Hey everyone, I’m Simon Dinkin and I’m returning to North Star for my seventh summer. I’m from from San Diego, CA, I’m finishing up my sophomore year at Torey Pines High School.  I recently went to La Paz, Mexico for Spring Break! We went to the beaches,snorkeled, and went fishing.  It was a blast!! I also started coaching a 2nd and 3rd grade Rec Basketball team.  This is my first year coaching and its been really exciting and fun teaching them new skills and working with the kids. 

As always I’ve been playing lots of soccer as well as focusing on school. I am counting down the days until camp and can not wait too be a CIT! Around camp you’ll find me instructing althetics and dsic golf.

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

– A friend, Water ,and a pillow

Favorite special program at camp

– UN Day

Your favorite TV or movie character

– Josh Peck, from Drake and Josh 

Your best memory of camp

– Cheering at camp after completing our 10 day trip to Canada.

Favorite Sports Teams

– Redskins,Wizards,Baltimore Orioles,Capitals

What would you choose for your last meal?

– Steak and Fries

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

– Bald Eagle

 
Your two favorite books

– Lightning Thief,The Giver

A secret hobby or skill that you have?

– I play in Scrabble Tournaments.

How has camp impacted you? 

– Camp has had an extremely positive impact on me.I have made friends and experiences that will last a lifetime, and i look forward to making many more.

Hi, my name is Ben Rubin and I am currently a Junior at Highland Park High School. With ACTs, college visits, and other standardized tests, this has been a pretty busy year for me. At school, I am involved in Congressional Debate, DECA, and my school’s robotics team. [Side note addition: I placed first Internationally in DECA and first in Illinois in robotics. I don’t know if that should be thrown in there or not.]

This will be my seventh summer at camp and my first one on staff.  As a camper, I spent the majority of my time windsurfing and sailing, which I hope to teach at camp. Additionally, I will be working on the camper musical. I am very excited to be a CIT this summer!

More about Ben

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you’d bring?
– I’d like to think that I would be practical and bring a boat, water, and a machete so I could survive, but in reality I would probably bring trivial items like a phone, a sleeping bag, and a change of clothes.

Favorite special program at camp
– Espionage

Your favorite TV or movie character
– Batman (Christian Bale, not any of the ones from the 80s or Ben Affleck)

Your best memory of camp.
– College Days last year. Go Slippery Rocks!

What would you choose for your last meal?
– Once again, I would like to think that I would choose something classy like steak, but it would

probably be pizza or bacon.

If you could be any animal, what would you be?
– The Mantis Shrimp. Hands down the coolest animal. Ever.

Your two favorite books
– Looking for Alaska by John Green and Fight Club by Chuck Palahniuk

A secret hobby or skill that you have?
– I am very good at Indian Leg Wrestling.

How has camp impacted you?
– Camp made me a much more independent and responsible person. I feel that I have learned how to handle difficult and challenging situations and I have made several lifelong friends.

Camp is a family thing Ike Nierman. One of is brothers is on the NSC staff and another is a camper. He’s also a 2nd generation NSC camper and staff. His dad Peter was also a camper and staff. Ike comes to camp from Wilmette, IL where he’s finishing up his sophomore year at New Trier H.S.

At New Trier Ike does pole vault for the track team and in his free time he plays the bass guitar and hang out with friends. At camp he’ll be instructing athletics and pathfinders.

More about Ike

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

–  My iPod for music, a journal and a camera

Favorite special program at camp

–  College Days

Your favorite TV or movie character

– Jake Peralta from Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Your best memory of camp.

– Too many to count, but on of the best was winning boil-water-boil during the Green-White marathon

Favorite Sports Teams

– Chicago Bulls, LA Clippers, Chicago White-Sox, And DAAA Bears

What would you choose for your last meal?

– Anything as long as it was followed by a Norske Nook Pie

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

– A Dolphin, they’re super smart, but really different from humans, plus everyone loves dolphins

Your two favorite books

– Things Fall Apart, The Catcher In The Rye

A secret hobby or skill that you have?

– I can throw a Frisbee with extreme accuracy

How has camp impacted you?

– It made me learn how to treat others with a lot of respect and never to judge anyone without getting to know them first. Also made me learn that life can be tough but it will always get better, especially with 

After three years as a camper at North Star, we’re excited to have Nicholas (aka Nick) Rubnitz join the North Star staff. Hailing from Chicago, IL, Nick is finishing up his sophomore year at Francis W. Parker High School. There he is on the varsity baseball team, playing center field.

He joins a great group of Counselors in Training. At camp you’ll find Nick instructing softball and other athletics.

Favorite special program at camp

– All Camp Capture the Flag

Your best memory of camp

– Coming back from Canada

Favorite Sports Teams:

 – All Chicago Sports teams besides the White Sox

What would you choose for your last meal:

– Tacos

If you could be any animal, what would you be

– a Lion

Your two favorite books

– Harry Potter 7 + Heat

A secret hobby or skill that you have

– a Monster at Wii Tennis

How has camp impacted you

– It has taught me maturity and responsibility.

After several years as a camper, Michael Becker joins the North Star staff as a Counselor in Training. Hailing from Nashville, TN, he was born in Chicago and moved to Nashville at the age of eight.  He’s a big sports fan and has been playing baseball and basketball his entire life. He’s on his school’s varsity basketball team and junior varsity baseball team.

Michael is also active in the community. He’s involved in Big Brothers/Big Sisters as a mentor for a third grader. At camp you’ll find Michael instructing athletics as well as disc golf.

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

–  I would bring Melon Gatorade to drink, chicken fingers to eat, and a basketball for leisure. 

Favorite special program at camp

– My favorite special program at camp is UN Day. 

Your favorite TV or movie character

– My favorite TV/movie character is Ricky Bobby. (or Spongebob if that’s not appropriate)

Your best memory of camp. 

– My favorite memory of camp is the Canadian trip in Pine Manor.

Favorite Sports Teams

– Chicago Bulls, Chicago Bears, Illinois Fighting Illini, and the Cubs.

What would you choose for your last meal?

– I would choose crab as my last meal. 

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

– If I could be any animal, I would be a monkey. 

Your two favorite books

– The Phantom Tollbooth and The DaVinci Code. 

How has camp impacted you?

– Camp has been a very important impact on my life. I really enjoy the experience at North Star, not only the fun but also the bonds of friendship made at camp. That is what has really impacted me, the friendships made that will last a long time.

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 19th 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 11 years and we have two children, Lake (9) and Summer (almost 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 almost $10,000!).  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 2014!  

 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 wifi or 4G service and a solar charger, a portable disc golf basket with all of my discs and a yurt to live in.

Favorite special program at camp
– In camp, I have to go with Pow Wow Day (the enthusiasm, the Staff Softball game, the silent lunch, Brokaw’s meat roasting all day…just so many great things about PWD).  Out of camp I’m going with the Camp Clash disc golf tournament vs. Camp Interlocken at Sandy Point Disc Golf Ranch!  We’re defending our title this year!

Your favorite TV or movie character
– Walter White/Heisenberg, Tyrion Lannister, Michonne & Doug Heffernan.

Your best memory of camp.
– Oh…too many to pick just one, but I’ll give it a shot.  The summer of 2000 with Cabin Manor and the Canadian trip was a camp experience I will always treasure.  I wish I could remember when I first met my wife Kim there, but unfortunately I have no recollection!   

Favorite Sports Teams
– Da Bears.  The NFL is pretty much the only sport I really follow.

What would you choose for your last meal?
– The Bellagio Brunch buffet…I could make it last all day.  If you’re ever in Las Vegas, DO THIS buffet!  It is out of this world.    

If you could be any animal, what would you be?
– A Rhino…tough when they need to be, but usually soft natured.

Your two favorite books
– Where the Sidewalk Ends and the Harry Potter series.

A secret hobby or skill that you have?
– I am a hardcore fan of The Walking Dead.  I love the show and I have all of the graphic novels.  Also loved Breaking Bad and miss it dearly.  I’m currently engrossed in Game of Thrones.  Would love to talk with you about any of these three shows (although I just started season 3 of Game of Thrones…so no spoilers!).  A secret skill is that I can bounce a basketball on my knuckles 100+ times in a row.

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.

Ethan Rane joins our staff as a Counselor in Training. Hailing from Buffalo Grove, IL, he’s currently a student at Stevenson high-school. While focused on school, he has lots of interest, including playing the guitar and playing ultimate frisbee with his friends and at a club in school.

Ethan spent quite a bit of time as a camper on archery, earning every award shy of the olympic archer. This summer he’ll instruct archery, some athletics as well as some waterskiing.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you’d bring?
– I would bring an ipod, a TV and lots of food.

Favorite special program at camp
My favorite special program at camp is North Star Ball

Your favorite TV or movie character
– Spongebob

Your best memory of camp.
– My best memory of camp was hanging out with my cabin before bed having tea time.

Favorite Sports Teams
– Bears

What would you choose for your last meal?
– Pasta with marinara sauce

If you could be any animal, what would you be?
– I would be a bear because i like camping out in the woods, fishing, and sleeping.

Your two favorite books
– Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows and The Shining

A secret hobby or skill that you have?
– I collect seashells for a hobby when i go to florida on winter break every year.

How has camp impacted you?
– Camp has made me more responsible and has given me great counselors as role models to look up to.

Hello everyone! My name is Zack and this is my 7th summer at Northstar Camp and my first year on staff. I am incredibly excited to be a CIT this year. I am from (like many of the other staff members) Chicago, IL and I am a Sophmore at Francis W. Parker.

Some of my hobbies are fishing, which I hope to teach a little at camp, and being a mediocre guitar player. I also hope to teach Climbing and Riflery as well. I am very excited meet everyone this summer and I can’t wait to get to camp!

More about Zack

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

– Fishing Pole, Fresh Water, and a Raft

Favorite special program at camp
– Espionage

Your favorite TV or movie character

– Jesse Pinkman- Breaking Bad

Your best memory of camp.

– Doing the 10 day trip to Canada

Favorite Sports Teams

–  Chicago Blackhawks

What would you choose for your last meal?

– Sushi or Steak

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

–  Bald Eagle

How has camp impacted you?

– Camp has taught me to have more patience for others and to get along with everyone. I can also now sleep comfortably on any surface.

Hi, I’m Zach Weber, I’ve been going to North Star for seven years now, and will soon be returning for my eight year as a CIT. North Star has always been a home away from home for me. One of the things I took back from my experiences being a camper were activities I participate in at home, such as rock climbing, sailing, disc golf, and fishing, just to name a few. 

Aside from my experience at camp, i’m a Chicago native, I love the outdoors, good weather, and having a good time with friends. Most of all, I can’t wait until camp to start! I’m looking forward to instructing climbing and disc golf this summer.

More about Zach

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

–   I would bring a fully charged satellite phone, 100 gallons of cold drinking water, and a fly fishing rod.

Favorite special program at camp
– Espionage or Glen’s game

Your favorite TV or movie actor
–  Denzel Washington

Your best memory of camp.

– Boarding the bus before the Canadian (senior overnight camping trip)

Favorite Sports Teams

– Chicago Cubs, Bulls, Bears, Wisconsin Badgers, and the Utah Jazz.

What would you choose for your last meal?

–  Either sushi, or a hot Ann Sather’s cinnamon roll.

If you could be any animal, what would you be?

– African Leopard

Your two favorite books

– To Kill a Mockingbird, and The Metamorphosis

A secret hobby or skill that you have?

– hmmm… ping pong or pottery/ceramics.

How has camp impacted you?

– Camp has impacted me in several ways, the first way is how I learned and utilized what activities I tried at camp into my life at home, such as rock climbing, sailing, disc golf, pathfinders, archery, seriously, the list goes on… Camp has also impacted my overall relationship with my friends and the people around me. There is simply not a better way to strengthen or grow a friendship then there is at camp. North Star is so unique because it not only gives you the ability to make your own choices, rather it’s picking a project, or even your bed on the first day; I believe that North Star goes much more beyond that, it’s a place where you can grow your relationships with your fellow cabin mates, peruse what grabs your interest, and adapt into someone who you want to become.