Summer Academic Enrichment Eligible Programs

Goals

The goals and objectives for students attending the Junior Achievement Young Entrepreneurs Camp include: - Discover what it takes to be an entrepreneur - Develop new ways to advertise your business - Create unique products and services - Conduct market research and develop a business plan - Create a plan to obtain business start-up funding (think “Shark Tank”)

Please note, JA Summer camps were not hosted in 2021, but we have a strong history of providing these programs from previous years. All summer camp curriculum is based on the successes of previous years.

Activities

JA Summer Camps run for one-week sessions where students work to run a business and “work” in JA BizTown. Summer Camps occur in JA BizTown, a 12,000 square foot simulated city located at our state-of-the-art facility in St. Paul. With the support of JA staff, JA student mentors, and professional and corporate volunteers, students learn through interdisciplinary lessons. Specific camp activities and volunteers are identified beginning in March with individual and group volunteers confirmed by May.

Past JA Young Entrepreneurs Camps have included the following activities: - Campers dive into the Shark Tank, pitching their business idea to a panel of judges from several local businesses. In order to receive funding, the campers need to explain details about their company and answer some tough questions from the sharks. - Local entrepreneurs share their journey, like Lisa Nicholson, founder and CFO of Salsa Lisa. Lisa shares her journey from farmer’s market entrepreneur to CFO of one of the largest salsa brands in the United States. - Campers learn about sustainability and small steps any business can do to become environmentally friendly, such as creating a garden rooftop, turning off the lights at night, low flush toilets, and recycling. - JA students from the JA Company Program share their inspiration and new companies with campers. - Campers learn how to promote their JA BizTown business with branding, logos, and advertising. - Campers learn about interpersonal skills, and how to step up to not be just a boss but what it takes to truly become a great leader. - Entrepreneurs like Johnathan Johnson, owner of Home Grown, shares his journey of starting his own clothing company from scratch. He talks to campers about how he came up with his innovative design and how he markets his product nationwide.

Please note, the JA Young Entrepreneurs Camp is interdisciplinary (English, Language Arts, and Social Studies).

Program Dates

JA Young Entrepreneurs Camp will be offered July 25 – 29, 2022. This is a one-week session.

Can students reside on campus? No

Can students commute to campus? Yes

Can students take online classes? No