Staff Spotlight – Chai Yang

The North Star staff is going to be taken over by Eagles this year… UW La Crosse Eagles. We’ve got seven current students from UWL on our 2015 staff and one of them is new counselor Chai Yang. Chai is from Holman, WI, which is just outside of La Crosse. There he’s majoring in political science with a minor in criminal justice. He is also an elected member of the UWL student government. He’s also involved in several intramural sports.

Chai played tennis in high school and now he returns to his hometown all season long. For the last two years he’s served as a volunteer coach for the Holman High School tennis team. He comes from a large family, having 12 siblings. So we’d say he’s perfectly suited for cabin life. At camp Chai will instruct tennis.

More about Chai

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
– I learned about North Star Camp when I received an email from Eagle Opportunities which is the employment website at the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. The reason why I applied was because I have been looking for a summer camp job, and I enjoy being given the opportunity to help kids grow and to inspire them.

What is your dream job?
– My dream job is a pilot because I would be able to travel the world. I have always wondered what the view would look like from the airplane! Unfortunately, I haven’t have to opportunity to experience it, but one day I will!

If you could have lunch with any two people, dead or alive, who would they be?
– If I could have lunch with any two people, I would choose my friend Quacheenu Vang and Martin Luther King, Jr. My friend Quacheenu passed away in early October last year; he was a good friend of mine. I have great respect for Martin Luther King, Jr. because he was known as a good leader and a good role model for others.

If you could travel anywhere in the world, where would you go and what would you do there?
– If I could travel anywhere in the world, I would go to Brazil. The reason why I would like to go there is because of the Amazon forest. I have always wanted to see the waterfalls and wild creatures.

If you were stranded on a deserted island, what are three things you’d bring?
– Water, chicken wings, and a knife.

What sports team(s) that you root for?
– Wisconsin Badgers and Green Bay Packers.

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
– I am an Assistant Tennis Coach for the Holmen Boys Tennis. I also was a La Crosse Promise Program Advisor.

What did you do last summer?
– I took two summer classes: Statistics and Introduction to Political Science. I worked at McDonald’s and was also an advisor for the La Crosse Promise Program.

What, if any previous camp/outdoor experiences have you had?
– My summer of my 8th grade year, I did a program called the Mississippi River Summer Adventure. It was a program through the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse. We went camping up north next to Lake Superior for three days and did a ten mile hike. I would go on bluff hikes with my friends during free time when there was nothing to do.