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
 - Stephen Hawking - so I could attempt to learn a fraction about his life’s work
Chris Hemsworth - so I could see for myself if the rumours were true about him being a really standup guy, and talented in just about anything he does. I would also see if I could get a copy of his gym workout, for his role as Thor.
Sargent Steel(my great grandfather) - so I could ask him first hand what it was like in the war and show him how far we’ve come since then.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present that you've ever gotten:
- My car, for my eighteenth birthday, a white Ford Fiesta, which has since helped me go on many adventures.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Although I was good at the sciences and maths, my favourite subject was art as it was a lot more chilled out than the other subjects and I could listen to music and chat with my friends and class it as working, as long as, I had pencil to paper.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Infinity War, Deadpool & Bugs Life

What sports teams do you root for:
- I root for my university sports teams, as I feel a lot closer connection to them, than any town or city team.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
- I was a preschool worker at sixth form, before and after college.
I am currently a STEM ambassador, promoting science and engineering to the next generation.

What did you do last summer?
- I went on a family trip to America, we went to Yellowstone national park and saw so much wildlife, as well as, Old Faithful.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Rudy Rizo

Rodolfo "Rudy" Rizo returns for his 3rd summer. The native of Oaxaca, Mexico has been working in our kitchen and will be working along side our kitchen manager helping keep things ortanized.

Since he returned to Mexico after last summer, he began with his teaching practice in different schools ,this takes almost all the time he has. In December he made a trip with Sandy (also a returning North Star kitchen staff member) in their motorcycle to the beach. We're excited to see Rudy soon!

More about Rudy

What is my favorite camp meal?!
-  Breakfast  pizza

If you could be any animal what would you be and why ?
- An eagle, because of the capacity they have to see their prey from a long distance and the great ability they have to fly long distances.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show ?
- The walking dead

Favorite spot at camp?
- Water front , because the view is so  awesome , it doesn’t mater If it’s in the morning or afternoon.

Dream job?
- Work for the embassy, as a police or consul.

Best Christmas present gotten ?
- When I was 10 year I got my first bicycle 🚲 and that bike took me to school for 2 years

Favorite subject in school ?
- German classes and etymology

Top three movies of all time?
- Psycho  from Alfred Hitchcock, Django Unchained & Schindler’s list

Random known fact about me.
- When I was 8 years old , I went to a summer camp in California and we visited a NASA place

, since that experience I got in love with summer camps and that’s the reason I come back to North Star

2018 Staff Spotlight - Fanni Sereg

After camp I came back to Hungary and back to school. I started to learn spanish cause I need it for my degree. I visited Prague with my friends in october. My boyfriend visited me for Christmas, then I took my exams. He also  visited me in March and this time a friend from camp visited me too. It was amazing time. in april I visited this friend in Munich. Now I’m getting ready to pass my exams and get to camp as soon as I can.

More about Fanni

My favorite camp meal:
- cinnamon rolls!! Those are sooooo good!

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- I’d love to be a Bunny just cause they’re so cute ( and I also have a bunny Gömbi)

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- Pretty little liars


Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- My favorite spot at camp is definitely  the swimming point


What is your dream Job:
- My dream job is to be the owner of a flower and coffee shop where you can leave your pets and I can take care of them until you get back

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
- My Grandpa-  I miss him so much, Ellen Degeneres-  She’s just so funny!

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- My first dog!!

What are/were your favorite subjects in school: 
- Psychology and Marketing


What are your top three movies of all time 
- The Notebook, The greatest showman & Kingsman

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook: 
- strawberry sour cream

What sports teams do you root for:
- Hungarian water polo team

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- I talk to my Grandma every day on facebook

2018 Staff Spotlight - Spencer Malkin

Hey everybody, my name is Spencer Malkin and I am so excited to come back for another summer at North Star! I just finished up my freshman year at Arizona State University studying Supply Chain Management. Besides studying for classes, I love to hang out with my friends, enjoy the great weather, and cheer on the Sun Devils at any sport I can get to!

Arizona has been so great because there are so many cool hiking trails through the many mountains all throughout the state. I just recently went to Sedona and was able to see the beautiful red rocks. I even climbed a mountain that took me to the Devil’s Bridge. I miss Chicago sometimes, but I always keep up on the Bears, Bulls, Blackhawks, and especially the Cubs! Can’t wait for another World Series Season!

This will be my 10th summer at camp.

More about Spencer

What is your favorite camp meal?
- Definitely the mac and cheese and mini sausages!

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- I would be a panda because they just relax, eat, and are really intelligent animals that are very rare.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- How I Met Your Mother and Curb Your Enthusiasm

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- Waterskiing Docks

What is your dream Job:
- Being a general manager for a major league sports team.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- Anthony Rizzo, Warren Buffett, Bill Murray

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- My Jonathan Toews jersey.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- I love business and history classes.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- The Sandlot, Ferris Bueller’s Day Off, Monsters Inc.

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Strawberry Sourcream (not going to debate it)

What sports teams do you root for:
- Chicago Bears, Blackhawks, Bulls, Cubs and all Arizona State teams

Share a random or little known fact about yourself :
- I don’t have a great relationship with stingrays after a trip to Stingray City.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Jared Gillett

First year counselor Jared Gillett just finished his freshman year at the University of Wisconsin -  La Crosse. Jared grew up in Marshall, WI, which is just northeast of Madison. While in High School, he was on the track, cross country and wrestling teams. He also was active working with kids, tutoring and working at community events. He also volunteered with Special Olympics.

Running has remained a big hobby of his as he runs almost daily in La Crosse. At UW-L Jared is majoring in biology with the goal of going to Medical School.

More about Jared

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- I learned about North Star through my friend Erick, who will also be a new counselor this summer! Becoming a counselor at North Star was a spontaneous decision for me that I knew could create a fun summer. Instead of working inside back at home, I figured it wouldn’t hurt to become a leader and help a group of campers learn about the simpler things in life while teaching them a few lessons along the way. North Star took everything I already enjoyed doing and created the perfect environment to meet new people and create new memories.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- If I had to choose an animal, I would want to be a kiwi. Those little guys just waddle around all day enjoying life and eating food. Their lives seem so simple and they’re one of the cutest birds in existence. Nothing seems better than eating food and taking in the sun.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- By far the Planet Earth documentaries. I’ve spent quite a bit of time rewatching the series while being mesmerized by the organisms they capture on film. And on top of that David Attenborough is a wonderful narrator.

What is your dream Job:
- Hands down I would love to become an astronaut. Exploring space and floating in zero gravity would create some amazing memories.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- I would want to  have dinner with Mo Farah, Steve Prefontaine, and John Coltrane. All three of these men have had an incredible impact on my life and I continuously look at them for inspiration. Each has pushed the limits of the human body and mind and are a reminder to continue pushing my own limits.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present that you've ever gotten:
- I’d say my first pair of cross-country skis. They made for some interesting struggles every time I fell down.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- I’m a big fan of science, I always find myself wondering why or how things work, so I really enjoyed learning about biology, chemistry, and physics. As time continued through high school I loved learning about how molecules interact with one another and how organisms play an important part in our lives. Every day I became more and more curious which lead to more and more questions!

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Star Trek: Into Darkness, The Iron Giant & The Sandlot

What sports teams do you root for:
- I’m not really into the typical sports, but since I was born in Wisconsin I obviously have to say the Packers and the Badgers. Otherwise I usually end up watching tack races or marathons. Anytime a big college or professional race is happening I’m there watching it.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
- I worked with a small group of elementary students for 2 years and tutored them in various academics. Along with the group, I worked one on one and helped an individual become more focused and engaged in the classroom.

What did you do last summer?
- I spent last summer finish up my third year working at Woodman’s Food Market. When I wasn’t working I was outside either running or hanging out with my friends. We went on a few road trips and visited a few parks like Devil’s Lake just to go hiking. Some of my favorite memories came from listening to the Madison Symphony Orchestra every Wednesday outside the capitol. Every Wednesday they would perform for free and all you needed was a blanket and food.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Kyle Salz

Kyle Salz returns to North Star for summer number 3. He is an alum of Western Illinois University where he graduated with a degree in Recreation, Park & Tourism Administration. Since the end of last summer, he has been working at YMCA Camp Seymour outside of Gig Harbor, Washington as a Naturalist. There he has been teaching Outdoor Environmental Education to mainly 5th and 6th graders since September. Classes that he teaches there include Marine Investigation, Squid Dissection, Reptiles, Albatross, Sustainable Systems, Forest Investigation, Canoeing, and Archery. Kyle is planning on returning here after camp for a second season.

While in Washington Kyle has been able to travel to some cool places like Mount Rainier National Park, Olympic National Park, Oregon for a weekend, Vancouver to watch the Blackhawks, and a lot more other cool places.

More about Kyle

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- Bald Eagle so I can see everything from above and be able to fly anywhere I want.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- On top of the climbing wall

What is your dream Job:
- Being a director at a camp or recreation facility.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Outdoor Recreation classes

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Saving Private Ryan, Field of Dreams, and Sandlot

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Moose Tracks


What sports teams do you root for:
- Cubs, Blackhawks, Bears

Share a random or little-known fact about yourself:
- I like to go storm chasing while in the midwest.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Kamren Johnson

First year counselor Kamren Johnson just completed his freshman year at the University of Michigan. He is a biochemistry and plant biology major and works at one of the labs on campus. The envionment has always been one of Kam's big interests. In high school he started Envirothon, a student organization that has competitions based on environmental awareness.

Kam grew up in Hillsdale, Michigan. In high school, besides being involved in Envirothon he was on the high school tennis team. At camp he'll be instructing ecology and tennis.

More about Kamren

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- I learned about North Star through a recreational tennis club at my college. I applied after reading about all the things I could teach. After some interviews, I was happy to be able to teach young campers about ecology and coach tennis.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- If I had to be an animal I would want to be an owl, because they represent wisdom that everyone gains through life and they are very observant.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- The Office, Breaking Bad, SpongeBob, Family Guy, Rick and Morty, and Myth busters (although some of these shows are not suitable for camp I would say).

What is your dream Job:
- My dream job would be to research with plants and chemistry.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- I would have dinner with Robin Williams, My grandpa Johnson, and my grandma. I chose these people because I admire them and the first two I have never got to meet.


What is the best Christmas present that you've ever gotten:
- A piano keyboard and a ton of art supplies. My favorite subjects in school were science, art, and math. I did excellent at them and had a deep passion for science, especially environmental and natural science fields.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Flushed Away, Batman: Dark Knight, and Inception.

What sports teams do you root for:
- My favorite sports teams are Michigan (in anything) and any football team besides the Patriots.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
- My past jobs have been a dedicated Wendy’s worker and a barista for a coffee shop in my school called the Study Cup.

What did you do last summer?
- Last summer I attended the Summer Bridge program for U of M and had to take classes during the summer.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Will Margulis

Getting through the school year has been the main priority, but lately I’ve been doing a lot of cool rowing events. I just went to cj’s, a regatta in Sacramento, and qualified for semifinals, which is pretty good for my school. I also went to scholastics in San Diego and got two gold medals there. Other than rowing, this year I participated in mock trial which was a really cool experience. It was interesting to learn about the justice system and get a little acting in at the same time.

I’m a junior in at Oakland (CA) Tech High School so I’ve been looking at colleges recently. I’m hoping to major in either computer science or sports journalism, so Wash U and American have emerged to become some of my favorite possibilities so far.

More about Will

What is your favorite camp meal?

- Waffles easily. My record in one sitting is ten, but I’m always hustling and striving to improve.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?

- Probably a dog just because they’re so emotionally close to humans.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):

- Friends and Black Mirror.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:

- The top of the climbing wall.

What is your dream Job:

- Playing in the NBA, and if that doesn’t count then being an NBA broadcaster for the Warriors.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:

- Kareem Abdul-Jabbar, George Washington, and Kendrick Lamar because that would be a really interesting conversation.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:

- A mini baggo board.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:

- Next year I’m taking creative writing and a course called the depth of hip hop so probably those.

What are your top three movies of all time:

- Tropic Thunder, The Shawshank Redemption & Airplane!

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:

- Frozen Butterfinger.

What sports teams do you root for:

- Warriors, A’s, and Raiders.

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:

- Out of all my music, Chicken Fried by Zac Brown Band is the only country song and it’s probably in my personal top 25 tracks.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Micah Jona

My name is Micah Jona and this is my 11th summer at camp. I’m from Wilmette, IL and I just finished my freshman year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. There I’m majoring in computer science and economics with a certificate in math. I’m also part of the euchre club, and enjoy spending my free time hanging out with friends and playing basketball and ultimate frisbee.

Before I head up to camp, I’m relaxing at home and trying to watch as many Cubs games as possible. At camp, you can find me teaching disc golf, tennis, and hopefully driving some water ski boats!

More about Micah

What is your favorite camp meal?
- Chicken wings.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- Great white shark, it would be cool to be able to swim around the ocean freely.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- Friends.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- The health center porch during evening program.

What is your dream Job:
- General manager of a MLB team.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
-  Theo Epstein because he is probably the best baseball executive of all time, Barack Obama because it seems like he would be great to have a conversation with and, Elon Musk because it would be very cool to pick his brain.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- A framed copy of the Chicago Tribune the day after the Cubs won the World Series.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Computer science, economics, and math.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Saving Private Ryan, Remember the Titans, and almost every Marvel movie.

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Peanut-butter cup.

What sports teams do you root for:
-  Bulls, Bears, Northwestern, Wisconsin, and the Cubs.

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- I can write out my birthday with only one number (9/9/99).

2018 Staff Spotlight - Noah W. Broutman

From Highland Park Illinois,Noah Winkleman Broutman returns to North Star for his 10th summer! He just finished his sophomore year at The Ohio State University where he studies Human Resource Management. At Ohio State Noah participates in a mental health awareness club called BCAS and a charity organization named Rotaract.

At camp you’ll mainly find Noah on the riflery range, but you can also see him doing some tennis, disc golf, windsurfing and basketball. Noah’s excited to come back for another summer at North Star.

More about Noah

What is your favorite camp meal?
-  French Toast Casserole

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
-  Penguin, if you have to ask then you don’t deserve an explanation.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s): Breaking Bad, Doctor Who, The Office
- Where is your favorite spot at camp: The rocking chair in the funbug area.

What is your dream Job:
- When I was four my mom asked me what I wanted to be when I grew up and I said a penguin. I stand by that to this day.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- Drew Brees, Conan O’Brien, my Dad because they are all people I look up to.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- A pet guinea pig when I was little.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- History of Vampires, Magic & Witchcraft.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- The Breakfast Club, Office Space, Gerald’s Game

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Butterfinger

What sports teams do you root for:
- New Orleans Saints, Chicago Bulls

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- My middle name is Winkelman

2018 Staff Spotlight - Ari Weil

My name is Ari Weil and this is my twelfth summer at camp, after taking last summer off to work in DC. I'm was born and raised in Denver, just finished my BA in international relations at Pomona College, and will be spending the next year getting my MA at the University of Chicago. At Pomona, I manage the student bike shop and work as a research assistant. I just finished three weeks of travel to present my research at various conferences.

I'm so excited to be coming back to camp for the summer. At camp, you can find me in the senior village and teaching biking, ultimate frisbee, and riflery. I first gained my passions for those activities at North Star when I was a camper, so I love teaching them.

More about Ari

What is your favorite camp meal?
- Grilled cheese and tomato soup

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- I think sloths have a pretty great life

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- Archer

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- I love taking walks (or biking) down the nature trail.

What is your dream Job:
- Not my current career path, but it would be pretty cool to run my own local bike shop.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- Carl von Clausewitz and Lawrence Freedman because they are two of the greatest strategic minds, and Gloria Anzaldua because she is an incredible poet and I'd love to pick her brain.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- I love to read, and have gotten so many great books from family and friends over the years.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- History and physics back in the day, political science now.

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Star Wars Episode V, Dunkirk, and Rogue One

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Peach Melba

What sports teams do you root for:
- Colorado Rockies, Denver Broncos, and Denver Nuggets.

Share a random or little known fact about yourself.
- I once flew (and landed!) a full-motion 747 simulator at the United training center in Denver.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Brody Poss

Brody Poss returns for Summer #4 on staff. The Appleton, WI native is a student at the University of Wisconsin-Madsion. He has one more year there, where he's working towards his degree in biochemistry with a certificate in renewable energy. Brody spends a lot of his time hanging out with his7 roommates, playing euchre, spikeball and basketball.

Brody loves going backpacking and will be going on a 7 day trip in Great Smokie Mountains State Park right after classes are done. He's an avid hunter and goes fishing whenever he gets the chance. Brody is one of our village directors and instructs fishing and waterskiing.

More about Brody

What is your favorite camp meal?
-The buffalo chicken wings

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
-A bear cause they get to sleep through the whole winter.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
-I've recently started watching shows from my childhood again such as; Boy Meets World, Friends, and Malcom in the Middle.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
-Hitches Hut

What is your dream Job:
-Hunting guide throughout the world

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
-Chris Pratt because he is hilarious and seems like a very chill guy, Elon Musk because he is a genius but also seems like a really cool person, and Aaron Rodgers because hes the best quarterback to ever play the game.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
-A couple years ago I got a new bow and and a pair of skis.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
-I love science and chemistry.

What are your top three movies of all time:
-Saving Private Ryan, Deadpool, and Shrek

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
-Butterfinger

What sports teams do you root for:
-Packers, Blackhawks, Badgers, Brewers, Bucks (basically anything Wisconsin)

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
-I have been to almost ever state in the USA

2018 Staff Spotlight - Brad Miller

As a recent graduate (December) from UW-Whitewater in Art Education I have been spending my time the past couple of months doing a bunch of things!   I spent a couple months substitute teaching in elementary, middle, and high school classes! I have also been making some of my own art work as well!

My favorite art medium to work with has to be clay! I've been making pots on the wheel for the past 8 years and have focused on wood firing for the majority of the time! In January I was accepted into my first international gallery exhibit in Detroit with five of my cups on display at Pewabic Pottery.  Other than clay, I love drawing and working with new mediums all the time!

More about Brad

What is your favorite camp meal?

- I love most food in this world, so I'm not sure I have a favorite camp meal! 

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?

- This may be my favorite question in the world, and I feel that I have put a lot of thought into this answer.  Koala.  You get to sit in a tree and eat all day and then people will come and hold you and feed you even more! 

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):

- Parks and Recreation

Where is your favorite spot at camp:

- Sitting looking out at the water! 

What is your dream Job:

- An art teacher! 

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:

- Emma Watson, Elon Musk, Jimmy Fallon

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:

- So many good presents throughout the years, I can't pick a favorite! 

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:

- Art, math, and science! 

What are your top three movies of all time:

- Interstellar, A Few Good Men, The Martian 

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:

- Can never go wrong with the classic apple pie! 

What sports teams do you root for:

- Packers, Blackhawks, Bucks, Badgers

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:

- I LOVE space and space exploration.  

2018 Staff Spotlight - Kerry Peterman

Kerry Peterman may be joining us for her first official summer at camp but she's been coming to North Star for a long time. She'll join the ranks of 2nd generation NSC folks since her Dad Tom was a camper and staff member, but she's been coming to Post Camp for years. We didn't warn her that there isn't happy hour all summer long.

Kerry, a native of Glencoe, IL is just finishing her freshman year at the University of Iowa. There she's an Informatics major and is also a member of a university improv group. Kerry plays guitar and is also into art and graphic design. During the summer Kerry will teach on a few program areas while working in the office and helping oversee NSC photography.

More about Kerry

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
-My brother and my dad went here! I applied because I’ve grown up loving North Star and I wanted to be a part of it.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
-An axolotl because they can regrow their limbs! And they look really cute.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
-Archer

What is your dream Job:
-A storyboard artist

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?
-Grace Hopper, Harvey Milk, and Grimes because they all seem like they’d enjoy a good meal.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present that you’ve ever gotten:
-An electric guitar

What are/were your favorite subject in school:
-Outdoor Education, Math, and Art

What are your top three movies of all time:
-Whiplash, Stranger Than Fiction, and Spirited Away

What sports teams do you root for:
-The Iowa Hawkeyes

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
-I was a teacher assistant for my high school’s outdoor education class.

What did you do last summer?
 -I worked as a pharmacy technician at a store and visited Minneapolis.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Guillaume Flavin

First year counselor Guillaume Flavin comes over from Oxford in England. Growing up, sport and the outdoors was a part of his life. He was on a rugby team but aviation has always been one of his passions. He joined the Air Training Corps at 13 and began gilder training at 15.

G was studying economics at University in York. Despite being 6' 6", he still has the dream of becoming an Air Force Pilot. He's also a sailor, having taken sailing certification courses and gone on sailing holidays. At camp G will be instructing sailing, biking and a few other areas as well.

More about Guillaume

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- I learnt about North Star when I was contacted by them after submitting my CIEE application. Out of the camps I was contacted by, North Star immediately stood out because of its activities and ethos. I also like the fact that kids at North Star stay longer at camp than most others that I've heard of.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- A dog. My dogs seem to live a pretty good life and I reckon I'd enjoy being stroked and fed everyday.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- Love Island

What is your dream Job:
- Pilot in the military

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- Ricky Gervais, Matt Bellamy and Brian Cox

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present that you've ever gotten:
- An air rifle

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Maths, Physics and Economics

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Apollo 13, The Usual Suspects and Interstellar

What sports teams do you root for:
- Gloucester Rugby and Formula 1 in general

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
- I used to take people their food at a pub on a Sunday

What did you do last summer?
- Last summer I went to Edinburgh, completed my first sailing course, spent most weekends gliding, hiked Heilbronner Weg in Germany with a friend, went to Reading Festival and traveled to Helsinki, St Petersburg and Estonia.

2018 Staff Spotlight - Anna Becker

Anna Becker returns to North Star for summer #2. She's finishing up her senior year at St. Louis University with a degree in biology. Her year has been full of dental school interviews, planning fall orientation for the last time, working with a youth group, trying to stay focused through the senioritis, babysitting on the side, and starting her own little photography business.

She has a road trip through Ontario with her brother right before camp starts. After camp finishes, Anna will head back home to start dental school at the University of Minnesota! At camp Anna will be our Waterfront Director. She's also often seen with a camera in hand taking great pics all summer long.

More about Anna

What is your favorite camp meal?
- BBQs picnics outside!

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- Probably a dolphin because they get to swim in the ocean everyday and they're just friendly creatures!

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- Scandal

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- On one of the boats somewhere on the lake

What is your dream Job:
- Travel photographer! How amazing would that be?

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- Let's see...Maya Angelou because of her ability to share wisdom on living a fulfilling life. Oprah Winfrey because of her love for others and knowledge on how to be your best self. And Dr. Paul Farmer, a missionary doctor who works with the incredible people of Haiti. I'd love learn more about being a medical missionary, since I'm going to Dental school and that is something I would love to do one day.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- A dog kennel. It sounds weird but it was the pre-gift for the puppy we got later that year!

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- My ceramics and Spanish classes!

What are your top three movies of all time:
- The Greatest Showman, Star Wars (any of them), Les Mis

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Chocolate Peanut Butter! YUM!

What sports teams do you root for:
- Whomever the underdog is!

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- While in studying abroad in Spain my junior year, I joined a Spanish swim team!

2018 Staff Spotlight - Andrew McFarland

First year counselor comes to North Star from Minnetonka, MN, a suburb of the Twin Cities. Growing up Andrew was in scouts and for his 12th birthday he got two Kayaks, so he's a big paddling guy. He's been to the Boundary Waters several times so he's got great experience to teach canoeing at camp. In addition to paddling, Andrew goes climbing regularly and also enjoys biking and cross country skiing.

Andrew went to Lehigh University in Pennsylvania for a year before transferring to St. Olaf College in Northfield, MN to be back in the land of 10,000 lakes. A psychology major, his career goals is to go into counseling.

More about Andrew 

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?

- I found out about North Star at a summer camp job fair at my college. Originally I was looking to be a canoe guide up in the boundary waters, but I heard about North Star and decided that I would rather be a camp counselor. 

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?

- I would be an Eagle Ray. They are beautiful, black sting rays with white circles spotting their back. I relate to them because they love swimming in warm, ocean water and are curious by nature.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):

- I enjoy Black Mirror, Westworld, and Bob Ross: Beauty Is Everywhere.

What is your dream Job:

- To be a therapist or mental health counselor. I would like to work with young adults and couples.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:

- I would have dinner with Bob Ross, Leonardo DiCaprio, and Lorde. They are all fantastic artist that I have admired throughout my life and I would to love to meet them in person. Bob Ross’ paintings are breath taking, Leonardo DiCaprio is a talented actor that brings his characters to life, and Lorde composes and sings inspirational, original songs that resonate with me. 

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah/holiday present that you've ever gotten:

- A trip to Cozumel, Mexico to SCUBA dive with my Dad. We had a blast and this trip deepened my love for the ocean and marine life.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:

- Psychology, Environmental Science, Mathematics, and English.

What are your top three movies of all time:

- Inception, The Illusionist, and Her (directed by Spike Jonze).

What sports teams do you root for:

- The teams that my friends are on.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?

- I have worked a couple summers at Goodwill in past. It is fun working there because each position in the store has its own responsibilities and you never know what you might find or come across. Before that job, I was a scuba diver that removed invasion weeds from water front properties. 

What did you do last summer?

- Last summer I worked at Goodwill, hiked parts of the Superior Hiking Trail with my brother, and went camping along the North shore of Lake Superior with my friends. 

2018 Staff Spotlight - Jacob Peterson

My name is Jacob, and I am returning to camp after taking a summer off to do an internship. I attend(ed) UW-Madison where I study economics with side focuses in German and Computer Science and am graduating in May. On campus, I’ve been involved in several publications as well as student radio, hosting a current events show every week for six semesters. I’ve also recently been active in the Madison cooperative community.

In my free time, I enjoy reading, writing and drawing. I’m also an avid runner; I completed my first marathon this past fall. In the winter, I cross country ski. In the summer, spring and fall, I go on backpacking trips. This past summer I spent three weeks backpacking through Yellowstone, Theodore Roosevelt and Grand Tetons, where I watched the eclipse. I went to Big Bend this past spring break and hiked the Chisos Mountains and the surrounding desert.

More about Jacob

What is your favorite camp meal?

- My favorite meal at camp is the omelette on lazy days.

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?

- Any fish in a school of fish because that would be very easy, low-stress lifestyle.

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):

- Arrested Development.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:

- I like the forest in the back of camp because of how open it is.

What is your dream Job:

- At the moment, it would be leading trips for ALPs.

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:

- My mother’s side of my family including my great grandfather, great grandmother and grandfather. I was never able to meet them at an age where I would remember them or have any meaningful interactions. 

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:

- My first pair of traditional cross country skis.

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:

- I generally like literature classes and history. I’ve also been taking pilates classes this year which are very enjoyable.

What are your top three movies of all time:

- Paris, Texas, A Prairie Home Companion and Badlands

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:

- I honestly am not much of a pie fan. My favorite backed good, however, is poppyseed bread.

What sports teams do you root for:

- I do not follow sports unfortunately.

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:

- My first job was operating a mechanical bull. 

2018 Staff Spotlight - Jake Kraemer

Its the big ten for Jake Kraemer. Jake is finishing up his senior year at Deerfield High School.He's  been hanging out a lot and spending time with family and friends as high school comes to a close and as he prepares for his AP Exams. He's sad that his DECA career is over, but happy that he finally placed first at State in my category, Hotel and Lodging Management.

Jake will be headed off the Duke University after camp. He spent his first season as a Blue Devil Basketball fan, and while he's still not over the Kansas loss, he is excited for the White Sox season. At camp you'll find Jake teaching log rolling and arts and crafts.

More about Jake

What is your favorite camp meal?
- Any soup

If you could be any animal (besides a human), what would you be and why?
- A squirrel - my reflexes and athleticism would be unmatched

What is your guilty pleasure tv show(s):
- Big Brother

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
- Fun Bug bench

What is your dream Job:
- Biomedical engineer

If you could have dinner with any three people, dead or alive, who would they be and why?:
- Kanye West - I admire his boldness, Chance the Rapper - I admire his humanitarian work & Giannis Antetokounmpo - I find his life story interesting

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
- My 1917 White Sox Jersey

What are/were your favorite subjects in school:
- Biology & Engineering

What are your top three movies of all time:
- Wall-E, National Treasure & Paul Blart

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook:
- Butterfinger - is there even another acceptable answer?

What sports teams do you root for:
- Chicago White Sox, Duke Basketball & Milwaukee Bucks

Share a random or little known fact about yourself:
- I learned to solve a Rubik's cube at camp