The Siren - North Star Camp for Boys

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The Siren
North Star Camp for Boys
f we told you last month that on May
1st, the lake would still be frozen and
there’s 6-8 inches of snow expected by
the weekend, you would have thought
that it was an April Fool’s joke. But
it is in fact May 1st and it is all true.
It has been a long winter around the
country and the Midwest, but it has
been particularly cold up here. TOM
and KAREN BROKAW have lived
up here their entire lives, and have
never before seen in like this. This
upcoming Saturday marks the opening
of Fishing Season in Wisconsin, and
instead of warming up their engines,
many eager fisherman will be carving
holes in the ice!
Chicago Area New Camper Open House
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oin us on Saturday, May 18th from noon – 1:30pm. Open to 1st year
campers and their family members, this is a great opportunity for new
campers to meet other new campers and get to know some of our staff.
We’ll also answer all of your pressing and not so pressing questions and help
you get ready for the summer of 2013. Pizza will be served.
The open house will take place at the Prairie View Community Center
6834 Dempster St, Morton Grove IL
For more information, head to:
https://www.facebook.com/events/363134960463660/
with the addition of the LPI Encore
System, a boat-less waterskiing
training system that will allow our
campers to get more opportunities to
We are not letting the cold slow down practice their starts, techniques and
our preparations for camp, and Tom tricks. We will also be bolstering our
has been very active all winter long hopes of having a participant in the
making sure that camp looks great. Lumberjack World Championships
The newly redone athletic fields are this year as we will have two brand
getting ready for their debut and the new logs from Key Log Rolling. And
sprinklers are ready to go once the 7-time Log Rolling World Champion
ground thaws. On the waterfront, we JUDY HOESCHLER has promised to
are beefing up the waterski program be back working with our log-rollers!
Tom has been
busy updating the
cabins, re-siding,
and replacing roofs.
Over the winter
we have increased
and upgrade the
shelving and beds
throughout camp.
He
built
new
furniture for the
office. The biggest
project was the
Its May and there is still solid ice on Brewer’s Bay
renovation of some
of our staff housing to accommodate
even more great staff members for the
upcoming summer. Thanks in part to
the upgrades, the 2013 North Star staff
will be the largest ever.
We are putting the finishing touches on
our staff which includes a very large
number of familiar faces and plenty
of great new ones. You can read more
about the staff below and you should
keep your eye on our Leb’s Ramblings
blog for the Staff Spotlight feature
highlighting our counselors.
While camp does not start until
mid-June, the summer festivities
will begin at the end of the month
as our waterfront director MANDY
STANEK will be getting married in
Hayward. Mandy’s fiancé SCOTT
SULLIVAN proposed last summer
and their first engagement celebration
happened with a big Yo-Ho at the
Lumberjack World Championships.
We are so excited to celebrate with
Mandy and Scott!
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The North Star Siren
May 2013
Preparing for Camp
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n order to help you better prepare for the summer of 2013, we’ve put all forms and documents in one place. By
logging into your Campintouch log-in page and clicking the documents and forms link, you will find all forms that
you need to complete and several documents to help you prepare for the summer. Many of these forms are due by
June 1st. The Campintouch log-in can be found in the upper right hand corner of the North Star website. Please do
not hesitate to contact us to let us know how we can help you prepare for the summer.
You can also find lots of useful stuff on the “Preparing for Camp” page of the North Star website. Here you’ll find lots
of great stuff for first time campers, recommended labels and duffle bags, and the comprehensive spring mailing. This
page is at www.northstarcamp.com/index.php/preparing-for-camp
It may not feel like it yet, but summer is right around the
corner… See you in the Northwoods soon!
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We’ll be there in 2013
e welcome the following first time campers to the
NSC family who have enrolled for this summer.
From Anchorage, AK; NOAH NOSEK, from Scottsdale, AZ;
JOSH MCCRAE, from Los Angeles, CA; EZRA FLAPANFEIG, from Westminster, CO; LAKE MCCORMACK,
from Chicago, IL; ARMAN MATUSCAK & HARRISON
RADIS, from Deerfield, IL; ADAM BORNSTEIN, from
Victoria, MN; MATT HEITKAMP & JON INGRAM, from
West Lakeland, MN, SHANE FRUCHTERMAN, from
Florissant, MO, ZACHARY SMITH, from Hazelwood,
MO; JHANI SPEARS, from St. Louis, MO; SHANE
LOBSTER, EVAN HENDERSON and WILLIAM IRBY.
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elcome back to our returning campers who have
re-enrolled for the summer of 2013
Currently a sophomore at the University of Wisconsin – La
Crosse, Jon is studying microbiology. He’s also a member
of the Chi Phi fraternity. At camp, Jon is a wakeboarding,
fishing and golf instructor.
JOE ERDMAN hails from Dousman, WI. The oldest
of three siblings, he’s currently a psychology major at
Winona State University in Winona, MN. Back home Joe
has worked as a firefighter and he is hoping to utilize his
psychology major to help individuals with post traumatic
stress disorder. Joe is on the lacrosse team at Winona State
and he’s also an avid snowboarder and disc golfer. Growing
up, Joe built model rockets, so we’ll take advantage of his
diverse skills, with him instructing rocketry, lacrosse and
disc golf.
WAYNE JONES is returning to camp after a long hiatus
to help out on the waterfront. This will be the third decade
in which Wayne has been on staff and we’re very excited
to have him back. Wayne has long been a lifeguard and
From Santa Barbara, CA; JULIEN MAES, from Atlanta,
GA; CHARLIE RINZLER, from Chicago, IL SALAAR
POURKHALILI & TY TOWNSEND-FORD, from
Deerfield, IL; SETH NEIMAN, from Pepper Pike,
OH; GRAEME TURNER, from Bayside, WI, ETAN
MAISTELMAN, from Fox Point, WI; COREY RUSSEK,
from Verona, WI; ANDREW SPLITT.
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Welcome to our Staff
ONATHAN COOK joins us for his first summer. He
grew up in Lodi, WI, a small community just outside
of Madison, WI. Jon was a four sport athlete growing up,
he played football and baseball in high school. He also has
been a snowboard instructor at Cascade Mountain and his
senior year he became a certified snow board instructor.
A
ndy got to camp on April 29th and it was sunny
and 80 degrees. Two days later camp got a spring
snow storm that dumped several inches. Gotta love
Wisconsin.
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The North Star Siren
May 2013
an EMT, and has won several awards for his lifeguarding as a year-round counselor for Laney. Stephanie is quite
rescues back home in New Zealand. He has spent the last
well travelled and even worked at a camp in Pennsylvania
stretch of his life working on yachts and doing private several years back. Though South Africa is still home,
security work which has taken him all around the world.
she has lived in Pennsylvania, Massachusetts, Florida,
At camp, Wayne will be a jack of all trades on the water,
Maryland, and Illinois, and that’s not yet counting
helping instruct waterskiing and swimming. His safety
Wisconsin. She also lived in Belgium and Chile. Though
expertise and hard work will be a huge asset to camp!
we’re sure that her favorite place will be Hayward!
KATHRYN LUY joins us for her first summer. A native
We’re excited about some great additions to our
of Brookfield, WI, Kathy is currently a sophomore at
strong class of junior counselors
the University of Wisconsin where she’s majoring in
education with the goal of becoming a history teacher. She
CHIP KASS returns for his ninth summer. From Highland
spent the last three summers working for Brookfield Parks Park, IL, Chip is currently a junior at Highland Park
and
Recreation
High School. There
working as a
he is involved in
2013 Rookie Weekends
pool
attendant.
the theater and
She grew up
choral
program,
o you have a prospective camper that is considering camp for the summer
doing lots of
and he’s been in
of 2014 or 2015? Join us for one of our rookie weekends! Rookies will
outdoor activities,
several
theatrical
tour camp and get the opportunity to participate in lots of different camp
including biking,
performances with
activities while their parents will get a chance take their own tour and get to
hiking and playing
other NSC campers
know more about North Star. There are two rookie weekends, June 29-30th
on a soccer team.
and staff. He spent
& July 27-28th. You can learn more about the rookie weekend, including the
Kathy joins us as
part of last summer
schedule of events here: http://www.northstarcamp.com/rookie
an office assistant
at a theater camp in
and
program
New York and we’ll
instructor, teaching skiing, biking and other activities.
make sure to put that to use on theater games at camp.
He’ll also be instructing fishing and sailing.
STEVE OMIATEK will be spending his first summer at
North Star. A native of Lake in the Hills, IL, he is one of PARKER RASANSKY comes to camp from Dallas, TX and
five siblings. He’s currently a student at Western Illinois will be spending summer number nine at North Star. He’s
University studying law enforcement. Steve is spending a big sports guy and plays lots of basketball and baseball.
his first year back in college after serving our country in
He’s on both teams at the Greenhill School, where he is
the Army. He was a military police officer, and with his
a high school junior. He’s also active in the Spanish and
training, we know that he’ll be a great riflery instructor.
business clubs. We’re excited to have Parker back as one
He’ll also instruct riflery and since he enjoys disc golf, of our junior counselors and he’ll be instructing athletics,
we’re sure that he’ll spend some time there, too.
disc golf and wakeboarding.
D
JAMI SHLENSKY joins us for her first summer at North
Star. Jami grew up in Deerfield, IL and is currently a junior
at the University of Illinois, majoring in special education.
She spent several summers at Camp Birch Trail and has
worked the last two summers as a teaching and recreation
assistant for the Northern Suburban Special Education
District. Jami will be counselor to two of our newest
campers, Laney Shlensky and Summer McCormack.
She’ll help out on our program as well.
STEPHANIE WITBOOI is joining us for her first summer
at North Star. All the way from Cape Town, South Africa,
she has taken up residence at the Shlensky’s in Chicago
PHILIP RASANSKY also returns to North Star for his ninth
summer. While he’s not an identical twin to brother Parker,
their interests are pretty similar. A Junior at Greenhill
School, Philip is on the baseball and basketball teams.
He’s also a part of the B’Nai B’rith Youth Organization
and the Young Men’s Service League. At camp, Philip will
be instructing athletics as well as waterskiing.
NED SHASHOUA is back for summer number eight. Ned
spends the rest of the year in the warmer climate of Boca
Raton, FL. There he’s a sophomore at Pine Crest School.
Ned spends quite a bit of time on the athletic fields and
courts at camp, with tennis and soccer amongst them.
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The North Star Siren
May 2013
He’s a great tennis player and is on his school team. He’ll
DANIEL LEVINE returns to North Star for summer
also be instructing other athletics and can be found on the number seven. From Chicago, IL, he’s a sophomore at
waterfront from time to time.
Francis Parker School. Daniel plays on the varsity tennis
team at Parker. At camp he can be found instructing tennis,
Check out the excellent group of Counselors in
athletics and waterskiing.
Training that will be joining the North Star staff
JAKE MALTER is from Chicago, IL, where he’s a
JACOB BAIM returns for his seventh summer at North
sophomore at Francis Parker School. It’s a bit of an
Star. Currently a sophomore at Highland Park High School,
understatement to say that Jake likes golf… he’s the only
Jacob has been in several North
sophomore on the Parker
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Star theatrical productions.
varsity golf team. He’s also
This is something that he
enjoying a documentary film
does at school, where he’s
e’re going to be well fed in 2013! We’ve got a course at school. Jake returns
active in swing choir, chorale
great returning kitchen staff, led by our kitchen for summer number seven.
and acting. He’s also been in manager Karen Brokaw. Marcus Harris returns for his
school musicals, S.T.U.N.T.S. second summer as one of our two cooks, along with SPENCER MARKS is also a
and short play festival.
first timer Chris Thomas. Chris McGarry will be back sophomore at Francis Parker
for his 2nd summer as an assistant cook. Matt Sirles is School in Chicago. There he
SAM BRICKER is back for back for his fourth summer as a kitchen helper. Beata plays on the school soccer
summer number eight. From Takaova returns from the Ukraine as a 2nd year kitchen team and writes for the school
Deerfield, IL, he’s a sophomore helper and is bringing her roommate, Jana Tabackova, newspaper. This will be his
at Deerfield High School. who worked at another camp last summer. We also 7th year at North Star. At
He’s got a pretty diverse set welcome new kitchen helper Alex Lara from Mexico. camp, he really enjoy riflery,
of interests. Sam plays on We’ll tell you more about our entire kitchen staff in land sports, disc golf, water
the school tennis team, is on the June Siren!
games and climbing.
student council, and DECA
(business club). As a youngster, Sam was actually had IAN MICHELSON is neither from Chicago, nor is he a
none other than Andy Shlensky as his baby sitter, but he’s
student at Francis Parker School. He is, however from
lived to tell the tale.
Glencoe, IL and is a sophomore at New Trier High School.
He plays lots of sports, as he’s on the New Trier tennis
JACOB BYCK comes to camp from Deerfield High
team. He plays guitar and also has been picking up the
School. He has a younger brother who is a camper at North ukulele. He’s also involved in social service projects and
Star as well as a twin sister that has been at Camp Birch DECA.
Trail. Jacob is a big sports fan and has played several years
of travel baseball and now plays for his school’s team. He JOSH POLLACK is a current sophomore at Deerfield
also helps coach his brother’s team
High School. There he is on the varsity soccer team. In
addition to that, he also plays club soccer for the Chicago
DAVID GLASS returns for his 7th summer. From Highland
Magic. He also loves playing basketball and football, but
Park, IL, David is a sophomore at Deerfield High School.
also enjoys bowling and playing mini golf. We’re excited
He’s very active in biking, climbing and sailing and we’ll to have join the North Star staff.
make sure to put his skills to good use there. He’s looking
forward to joining the North Star staff.
SPENCER REED returns for his seventh summer. Coming
all the way from Los Angeles, California, he’s a sophomore
ETHAN HANDLER comes from Northbrook, IL where at Loyola High School in LA. There he’s a rower and
he is a sophomore at Glenbrook North High School. There writes for his school newspaper. He also enjoys surfing. At
he is currently on the JV tennis team. He’s also on the
camp Spencer will be instructing tennis, along with a few
state-bound math team. Ethan is an avid baker, and spent other activities.
spring break skiing in Breckinridge, CO. Ethan returns for
his sixth summer at camp.
DAVID SHAKNO will be back for his sixth summer. A
native of Shaker Heights, OH, David is a sophomore at
W
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The North Star Siren
Shaker Heights High School. He runs cross country for
his school team and is also the multimedia editor for the
school newspaper. He recently qualified to participate in
a National History Day competition in Washington D.C.
Congrats David!
MAX SINTON comes to camp from Deerfield, IL where
he’s a sophomore at Deerfield High School. At DHS he’s
on the school lacrosse team. He’s looking forward to
coming to camp for his seventh summer and instructing
lacrosse, football and disc golf.
JACOB ZIONTS is currently a sophomore at Highland
Park High School, where he is on the tennis team. He was
the captain of the freshman and sophomore scholastic
bowl team. He’s also on the debate team and the school
board of DECA. AS if that hasn’t been enough, he’s also
been working at Uncle Dan’s Outdoor Store.
Meet our health staff, keeping campers safe and healthy
all summer long
CAITLIN PALGEN joins us for her first summer. A native
of Manhattan, IL, she’s currently a student at The University
of Illinois – Chicago. Caitlin is a nursing major with the
hopes of being a pediatric nurse after she graduates. She
recently ran the Shamrock Shuffle in Chicago and has been
spending time at the UIC recreation center rock climbing.
Caitlin joins us as our health counselor.
HEATHER SOLORIO will be spending her first summer
at North Star. Hailing from West Allis, WI, just outside of
Milwaukee, she’s graduating from Concordia College this
spring with her degree in nursing and taking her boards in
June. She did a pediatric rotation at the Children’s Hospital
of Wisconsin and also shadowed a school nurse at St.
John’s Military Academy. She’s worked as a life guard,
including spending last summer at Camp Silverbrook in
Milwaukee. We’re excited to have Heather as our nurse
this summer.
“T-R-I-P-P-E-R Trippers! Trippers! Best by far! Build a
fire, catch a fish, make your best back country dish!”
KACY LEBBY returns as our trip director. A graduate of
Puget Sound University, she’s worked extensively leading
trips and in camping. She is currently volunteering as a
backpacking guide in Quetzaltenango, Guatemala for an
organization called Quetzaltrekkers and in the past have
worked as a backpacking and canoeing guide for Outward
May 2013
Bound and at Camp Thunderbird in Minnesota. We’re
excited to have Kacy back on our leadership team.
FOREST LEMON joins the North Star staff for his
first summer. He’s currently a student at the University
of Arkansas studying engineering. He grew up in
Nacogdoches, having lived off the grid, without electricity
or running water. He’s been canoeing and kayaking ever
since he could remember and he worked last summer at
Northern Tier High Adventure in Ontario, leading trips.
At school Forest works for the University Arkansas Crime
Prevention and won their first cadet of the month award.
JASON MANN returns for his fourth year as a trip leader
at North Star. A native of New Berlin, WI, Jason is a
student at The University of Wisconsin – Stevens Point.
He recently changed his major to marketing. He’s led the
Canadian twice at North Star. Our campers and staff love
going on trips with Jason, not just for his great outdoor
skills, but because of his sense of humor. When not on
trips, Jason can often be found long boarding. We’re glad
to have Jason back.
CHRISTOPHER RODRIGUEZ hails from the Lone Star
State. He grew up in Forth Worth, Texas and he’s a student
at Stephen F. Austin State University in Nacogdoches,
Texas. He was a cub and boy scout and has always loved
outdoor trips. At school, he’s working on his degree in
television and radio production but his ultimate goal is to
get a job in outdoor education. At school he’s been working
for the outdoor pursuits program, leading trips.
STRATTON SHOOK joins us for his first summer at
North Star. He grew up in Southern Maryland, went to
high school in Washington DC (about 10 blocks from the
Capitol). He attended Gonzaga University in Spokane,
WA. Over his life he’s been to 23 distinct countries (24 if
you count North Korea at the DMZ) and 46 of the 50 states.
Recently, I returned from a National Outdoor Leadership
School course in Northern India and a side-trip to Everest
Base Camp.
Things I Can’t Forget
2nd session
1: Espionage • Fernard the drowning penguin • Tubing
war a blast • do you like waffles • I’m on the Namekagon
and I know it • Pow Wow Day • Sam the bell ringer •
Brandon’s Drama • Terminating the shadon • Canabalism
• The cabin dog J2: When J2 won Espionage • How slow
J
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The North Star Siren
we KPed • Neo, Jimmy and BBQ • Ridiculius Rafter Ball 0
Losing shoes on our trip • slamming doors in the morning
• our camper counselors • fine dining pizza party • Neo’s
shaved head…NOT • Paradise, starship graniade • funny
rocket launches • Once upon a time… a duck ate 3 big men
J3: YONO: “You only Nam once” • Swag • friends •
huggies • stuffed animal parties • boil water boil practice •
Eli’s Clown • J3’s got talent • Lewis’s songs
J4: Henry doing “This is sick!!” every time he loses •
Bobby: log rolling meeting the champs • 3 blind jellyfish
• Wakey, wakey, eggs and baky • David B is OD • Happy
Hollisters; the best story to bore them to sleep • Devan’s
random faces • Fishman water fight • Matt throwing a
water balloon at Eli after Eli left it in Matt’s pillow, but it
didn’t go off
J5: Yolo Style • Team Narwba • That’s “Coe” • Funky
Monkey • Pillow Pet • Daddy Daitch • Loon-atics • Bat
Dad and Robbykins • Huggi Bear • Billy Dally • Ya Killin’
Me • Like a Boss
J6: Dread in the fire • Laundr song • Best Pizza Parties ever
• Tamar sleep talking • The Blob • Cabin Royal Rumbles •
No Re-dos!!! • I’ll rip your heart out • Council Ring water
fight • Chocolate Sorbet • Dance Parties
J7: Benji tipping the canoe in 6” of water • “It’s fiiine”
• Mafia: Bombs away! • Mark’s snoring • Don’t step on
Stern’s Mat • Deh-shey, deh-shey, bah-shu-rah pizza party
• Twink,e twink,e Patrick star • Linday’s humor • Mark
“catching” a fish with his bare hands • Picnic eating spot •
Macx the dog
I1: New Friends • Freddy Cruser the rat • Camouflage •
Council Ring bonding • tissue mopping • hanging with
noah and tom • Frog swarm • vegetarian vampires • steve
I2: I am leaving and going to a new duck • when life gives
you lemons, eat an armadillo • Lucas is the mafia • beaver
slapping the paddles on the trip - Hotdog/hamburger •
warning • sand rock cliffs • Bang! Bang! Bang! • The lone
wolf • Who stole our wallets!
I3: You’ve got a face • Pie eating contest • Craig and Willis
laugh • Fletch in espionage • JD and Craig dancing on
the canoe by the party boat • Slip & slide • Card games,
monopoly deal, mao • JD jumped off the bed pretending
to be Chuck Norris • Blob on Cruiser Day • Blobbed by
Adomis
I4: Offering Dillon milk • the wedding pizza party • BLB
• Chop safety • 7 • That would be chill • Stefan’s letter •
tied cabin speedball game • Guten Galloping with style •
Cameron’s fake bed-person • Is it night or morning on the
trip? • “It’s funny because…”
I5: Archery • Odles’ shelves falling over • Scotty painting
his nails • getting up on skis • Finding the hatchet • “Woo
May 2013
Hoo” • Franczek speeling through the pizza party • loosing
sandles on the trip • Rubix Cube • Farnle • Montachango
(cheese or an old French ship?)
I6: Tegan • Fiesty Panda • Are you sassing me?!? • Fun
house • we got the funk • wazz off • hyper olly - Joe’s
scream • Franchesca & Malvin • Flabby abs • tazing • faith
- peanut butter eating
S4: Bang Games • Daniel Meek: “I’m the doctor” • Fun
trip times • Daniel and Adam’s camp songs • If there’s a
triangle between… - Cook outs • Three hour cabin meetings
• Pass hit diddigdin namsayin • Lumberjack Festival •
Wild Country Greta • No Milk • Meal time shenanigans •
Pause,not! • Spencer’s 50 wings
S3: Wisc DNR BRSF • 25 crunchies • verb’s stories •
Fletch Explosions • chill room • walking dead • super
hero cruiser day • Pokenon Hunt • Terminator Salvation
• Bramson questions • arguing opinions • The great kiwi
debate •
S2: Your mom jokes • mummifying • Predator-Prey stories
• Champion Sparkle Katana • Tupac • Waterbreaking in
the sauna • Batman Trivia • Holding Barbara ranson • Milk
me • Reisman can’t hold it in • “There was a kingdom” •
Bravo, Bravo
S1: “Noah Winkleman Broutman” said in a hoarse voice •
Cy Dollar • Mama Drew & Papa Lewis • The story if Link
in Sweden • “Sweed!” • The cabin of justice • “Harrison”
yelled by Lewis • Lets play games on the tennis court •
Ben leaving his shoes in a bag… for 3 weeks • Epic Guten
Gallop fight (as super heros)
PINE MANOR: The first huge waterfall in Canada •
Catching 108 fish in Canada • Ethan, Baim, Spencer &
Charlie all falling in the water • Trip to Copper Falls - Fun
Bug War • Impressions of Ben • White Water rafting •
Star tripping • Jim’s Stories • Atikokan • Boil water boil
comeback of the century • Villa dance party (number 1)
Its beginning to look a lot like Christmas!
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