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Summer camp feeds entrepreneurial spirit

Springfield kids learn to come up with a product and a business plan

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By Elaine Morris Roberts, Staff Writer 7:41 PM Saturday, July 18, 2009

SPRINGFIELD — Alex Garcia and Dylan Johnson managed to do in four weeks what many business people never accomplish in a lifetime.

They started a business, ran it successfully, paid off their debt and closed the doors.

Alex, who is 9, and Dylan, 8, became pint-sized entrepreneurs at Kids Can! Summer Day Camp organized by Springfield Christian Youth Ministries.

The camp was held June 22 through July 17 at Zion Lutheran Church.

In what was the sixth year for SCYM’s summer camp, this year’s theme was entrepreneurship.

“Our camp has had the typical summer camp activities, but this year we decided to see what we could do that would be enriching and empowering,” said SCYM Director Faith Bosland.

SCYM charged $50 per child, which included two meals each day and field trips to the bank, Young’s Jersey Dairy and the Columbus Zoo.

It costs SCYM about $150 per child, Bosland said, with the remainder covered by donations.

With the help of a host of volunteers, the campers learned what they needed to know about running a business from start-up to sales. They created business plans, decided on names, worked on advertising and made their products, said Angela Bishop, camp director.

The 27 participants were divided into four groups that became four small businesses — a bakery, jewelry-making, candle-making and photography.

Each business then elected a president, vice president and treasurer.

The treasurers went to Fifth Third Bank where they applied for and received micro-loans for $60 to set up shop.

“We made sure they learned how much they needed to make to break even and pay back their loans. ...We talked about how they would need to pay the loan back first, then think about giving back and donate some of their profits to charity,” Bishop said.

The groups donated a portion of profits to Interfaith Hospitality Network.

Being a church camp, it also tried to incorporate Christian principles as they apply to business.

“We talked about honesty, using their gifts and talents for the benefit of others and greed versus generosity,” Bishop said.

Helping hands

About 30 adult volunteers made the camp possible.

Michelle Detrick, donor services and events planning director at the Nehemiah Foundation, volunteered for a few days to teach the campers about basic business principles.

She used teaching materials provided by Junior Achievement of Mad River Region.

“I was trying to help them think about what it really takes to run a business. We thought about what a community needs and how the could meet those needs,” Detrick said.

Detrick used the example of a lemonade stand, asking the children to think about supplies, marketing, setting prices and establishing a good location.

She was familiar with SCYM because the group is one of Nehemiah’s sponsored ministries.

“What they’re doing is so important. It’s giving these kids life skills and the love they need,” she said.

Loans were facilitated by Jessie Beck, financial center manager at Fifth Third’s Red Coach Banking Center, 2700 N. Limestone St.

The campers came into the bank and learned how loans and interest rates work, but were not charged interest on their micro-loans.

“We provided them with letters — security agreements — stating the business name, loan amount and payoff date. We explained that a bank is a business, too, and interest is how a bank makes money,” Beck said.

On Thursday, July 16, each group’s treasurer came to the bank and repaid the loans in full.

Making a buck

Campers had the opportunity to sell their goods Tuesday, July 14, and Wednesday, July 15, on the city hall plaza in downtown Springfield.

“I was on fire selling yesterday,” Dylan said of his success Tuesday, July 14.

Dylan and Alex, along with three others, were partners in Photo Dragon Photography.

The entire Photo Dragon team took pictures around Snyder Park, Wittenberg University and downtown Springfield.

They chose their own subjects, which included termite ashes, a duck, some flowers and a woman sitting at her desk while talking on the telephone.

“I saw things that I thought were eye-catchy and that I thought people would like. ...By the end of Tuesday, we made $103, so our loan is paid back,” Alex said.

All campers — kindergarten through fifth grade — were from the city of Springfield.

“These kids just need somebody to have a vested interest in them. They need to know there are people out there who love them,” Bishop said.

Campers had fun so they can learn to strike a balance and enjoy life, she said.

On Friday, June 17, campers were treated to a field trip at the Columbus Zoo.

As the children exited the bus, Bishop handed each child an envelope with his or her share of the profits — about $20 each.

Alex and Dylan didn’t know what to spend it on, but they were excited to know they earned their own money and had the freedom to spend it as they chose.

“This has been a great opportunity for our campers to learn from a young age the benefits of hard work. The kids learned the importance of working hard and earning money,” Bishop said.

Contact this reporter at (937) 328-0371 or elroberts@coxohio.com.