Staff Spotlight – Sam Vander Plas

Ripon, WI native Sam Vander Plas joins the North Star staff for his first summer. While in Ripon, he was a three sport high school athlete, playing basketball, golf and soccer. Sam is finishing up his sophomore year at the University of Wisconsin – Madison where he’s a communications major with an emphasis on radio, TV and film. He’s on the UW fishing team and is also one of the managers for the Badgers Woman’s basketball team. We’re excited to have Sam as a cabin counselor and fishing and basketball instructor.

More about Sam

How did you learn about North Star and why did you apply?
– I learned about North Star through the Wisconsin Fishing Team. I applied because the camp seemed like a place I would’ve loved to attend as a camper and I couldn’t imagine a better summer job than teaching kids about my favorite sports and activities.

If you could be any animal what would you be and why?
– If I could be any animal I would definitely have to be a badger because its the mascot for the University of Wisconsin!

What is your favorite cartoon Character:
– I’ve always loved Bugs Bunny after watching Space Jam

What is your dream Job:
– My dream job would be coaching basketball at the college level or becoming a Hollywood director.

If you had a super hero power, what would it be:
– I would like to be able to breathe underwater. I think it would be helpful for fishing!

What noteworthy/random/menial jobs have you held?
– I worked as a bag boy for a golf course for a couple of years, but I spent last summer working in a factory putting reflective tape on traffic cones.

What are your top three movies of all time:
– The Shawshank Redemption, Reservoir Dogs & Umbrellas of Cherbourg

What did you do last summer?
– Last summer I worked 40 hours a week in a factory that was the largest producer of traffic cones in North America. I was the guy who put the reflective tape on the cones.

What is a little Known fact about yourself:
– I am deathly afraid of bugs. More specifically, I hate butterflies. Don’t ask me why, it’s an irrational fear that I can’t begin to explain.

What, if any previous camp/outdoor experiences have you had?
– I worked a lot of basketball camps in high school because my dad was the head coach and I’ve spent every summer fishing lakes all around Wisconsin.