Staff Spotlight: Michael Berger

Another of our great Junior Counselors is Michael Berger, A native of  Chicago, IL, he returns for summer number nine. Michael is a junior at the Latin School. He is on his school’s volleyball team and also will is taking classes at Second City in Chicago. As noted by the pictures that we choose, he's a pretty animated guy, so he'll certainly put those classes to use at camp.

At camp, Michael can be found on the riflery program and in the arts and crafts. He's also known to spend some time on the softball field as well as on theater games.

More About Michael

Favorite tv show: 30 rock or psych

Best place you've ever traveled to: China or Italy

Sports team(s) that you root for: Bulls, bears, cubs, and blackhawks

Favorite camp meal: Fish fry

Favorite spot at camp: The council ring (especially on a Friday night)

Favorite all camp/special program to do at camp: All camp capture the flag

earliest camp memory or notable camp memory: My J1 trip down the mighty Namekagon river

If you had a super hero power, what would it be: Teleportation

Best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten: Tickets to late night with Jimmy Fallon.

Preferred chicken nugget dip: Honey mustard

Staff Spotlight: Isaac Lasko

Junior Counselor Isaac Lasko resides in Highland Park, IL where he is a junior at Highland Park High School. This will be his 7th summer at camp and his 2nd on staff. Amongst the many things that he does at camp are waterskiing, riflery and tennis. He’ll also be found on sailing and climbing.

Over the past six months he’s been learning how to play the piano and is planning on bringing his piano accordion to camp.We're looking forward to the addition of his musical talents!

More About Isaac:

Favorite TV Show: Aqua Teen Hunger Force


Best Place I've Traveled to: Canada Boundary Waters

Sports Team You root for: Chicago Teams!

Whats your favorite Camp Meal: Fourth of July Breakfast

Favorite Spot at Camp: The Villa (Senior Village)

Your favorite all-camp program: Pow Wow Day

What's your earliest Camp Memory: Wacky Introductory Skits on the first day

Notable camp memory: The Canadian

If I had a superhero power: Telekinesis

Whats your best Hanukkah present: Desktop Mac Computer, Don't know what id do without it

Preferred Chicken Nugget Dip: Ranch

Staff Spotlight: Tyler Ray

Indiana native Tyler Ray joins us for his first summer at North Star. Hailing from just outside of Indianapolis, he is a sophomore at IU-Bloomington. He's always loved doing outdoor activities, from hiking and camping to waterskiing, wakeboarding and rafting. He was in Boy Scouts throughout most of high school, so needless to say, a summer job outdoors is perfect for him. Tyler found out about us through the IU waterski club. We'll make sure to provide him with plenty of sun screen as he's going to spend lots of time on the waterfront. He's also a sailor and will be instructing both sailing and waterskiing/wakeboarding.

Tyler is also quite the musician. He's been playing guitar since he was in 8th grade. He's hoping to make music a part and he's been accepted into the School of Music's guitar department. We'll be sure to make good use of his musical skills.

More About Tyler:

Favorite TV show: Adventure Time

Best place you've ever traveled to: Seattle Washington

Sports team(s) that you root for: Indianapolis Colts

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply: I learn about it through IU Ski and Snowboarding Club and I wanted to be in the outdoors this summer doing something different

What did you do last summer: I took a road trip to Cali for 2 weeks and worked at my restaurant job

What noteworthy/menial/random job(s) have you previously held: Server, Dish-Tank, and Outdoor landscaping

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had: I went to boy scout camp when I was younger for a few summers

If you had a super hero power, what would it be: Telekinesis

Best Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten: A Trampoline

Preferred chicken nugget dip: definitely honey mustard  

He's on a boat!

Staff Spotlight: Chad Prater

Chad Prater is yet another of our crew that attends Winona State University. Winona was one of our stops during our February staffing road trip and while previous stops in LaCrosse and Stevens Point, WI weren't very fruitful, Winona was great as we ended up hiring Chad and two other Warriors (thats the Winona mascot...). Chad is studying elementary education with a minor in math, so needless to say, working at camp is a pretty good fit for him. 

He loves playing sports, namely tennis and basketball, and he attended a Bo Ryan's basketball camp. There's no word on whether or not Bo tried to block Chad from going to college at Winona (just a bit of Badger joke from a UW alum). I initially started discussing our tennis instructor position when I learned that Chad is also an experienced life guard and certified water safety instructor, so he'll come in useful both on the tennis courts and down at swim point. A first year staff member, Chad hails from Edgerton, WI.

More About Chad:

Favorite TV show: Entourage

Best place you've ever traveled to: Kenya

Sports team(s) that you root for: Packers, Bucks, Brewers

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply: I learned about North Star camp at our schools camp/internship/volunteer fair and applied because it looked like a lot of fun.

What did you do last summer: Worked as a lifeguard/swim instructor in WInona, MN

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had: I've been to a couple sport camps but never any summer camps

If you had a super hero power, what would it be: The power to fly

Best Christmas present that you've ever gotten: Tennis Racquet

Preferred chicken nugget dip: Honey

April/May Siren is now Online

The April/May 2012 Siren is now online! Get the latest news, including lots of info on this summer's staff. Not only will we introduce you to lots of folks who are excited to be calling camp home for the first time this summer, but you'll find out about several returners that will be back in 2012. We're very excited about our counselors, trip leaders and all the support staff who have dedicated their summer to making it the very best for all of our campers.

You can also find out why there will no longer be any announcements about black pipes near the junior village wash house. We won't spoil that news... make sure you check out the newsletter to find out whats up and check out some great pics from Andy's latest trip up to camp.

You can access the Siren here: http://bit.ly/InN8K7 or go to www.northstarcamp.com, go  to the Current Families section of the website and click the newsletters link in the media room.

Staff Spotlight: Chad Harju

Chad Harju was born and bred in Ann Arbor, MI, and when he decided where he'd spend his college years, he felt that there was no place like home, heading for the University of Michigan. He's a big fan of UMich athletics and he had a marketing internship in the athletic department there. Unless we add any OSU Buckeyes to the staff, he'll have to settle for sports arguments with our Michigan State staff. 

Ann Arbor is also home to many disc golf courses, one of Chad's passions. He began playing during his sophomore year of college and fell in love with it. I'm sure that Chad will become a regular member of the morning disc golf crew. We welcome Chad for his first summer at North Star as a cabin counselor and disc golf instructor.

More About Chad:

Favorite TV show: Game of Thrones

Best place you've ever traveled to: Stockholm, Sweden last summer. I was even able to play Disc Golf!

Sports team(s) that you root for: All University of Michigan Athletics, especially football and basketball, I bleed Maize and Blue!  My favorite professional sports teams are: Detroit Tigers, Detroit Lions, Detroit Red Wings, and Detroit Pistons.

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply: Two friends and myself started the University of Michigan Disc Golf Club last August.  At the beginning of this semester, we received an email from Dan looking for potential counselors that were interested in disc golf.  I applied, and met Dan and Andy at the Michigan Union and the rest is history.

What did you do last summer: Last summer I was lucky enough to travel to Europe.  The places that I visited were Sweden, London, and Scotland.  It was an experience that I will never forget.

What noteworthy/menial/random job(s) have you previously held: When I was in high school, Jumper the movie came to film.  I was lucky enough to get a job as a movie extra.  Next time you watch the movie, look for the bridge scene at the beginning of the movie.  If you look really closely at the bridge you can see me, it’s very blurry so you’ll just have to trust me. I have also spent the last three years working for the University of Michigan Athletic Department as a marketing intern, giving me the ability to see my favorite teams compete from the sidelines.  Both of these jobs were two of the most fantastic positions I have been lucky enough to attain.  I look forward to adding Camp North Star to the group!

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had: This will be my first camp experience, and I can’t wait!

If you had a super hero power, what would it be: I love to travel, so I’d definitely love to be able to teleport anywhere in the world instantly.  Yea, that would be cool.

Best Christmas present that you've ever gotten: N64 when I was in 3rd grade, I can’t remember a time when I was more excited from opening a present.

Preferred chicken nugget dip: Sriracha mixed with ranch, no question. 

Staff Spotlight: Noah Larson

Noah at a school in Kenya

Noah Larson comes to North Star for summer #1 from Lakeville, MN, just south of the Twin Cities. He's currently a student at South Dakota School of Mines and Technology, where he's studying electrical engineering. He's currently taking 19 credit hours of class, so we're sure that he'll enjoy the pace of camp quite a bit. He headed to school in the Black Hills of SD, in part, because of his love of the outdoors and the terrain there is perfect for mountain biking.

Noah has quite a bit of camp experience himself. As a child, he went to family camps in MN. He then worked at a camp for intercity youth. He's also coached basketball camps and last summer worked as a personal care assistant for a disabled ten year old at a camp. Noah brings quite a bit of skills with him to camp and can do many outdoor activities. He'll focus on climbing, riflery and model rocketry.

More About Noah:

Favorite TV show: Top Gear

Best place you've ever traveled to: Nairobi, Kenya.

Sports team(s) that you root for: Denver Broncos, Twins, Vikings, and the Gophers

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply: I learned about North Star through another camp, I wanted to work at a camp this summer to do something different and make more of a difference than I could at other jobs.

What did you do last summer: Woke up too early and stayed up too late

What noteworthy/menial/random job(s) have you previously held: I used to milk cows as a ten year old

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had:  I worked at a camp last summer as a personal care assistant for a disabled ten year old

If you had a super hero power, what would it be:  Be able to make portals with my hands.

Best Christmas present that you've ever gotten: Honda CR-85 Dirt Bike

On top of Cloud Peak in Wyoming