Staff Spotlight - Sean Doyle

Sean Doyle joins the NSC staff for his 1st summer. Sean lives in Holland, Michigan, but he spends most of his time these days abroad. He and his wife teach English in other countries. Amongst the places he's taught are China, New Zealand and Brazil. After camp ends, he'll head to Japan to teach.

Sean was active in the outdoors in high school, but when he went to college, he didn't get to spend as much time camping. After college he took a NOLS course which reconnected him to the outdoors. Some of his favorite trips have been to Pictured Rocks in Michigan and the Boundary waters in Minnesota. Sean will be a great addition to the NSC trip staff.

More about Sean

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- I heard about it on the NOLS alumni email list. I really liked what I read about North Star.

What is your dream job
- To work in outdoor education.

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?
- Muhammad Ali, and Mahatma Gandhi

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?
- I would hike Patagonia.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?
- Music, a fishing pole, and hot sauce

What sports team(s) that you root for?
- Anything from Detroit, and Michigan State.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
- I sprayed powder in Prairie Dog holes to rid them of flees.

What did you do last summer?
- I taught English in Brazil.

What, if any previous camp/outdoor experiences have you had?
- I have taken classes and worked multiple jobs in the outdoors. I went to camp when I was younger, and I worked a small camp last year in Brazil, which was a lot of fun. I think that camps are a great experience for everyone involved, and I can’t wait to work at North Star.

Staff Spotlight - Sifiso Tawane

Sifiso Tawane comes all the way from Johannesburg, South Africa to spend his first summer at North Star. Despite being from South Africa, Sifiso has quite a bit of camp experience. He has worked at Camp Sizanani of Global Camps Africa. Global Camps Africa provides "HIV/AIDS prevention education and training through high-impact residential and day camp experiences and continuing education, equipping young people with the life skills that will support them in becoming safe and productive adults who have hope for the future." The founder of Global Camps Africa is Phil Lilienthal, a former camp director from the US who is good friends with North Star and recommended Sifiso. Sifiso also spent last year working at a YMCA camp in Pennsylvnia and he wanted to get a chance to see how another camp works.

Sifiso finished college about a year ago and is hoping to become a social worker one day. At Camp Sizanani Sifiso was a swim instructor, and he'll teach swimming as well as archery. We're excited to have Sifiso join the North Star staff.

More about Sifiso

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- I learned about North Star from the core founder of Global Camps Africa, Phil Lilienthal and I applied because I would like to learn more about it myself.

What is your dream job

- My dream job is to be a Counselor.

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?
- My great gran parents.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?
- Amsterdam because it's amusing in a way.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?

- Campus, food and water.

What sports team(s) that you root for?

- Barcelona

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?

- Working at Camp Sizanani under Global Camps Africa.

What did you do last summer?

- I worked at a camp named YMCA CAMP KRESGE situated in Pennsylvania  for three months.

What, if any previous camp/outdoor experiences have you had?

- My life time experience I won't forget and appreciate is going to USA and I had the best summer.

Staff Spotlight - Ryan O'Hara

Ryan O'Hara will cross the Atlantic in a few days to join the NSC staff for his first summer at camp. A native of Buckinghamshire in the United Kingdom, Ryan is currently a student Amersham And Wycombe College. He is a second year student and is currently studying music and performance. At college Ryan is in a band, but his career goals have moved more towards the professional side of things.

Ryan also has interest in film production. He's also an avid waterskiier and wakeboarder. He started when he was eight years old at a local club, but over the last few years he's served as an instructor. At camp Ryan will instruct waterski/wakeboarding as well as some climbing and we'll be sure to make good use of his musical talents.

More about Ryan

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

- I found out about North Star through the summer job agency MakeMySummer. After learning more about North Star and the activities they offer for campers, I couldn’t miss out on the opportunity to work with them.

What is your dream job?

- I would love to be able to travel around the world as an independent film director. I spend a lot of my spare time filming action sports, gigs and music videos.

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?

- Devin Graham and Lenny Kravitz. Devin is an incredible videographer and really pushes the limits in his videos and Lenny Kravitz, well, it’s just Lenny Kravitz really..

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?

- Some day I would love to go snowboarding in the Canadian Rockies either that or live on a lake somewhere warm (insert joke about English weather here)

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?

- A surfboard, a guitar and friends.

What sports team(s) that you root for?

- This is new to me, ask me after camp and I may have chosen a team.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?

- I once helped out on Silverstone Radio Station for the British Superbike Championship, that was pretty cool.

What did you do last summer?

- Mostly work, a few gigs, a festival and some time in France.

What, if any previous camp/outdoor experiences have you had?

- I spent about two years with my local scouts group and I think we did a couple of scout camps a year. Then there was Reading Festival last summer but that made any bad camping experience look pleasant.

Staff Spotlight - Kim McCormack

Kim McCormack returns to North Star for her 17th summer. While her official role at camp is "program assistant", there really isn't a title that encapsulates all that Kim does. She's a big part of putting our daily program together, assisting in the program office with scheduling. She also helps out with special programs, assisting staff as they plan special events all summer long. Along with that, Kim oversees our horseback riding project.

During the off season, Kim is a middle school science teacher. A resident of the Denver suburb of Westminster, she teaches in Evergreen, Colorado. Kim has also been involved in taking groups of students to San Diego to for Seacamp. She's the wife of CIT Director Jeff and mother of Lake and Summer.

More about Kim

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?

- Water, flint, and Jeff Probst (maybe I could win $1,000,000)

What is your favorite spot at camp?

- Swim point on a hot afternoon

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?

- My mom and my brother

What sports team(s) that you root for?

- The home team or the underdog. This summer the y are one in the same ... Go Rockies!

What is your favorite special program at camp?

- Espionage

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?

- Brazil, Italy, & Australia. I would relax and go wherever the moment took me.

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

- Cranberry Apple

Best holiday gift that you've ever gotten?

- I have no idea, but the thing that I cherish most about the holidays is time to be with family

How has camp impacted you?

- Camp gave me my family!

Staff Spotlight - Jacob Lehr

While many of our college age staff have finished up school and have even had a few weeks to rest up, Jacob Lehr is still hard at work. Currently studying abroad in New Zealand and he's got finals up through the coming week. He'll fly directly from New Zealand at camp, just to be here in time for the start of our pre-camp orientation. Jacob's commitment is a great example to the entire NSC community!

Jacob is from from Omaha, Nebraska. When not studying in New Zealand, he's a student at the University of Southern California. He'll be entering his senior year there in the fall and he's studying economics and political philosophy. This will be summer #11 for at camp Jacob. He is one of our village directors and will instruct golf, windsurfing and some tennis.

More about Jacob

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?

- Sunscreen, a water bottle, and a good disposition.

What is your favorite spot at camp?

- The middle of Brewer’s Bay on a windsurf board.

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?

- Thomas Jefferson and Elon Musk

What sports team(s) that you root for?

- Nebraska Cornhuskers, USC Trojans, Creighton Bluejays, and whatever team has Lebron James.

What is your favorite special program at camp?

- Commando Raid

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?

- Patagonia to learn Spanish and climb some mountains.

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

- Raspberry-Peach Melba

Best holiday gift that you've ever gotten?

- New golf club

How has camp impacted you?

- I learned how to be myself, how to be a leader, gained a love for the outdoors, made some great friends, and learned to play speedball.

Staff Spotlight - Jeff McCormack

Well hi!  My name is Jeff McCormack and I am the CIT (Counselor In Training) Director and “disc golf guy” at North Star.  This will be my 20th summer on staff.  In my role as the CIT Director, I support the CITs as they make the transition from camper to counselor.  As the disc golf guy, I head up the disc golf program and maintain the disc golf course (let me know if you see a wasp nest on the course…I’ll take care of it). 

 I hail from Westminster (a suburb of Denver), Colorado.  During the year I teach Special Education for 18-21 year old young adults with disabilities (I have the most amazing students!).  I’ve been married to Kim McCormack for 12 years and we have two children, Lake (10) and Summer (2).  For fun, my hobby of choice is disc golf. During the winter, a friend and I lead a weekly disc golf series called Winter Warriors that raises money for the Food Bank of the Rockies (this year we raised $15,000!).  My favorite disc golf course in the world is the North Star course and I can’t wait to get up there and play it (hopefully with many of you)!  Looking forward to seeing everybody very soon for the Summer of 2015!  

More about Jeff

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?
- It’s a given that I would want to have Kim, Lake and Summer there, soooooo I’m going to assume that they are stranded with me.  I would love to have an iPad (in a lifeproof case) with great LTE service and a solar charger, a portable disc golf basket with all of my discs and a yurt to live in.

What is your favorite spot at camp?
- While it doesn't get more beautiful than sunset at the Council Ring, I'm going to go with the Hole #12 Tee Box on the NSC Disc Golf Course.  It's literally 10 feet from Clear Lake.  It's so calm, quiet and peaceful there, with usually a slight breeze to blow away the mosquitos. 

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?
- My Grandfather, Pete Nielsen, who passed away in 1992.  He was the best Grandpa a kid could ask for.  And Kim McCormack...just the two of us (that almost never happens!). 

What sports team(s) that you root for?
- Big time Chicago Bears fan, but also a fan of the Denver Broncos as we live in Denver.

What is your favorite special program at camp?
- Pow Wow Day is my favorite day of special programming (the enthusiasm, the Staff Softball, the silent lunch, Brokaw’s meat roasting all day…just so many great things about PWD!) and the Green White/Egg Marathon is my favorite special program activity.  Is there anything more exciting than a close Boil Water Boil? 

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?
- I've never been to Disneyland or Disney World, so it would be great to do that with the family some day.  I would also love to go on an all inclusive cruise (mostly for the endless food)! 

What's your go-to pie at the Norske Nook?
- Warm Pecan with a scoop of Vanilla ice cream...oh so good!

Best holiday gift that you've ever gotten?
- For Father's Day this year Kim got me a nights stay at a Disc Golf ranch in the Colorado mountains.  It was a very nice mini-vacation! 

How has camp impacted you?
- I owe so much of my current life to camp’s influence.  It has truly shaped so much of who I am.  For me camp is more than just a place and a set of activities, it’s my second family; my home away from home.  I call upon skills that I’ve developed at camp every single day of my career as a teacher.  Without camp, I may not have met my wife Kim and I wouldn’t have my children, Lake and Summer in my life.  I really can’t imagine what my life would be like had I not started working at North Star.  It truly changed…and created the life that I have today.

Staff Spotlight - Caroline Rockman

Caroline Rockman will join the North Star staff for her first summer. A native of Omaha, Nebraska, she'll be working in the Arts and Crafts. After graduating high school, she spent a gap year in Israel. There she studied Hebrew, Arabic and also curated an photography exhibit.

She just finished her first year at the School of Visual Arts in New York City where she's studying film. She's also experienced in painting and photography. We're excited to have her put her skills to use in the NSC Arm and Hammer and also all around camp.

More about Caroline

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
- This will be my brother's 12th summer at North Star. After seeing the impact camp had on him, applying was a no brainier.

What is your dream job
- A museum curator

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?
- Eileen Erman and and René Magritte.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?
- I'd like to go everywhere at least once, but right now I'd love to be in Jerusalem at my favorite cafe with my favorite people.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you'd bring?
- Sunscreen, a book, and my dog.

What sports team(s) that you root for?

- Chelsea football!

What did you do last summer?
- Worked at a film distribution firm and a documentary production company.

What, if any previous camp/outdoor experiences have you had?

- I went to Birch Trail camp and Interlochen center for the Arts.