Alberta camp for business-minded youth

Times Contributor 

 

Alberta youth ages 13 to 15 are invited to apply for the Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp (AYEC), to be held August 18-24 at the Eagles Nest Ranch in Cypress Hills, Alta.

Carolyn McIntyre, Community Economic Development Coordinator with Community Futures Wild Rose, said in a prepared statement, “if you are a youth aged 13-15 and have an interest in business, then this is the perfect camp for you.”

AYEC has a range of typical summer camp activities – swimming, horseback-riding, wall-climbing, mountain biking, campfires, plus a 65-foot zip-line and a Burma bridge. What makes this camp stand out is the business training campers receive, in areas like marketing, advertising, cash flow and record-keeping. All week, the campers work in teams to develop a real, workable business.

“They come up with the product, develop it, tweak it, (do) everything to market it, and make sure they have the right price on it so they do gain a profit,” McIntyre said. “They negotiate with suppliers and bankers. They learn to budget. They operate their business.” 

At previous camps, campers’ businesses have included making and selling jewellery, flip-flop can holders and pottery.

On the last day of camp, when family members and friends come to pick them up, the youths open their businesses. “And (the money) they do make,” McIntyre says, “over and above what they have to pay back for their loan or their suppliers, they get to split amongst their team.”

It’s also outstanding that, because of generous sponsorship from Alberta Human Services, Alberta Lottery Fund, and 13 partnering Community Futures offices, AYEC is completely free for campers. When campers apply, they submit an essay describing their business, leadership and teamwork experience. The quality and content of their essays determine whether or not they’ll be selected to attend camp.

McIntyre assures youth that Community Futures recognizes and values a variety of skills. 

“You don’t have to be the smartest kid in your class with numbers,” in order to be accepted as a camper, she says. “You can be the artistic person who has a great idea … or maybe you can come up with a great way to sell something.”

Another bonus is that campers who register in Career and Technical Studies (CTS) at school may receive extra CTS credit by attending AYEC.

Alberta youth are encouraged to check out the Alberta Youth Entrepreneurship Camp Facebook page and www.ayec.ca. 

They can get more information by contacting Carolyn McIntyre at 403-934-8888 or carolyn@cfwildrose.ca, and pick up application forms from Community Futures Wild Rose at #101, 331-3rd Avenue in Strathmore. Deadline for applications is June 1, but McIntyre encourages prospective campers to apply early.