Andy Shlensky

Andy has spent his entire career creating life-changing experiences for young people. A lifelong camper turned camp director, Andy began his journey at North Star Camp, where he rose through the ranks from J-1 counselor to Junior Village Director. After graduating from Northwestern University, he continued directing camps before returning to North Star in 2009. In 2011, he was named Co-Director and eventually became one of the camp’s owners.

Andy’s passion for youth development runs deep. He co-founded The Road Less Traveled, a teen travel and service-learning company, and Bubbles Academy, an early childhood arts-enriched preschool in Chicago. Across these ventures, he’s seen firsthand how administrative burdens—payroll, compliance, hiring, and marketing—can distract from the real work of inspiring and mentoring young people.

That’s what led him to build Polaris Solutions: a team dedicated to supporting the behind-the-scenes needs of camps, schools, and youth organizations. Andy also serves on the board of the American Camp Association and Whole Child Arts, and frequently lends his time to youth-focused nonprofits. He calls Chicago home, but can often be found traveling with his daughter, Laney, in search of their next shared adventure.