updated: 9/10/2020
Did you love summer camp when you were a kid? (I sure did!).
Some of my favorite memories as a kid were from summer camp. I loved staying in a tent or cabin, slurping slushies, singing songs, making s’mores and learning all kinds of new things by experiencing them first hand. I can still remember making that plaster casting of a deer print, singing camp songs and learning how to start a fire. I loved it so much I became a 4-H camp counselor when I was a teen and then spent many hours volunteering at Scout Camps with my kids as an adult. Now, I am so fortunate that I get to direct and teach youth entrepreneur camps each summer.
Summer Camp is a great way for kids to experience and learn things they may not have the opportunity to in school.
Entrepreneurship is a prime example of this. The great thing about an entrepreneurship summer camp is that kids not only learn about business; they get to learn about their own passions and talents and how they can make a difference in the world. Many kids who don’t do well sitting at a desk all day, thrive in a summer camp environment. It increases their self-confidence and they actually get excited about learning.
In the Eseedling Youth Entrepreneur Camps kids come up with a business idea that they work on all week and can actually implement once they leave the summer camp. They learn business operations, including teamwork and collaboration, by playing the Biz Ops Game. They run a real lemonade stand business to raise funds for the camp scholarship fund. They develop their business ideas and give business presentations. The entrepreneurship summer camp is packed with experiential learning activities in a fun and safe environment.
It was so fun that I didn’t even feel like I was learning ~summer camp participant
But don’t take just my word for how valuable summer camp is. The American Camp Association has this to say about the benefits of summer camp:
At camp, when children make new friends, explore the world around them, and learn that “I can” is much more powerful than “I can’t”, magic happens. In an environment created just for them, children learn real life skills, develop self-esteem, and gain a sense of independence and community. Whether children are playing, exploring nature, conquering new heights, or becoming part of a camp family, they are creating memories that will last a lifetime – See more at: http://www.acacamps.org/campers-families/because-camp#sthash.44KAY3o4.dpuf
It’s never too early to starting looking for summer camps in your area. I’m amazed how many camps are full months before the camp starts.
There are camps of every subject possible so there is bound to be something that your kids are interested in. There are many sources to find camps in your area including: The American Camp Association website www.acacamps.org , your local newspaper summer guide, local mom blogs, and Google.
With all the new changes in our COVID world – you may be thinking of taking a summer camping trip with your family.
In these articles Tips For Camping For Kids, written by Andrew Clark for Explore New Trails and 24 Practical Tips for Camping with Kids by Phin Teb of The Camp Corner, there are some great tips and fun activities for when you take the next summer camping trip as a family. Of course, you can also take the Biz Ops Game Home Edition with you – a camping trip would be a great place to have fun and learn about business as a family!
Want to learn more about the Eseedling Summer Camp and how it can be taught virtually?
Click HERE To Learn about the Eseedling Youth Entrepreneur Summer Camps in Madison, WI. If don’t have a Camp or Program in your area – contact juliewood@eseedling.com to see how you can get one going! You can also check out our recent blog posts on how we’ve adapted our curriculum for the virtual environment and how you can too!
Julie Ann Wood is the author of More Than a Lemonade Stand and You’re Never Too Young To Start a Business and the Creator of the Biz Ops Game. She has created a complete youth entrepreneur curriculum that is not only used in her programs but in 31 states and 13 countries. To learn more about the curriculum visit eseedling.com
