Staff Spotlight - Olly Cayless

Three years ago, former North Star staff member Brad Holland was working for an international staffing agency. We work with a handful of agencies that send us the great counselors from abroad. Brad forwarded us a profile and mentioned that Olly was perfect for North Star. He couldn't have been more right.

Returning for his third summer, Olly joins us from from Wales in the United Kingdom. he's studying Sport and Exercise Scienc and is thee Year 2 Lead Sport Representative for the School of Sport Cardiff. He recently started playing water polo competitively and is teaching Kayaking and canoeing in spare time. At camp, Olly is one of our village directors and also instructs sailing, windsurfing and climbing.

More About Olly

Favorite Tombstone pizza type: Meatlovers

Favorite project at camp (that you don’t necessarily instruct): Anything water based. Mostly sailing.

Your three favorite movies of all time: Despicable me, Lion king and Rise of the Planet of the Apes

Preferred wanegan offering: Starburst

Best evening program at camp: Espionage

Favorite cartoon character: Homer Simpson

Favorite camp (card) game: Kemps

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be? Mila Kunis and Bob Marley.

What is your dream job: To help disadvantaged kids in third world countries.

A little known fact about yourself:  I once bungee jumped 440 feet and skydived 15,000 feet in the same weekend.

Camp Trivia Challenge

Camp Trivia Challenge
Benefiting the Camp for All Kids Foundation
Sunday, April 28 from 6-9pm
Roots Handmade Pizza, Chicago, IL
Register Now!

It's like bi-camp meets the social, and we need your help! Please join the North Star team as we put our intellect to the test against alumni from Birch Trail, Chippewa, Kamaji and Timberlane, as part of a trivia night that will help send kids to camp. It is time to put to use all of the secrets of life your cabinmates and counselors shared with you!

On April 28, many North Star alumni will be gathering for the event at Roots Pizza (1924 West Chicago Ave., Chicago, IL 60622) from 6-9pm. The trivia offers great prizes such as Cubs Tickets, Chicago Fire Tickets, North Star apparel, restaurant gift certificates and more. And better yet, it's a Pizza Party! In addition to trivia, your ticket gets you dinner and drinks as well.

Most importantly, it will be a great night to catch up with your old camp friends and support a great cause. All proceeds will go to the Camp for All Kids Foundation, which helps send children to the five participating camps. More information is available on the Camp for All Kids website.

Tickets are currently $45 per person. You can either create your own team of up to 8 people, or email us at office@northstarcamp.com to get on the North Star team! Reserve your spot now at www.campforallkids.org/trivia.  Hope to see you there!

Staff Spotlight - Alex Foster

Alex Foster returns to camp after a few year absences. A former camper, we're excited to have him join the staff for the first time. Alex is currently a senior at Highland Park High School, where he’s involved in congressional debate, the DECA business club and Scholastic Bowl. He interned for a congressional campaign and also holds a student representative position on the Highland Park City Council.

Alex has been on some pretty cool trips recently. He actually went to Nepal and Bhutan over winter break. He won't be going that far for college. In the fall, Alex will be a freshman at the University of Chicago. At camp he'll be instructing wakeboarding and arts & crafts. This will be Alex's seventh summer at North Star.

More About Alex

Favorite Tombstone pizza type: Sausage

Favorite project at camp (that you don’t necessarily instruct): Berry picking bonanza

Your three favorite movies of all time: The Curious Case of Benjamin Button, Step Brothers and The Lord of the Rings: Return of the King

Preferred wanegan offering: Skittles

Best evening program at camp: Glen's Game

Favorite cartoon character: Donald Duck

Favorite camp (card) game: Euchre

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?: Benjamin Franklin and Alexander Hamilton

What is your dream job: College professor

A little known fact about yourself: I cook up a mean bowl of oatmeal

Alex and his brother (camper) Jack

Staff Spotlight - Steve Omiatek

Steve (L) and his sisters & brother

My name is Steve Omiatek, I am 21 years old and live in Lake in the Hills IL. I come from a family of 3 sisters and a brother, along with 3 dogs, 4 cats, 2 rabbits, birds, fish, and a salamander. I will be teaching riflery, archery, and frisbee golf this summer.

The last 3 years of my life was spent in the military which is where i have learned my skills in firearms. I graduated Basic training with expert in rifles, light machine guns, and pistol. I'm now a student at Western Illinois University in Macomb, studying law enforcement. I am looking forward to this summer and cant wait to be a part of the North Star Family.

More About Steve

Your three favorite movies of all time: STAR WARS!!! all the way

What is your dream job: Law Enforcement officer.

Best place you’ve ever traveled to: I have taught Medical Classes to fellow soldiers in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. Though it was hot my time off was spent in the crystal clear waters fishing and scuba diving.

Favorite cartoon character: Definitely the Tasmanian Devil, or known as Taz.

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?: The Late General of the Army Douglas MacArthur who led the United states to victory in WW2, and Stephen King, my favorite writer.

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?: I found out about North Star at a college camp job fair.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?: I was a Medic for the 40th Military Police Battalion in the United States Army.

What did you do last summer?: Last summer i was working in the United States Disciplinary Barracks in Fort Leavenworth Kansas.

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had?: I was a leader on a Church camp to New Orleans, we spent 24 days right outside the french quarter helping anyone and everyone we could.

We're thinking that Steve will be pretty good at Espionage

Staff Spotlight - Andy Peterman

Hi guys! My name is Andy Peterman, and I'm a senior counselor back for my ninth summer. I live in Glencoe, IL, but right now I'm a freshman at the University of Illinois, majoring in Mechanical Engineering. When I'm not working, I'm usually in front of a piano or writing music. 

You'll see me on a variety of projects, but you probably can find me near the climbing wall, sailing on the lake, or in the rocketry room. I'm looking forward to a great year. See you at camp!

More about Andy

Favorite Tombstone Pizza Type: Supreme Taco (It exists!)

Favorite Project at Camp: Climbing

Your three favorite movies of all time: Drive, V for Vendetta, Shawshank Redemption

Preferred Wanegan Offering: Charleston Chew

Best Evening Program at Camp: BG's "Predator vs. Prey"

Favorite Cartoon Character: Sonic The Hedgehog

Favorite camp (card) game: Euchre

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?: Nikola Tesla & Skrillex

What is your dream job?: Musician/Inventor

A little known fact about yourself: I love to beatbox!

Staff Spotlight - Riley Addington

Riley Addington will be spending his first summer at North Star. Originally from California, he’s moved around quite a bit. He spent his high school years in Colorado where he attendedthe Colorado Rocky Mountain School, where he was able to focus on wilderness education. He’s an avid outdoorsman with a passion for mountain biking. He just spend his spring break out in Colorado where he spent the week snowboarding with his family. Riley is also an avid photographer and long boarder.

Riley is currently a student at Western Illinois University studying political science and pre-law. At camp he'll be instructing biking and climbing.

More About Riley  

Your three favorite movies of all time: 1. Inception, 2. Life Cycles, 3. The Art of Flight

What is your dream job: My dream job is to become an Attorney or a Snowboarding/Mountain biking Instructor

Best place you’ve ever traveled to: A seven day biking trip with my best friends from high school in Moab Colorado.

Favorite cartoon character: Avatar the Last Airbender

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?: Congressman Ron Paul and John Marshall

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?:  I ran into Dan at the WIU Summer Camp Job fair, and I was instantly interested in North Star. The camp reminds me a lot of my old high school and how they focused on the outdoors. I applied primarily because of the environment and opportunities North Star Offers.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?:  My most noteworthy job I’ve held would be either working as a legal clerk or a wilderness backpacking student trip leader. My most random job would be two winters ago when I cleaned houses in Aspen for about a week.

What did you do last summer?: Last summer I spent most of my time at home in Chicago enjoying my break before starting college.

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had: The last time I went to camp was back when I was in 5th grade and living in California. Other then that I haven’t attended any summer camps but I am very excited for this summer!

Staff Spotlight - Thomas Prebble

My name is Thomas Prebble, I’m 23 and come from Nelson, New Zealand. I studied in Dunedin at Otago University for 4 years and am now a registered pharmacist. I have lived in Queenstown for the last 15 months but have just moved back to Nelson.

My favourite past times are sports and the outdoors, I play most sports and like learning new ones. Lately I have been doing lots of whitewater kayaking and paddled my first grade 4 last weekend.I am super excited about coming to North Star, and after camp I plan to travel around the States for a bit and then head up to Canada for the winter. This will be my first summer at camp and I'll be instructing wakeboarding and golf.

More About Thomas
Your three favorite movies of all time: I’m not much of a movie watcher, but probably; Anchorman, The Hangover, Superbad

What is your dream job: Being a travel guide!

Best place you’ve ever traveled to: Chiang Mai in Thailand

Favorite cartoon character: Donkey off Shrek

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?: Charles Darwin and my Nana

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?: I applied through CCUSA and was lucky enough to get selected by North Star to come for the summer!

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?: Cleaner/maintenance at the biggest holiday park in the southern hemisphere. Landscape gardener. Pharmacist

What did you do last summer?: Had the best summer of my life! Lived for 2 months in Nelson and 2 months in Queenstown. Beaches, lakes, sunshine, kayaking, camping, barbeques and hanging out with mates. Went for my first skydive! Plus did a little bit of work as a pharmacist.

What, if any previous camp experiences have you had?: I’ve never been to a big camp like North Star, but I go camping with friends and family every summer.