Staff Spotlight – Caitlin Palgen

Hi everyone!  My name is Caitlin Palgen and this will be my second summer back at camp.  I am finishing up my junior year of nursing school at the University of Illinois.  I plan on becoming a pediatric nurse once I graduate.  In my free time, I love to play sports!  My favorites are volleyball, rock climbing, and softball but I love playing basically every other sport as well.  When I am not in the health center at camp, I can usually be found instructing at the climbing wall or at the sand volleyball court.

More about Caitlin

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you’d bring?
-A hammock, a solar powered ipod, and a volleyball

Favorite special program at camp
-Glen’s game

Your favorite TV or movie character
-Sheldon from The Big Bang Theory

Your best memory of camp.
-UN Day

Favorite Sports Teams
-Chicago Cubs, Chicago Blackhawks, & Chicago Bulls

What would you choose for your last meal?
– It’s a tie between my mom’s chicken parmesan or Chicago-style deep-dish pizza

If you could be any animal, what would you be?
-A cheetah

Your two favorite books
-The Last Lecture & The Five People You Meet In Heaven

A secret hobby or skill that you have?
-I am doublejointed in 7 of my fingers

How has camp impacted you?
-Working at North Star has been such a great experience for me!  I gained a lot of leadership skills and responsibility.  I also learned to be completely, 100% myself.  I gained a ton of lifelong friendships, too!  Also, I want to become a pediatric nurse, so working as a health counselor at NSC this past summer gave me a tremendous amount of experience.  It helped give me a perspective of what my career will be like working with kids for the rest of my life- and I loved every second of it!