Staff Spotlight - Mike Major

My name is Michael Major, and this will be my second year at camp. I am a sophomore at the University of Minnesota, where I am studying computer science. This past year I was a student manager for the Gopher Men's Basketball team. So I guess you could say I had a busy and... interesting school year.

I also had the opportunity to do some consulting work with a local homeless shelter called People Serving People during the spring semester. My job was to work with two other individuals to analyze the organization's current internship programs and then recommend recruitment strategies, search for funding opportunities, and offer various compensation strategies that the organization could implement. This was a great learning opportunity for me and an experience in which I could practice what I have been learning in my leadership courses. I am excited for the opportunity to be at camp again this summer!

More about Mike

If you could be any animal what would you be and why?

-I would be a dolphin because they are supposedly great at math and that would make my computer science courses a breeze.

What is your favorite cartoon Character:

-Tom, the clever mouse from Tom and Jerry.

Where is your favorite spot at camp:

-The lake.

What is your dream Job:

-Mobile App Developer.

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

-Flying

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

-Memory foam pillow.

What is your preferred chicken nugget dip:

-Chick-fil-a sauce.

What are your top three movies of all time:

-Wedding Crashers, Lord of the Rings (all of them), and The Godfather.

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

-Chocolate Peanut Butter.

What is a little Known fact about yourself:

-I once ate Chipotle 3 times in one day.

Share one notable camp memory:

-When Miles Goldberg hiked 20 miles with his boots untied, just because. 

Staff Spotlight - Ethan Levy

My name is Ethan Levy, and I am from Mequon, Wisconsin. I am just finishing up my second year at the University of Wisconsin-Madison. I study economics and philosophy at school, as well as write for one of our school’s newspapers, The Daily Cardinal. I am extremely excited to be back for my 12th summer at camp, where I will teach a variety of land sports (primarily floor hockey), along with instructing waterskiing and climbing. As always, the countdown to camp has already began!

More about Ethan

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why:

- I love to run, so I would be a cheetah.

What is your favorite cartoon Character:

- Batman

Where is your favorite spot at camp:

- The Council Ring, watching the sun set over the lake

What is your dream Job:

- To be a GM for an NBA franchise

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

- Teleportation, so I could travel the world

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

- Tickets to a Blackhawks game

What is your preferred chicken nugget dip:

- BBQ Sauce

What are your top three movies of all time:

- The Princess Bride, The Dark Knight Rises and Perks of Being a Wallflower

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

- Raspberry Cream Cheese

What is a little Known fact about yourself:

- Despite being only 5’5”, I still frequently dream of playing in the NBA

Share one notable camp memory:

- Sitting around the campfire with several other counselors, just hanging out, singing and getting to know each other–simple moments like those, amongst many others, are what brings me back every year!

Staff Spotlight - Euan King

First year counselor Euan King comes from a small city called Dundee in Scotland. He was born in London but moved to Dundee when he father got a job at St. Andrews University. He love the outdoors; doing any sport or activity (particularly climbing, rugby and trampolining).

He’s been involved in climbing since his 7th birthday. An avid climber, he’s worked at his home wall, teaching climbing for 2 years. Euan is currently studying civil engineering ad Edinburgh Napier University. At camp he’ll be instructing quite a bit of climbing as well as some fitness training.

More about Euan

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

- I found out about North Star through a summer camp agency called Stars 'n Stripes. Wisconsin is a State I have never been too but after meeting Dan and Andy, researching about the camp and looking at the location itself I didn't hesitate to apply! 

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why:

- Well that hands down has got to be a Gibbon because those guys make climbing look way too easy! 

What is your favorite cartoon Character: 

-  The Road Runner from Looney Tunes 

What is your dream Job: 

- If I could be paid to climb for life that would be awesome. 

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

-  Teleportation because...c'mon it's teleportation! 

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held? 

- I used to walk my Uncle's dog a lot, I really love dogs. And then I realized I had to clean up their business after them every time! 

What are your top three movies of all time: 

- Goodwill Hunting, Lord of the Rings and 300. 

 What did you do last summer? 

-  Last summer I was mainly back home in Scotland but I did go to The Alps for a week to climb, hike, kayak and chill. 

What is a little Known fact about yourself: 

- I fell flat on my nose when I was five for running with my hands in my pockets, and yes I've learned my lesson. 

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

- Well last summer I did camp at 4000ft in The Alps and then watched the Mont Blanc at sunrise, that was a pretty cool experience! 

Staff Spotlight - Nick Kasle

I am from Milwaukee, WI and I have just graduated from High Point University in North Carolina with a degree in Physics and Math (anyone know of any jobs in Chicago?). This will be my 11 summer at camp and you can find me on the waterfront most of the time teaching water skiing or lifeguarding. 

More about Nick

If you could be any animal what would you be and why: 

- A goldfish because being a goldfish seems like a good life.

What is your favorite cartoon Character:    

- Avatar Aang

Where is your favorite spot at camp:    

 - Swim Point

What is your dream Job:    

- Building electronic devices 

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

- X-ray vision so I can watch Brody Poss shuffle the deck under the table and make sure he's not cheating.

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

- Nintendo Gamecube

What is your preferred chicken nugget dip:    

- Anything spicy

What are your top three movies of all time:    

- Inception, Dark Knight, Speed Racer

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

- Butterfinger

What is a little Known fact about yourself:    

- Even though I take kids horseback riding at camp, I am very afraid of horses.

Share one notable camp memory:    

- For the commando raid, Andy specifically told us not to throw water balloons at his house. So Michael Burger, Oliver Rockman and I went straight to Andy's house with water balloons. Michael threw his balloons right at the screen door, breaking the door and getting water everywhere. Needless to say it was one of the funniest things ever seeing the fear on Michaels face

Staff Spotlight - Oliver Rockman

My name is Oliver Rockman and I am beyond excited to be back at camp for my thirteenth summer! I am from Omaha, Nebraska, and am soon to be a graduate of Emory University in Atlanta. At camp, I am a village director and spend a lot of time at the Riflery range. At night, Nick Kasle and I have often been the victims of some shady shuffling by Brody Poss, Sam Bricker's frequent Euchre partner. I'm already counting the days until the summer starts!

More about Oliver

If you could be any animal, what would you be and why:
I haven't seen the new Jungle Book, but I would like to be a tiger with the voice of Idris Elba.

What is your favorite cartoon Character:
Sterling Archer

Where is your favorite spot at camp:
Senior Village Campsites

What is your dream Job:
Tour Guide in Italy

If you had a super hero power, what would it be:
Super speed. Or at least enough speed to be clearly faster than Sam Bricker, at the moment it's pretty much a dead heat.

What is the best Christmas/Hanukkah present that you've ever gotten:
A trip to London to see my grandfather

What is your preferred chicken nugget dip:
BBQ Sauce

What are your top three movies of all time:
The Godfather, Borat and Interstellar

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

What is a little Known fact about yourself:
I write left-handed but do almost everything else righty. Except layups. I'm also much better at left-handed layups. Not good at them, just better than with the right.

Share one notable camp memory:
Leaving camp after my final summer as a camper. It was 2009 and didn't think I would be back the next year, let alone in 2016!

Introducing the NSC Fieldhouse

On Tuesday, we broke ground on North Star's newest addition: The NSC Fieldhouse! While the name is subject to change, the building will be home to a large indoor recreation area that take rainy days to a whole new level (even though it never rains at North Star). Inside will be a full-size basketball court with two courts across it, a fitness center, a rec room and a mezzanine clubhouse.

The building will be ready to go and useable for the Summer of 2016, though we'll still be working on the finishing touches. On our normal beautiful days in the Northwoods, basketball will remain in its home on the outdoor court. On rainy days, it'll host giant games of dodgeball, basketball, kickball, floor hockey and more. While rainy days have always been fun at camp, they will now be active as well.  

The building will be on the current archery range, and archery will remain in the vicinity as well, just at a new angle to keep a safe distance.  The fitness center will move from into the building as well from its temporary location last summer. Ecology will get to move back into its hold home in the Rookery, which will serve as a permanent home for Pathfinders as well. 

It will certainly be a great night time home for Villa Ball and staff recreation as well. The building will be fully lit and will have a sport court finish to be used for all sorts of activities. It will also be great for winter storage as well. Keep an eye out for more pictures coming soon!

2016 New Camper Pizza Party

New Camper Open House Pizza Party

Sunday, May 15, 2016
11:00am - 12:30pm

Barnaby's Pizza

960 Skokie Boulevard, Northbrook, IL

Join us on Sunday, May 15 at Barnaby's Pizza in Northbrook for an opportunity to meet some of our junior staff, ask your burning questions and introduce your son to some of the other first time campers. Dan, Vickie and Andy will be at Barnaby's with some fine North Star staff members who will look to get your son psyched for his first summer at North Star

Our goal is to help each of our first-time campers to feel comfortable and get even more excited for camp. It is our hope that this allows each of our first-time campers to meet some staff and other first-time campers so that they can see some familiar faces when they arrive at the bus.

Please RSVP to Andy@NorthStarCamp.com or at 715-462-3254, and feel free to contact me if you have any other questions as well. We hope you'll stop in and have some pizza!