"Be Your Own Boss" Youth Entrepreneur Summer Camp 2010

Eight fourth and fifth graders participated in the first Be Your Own Boss Youth Entrepreneur Camp operated by the UNI JPEC from June 14-18, 2010 at UNI. The camp focused on entrepreneurship education, small business development, a company tour at Wayne Engineering, and three UNI activities/tours of the Tallgrass Prairie Center, the Center for Energy and Environmental Education and the Marshall Center School of the 1920s, operated by the UNI Museum. Each camper developed an original business plan and marketing materials for the business. On the final day, the campers presented their business plans to 50 invited guests and held a business fair in the afternoon. Businesses started by the campers included lawn care, snow removal, scrapbooking, snow cones, music lessons, a non-profit offering swimming lessons, and the concept development of a restaurant.

Campers in the above photo are: (l to r): Joleen Ramos, JPEC Staff camp counselor; Paloma Marshall; Noah Mauer; Seth Layton; Andrew Haan; Katie Rygh; Julian Wind; Kaleb Kinskey; and Oliva Brown.

The University of Northern Iowa John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center in partnership with the Jacobson Institute for Youth Entrepreneurship at the University of Iowa found the week-long camp to be an excellent and inexpensive way for students who have completed fourth and fifth grades to learn about starting a business. Students from Black Hawk and its contiguous counties learned how to write a business plan, created business cards and flyers, learned from real entrepreneurs, visited local businesses, and made new friends.

Sponsors for the camp are Farmers State Bank, The R. J. McElroy Trust, the University of Northern Iowa Provost's Office, and the UNI John Pappajohn Entrepreneurial Center.