Camp teaches entrepreneurial, life skills

Not all entrepreneurial ventures have to return a profit. Take the Urban League of Kansas’ Camp Destination Innovation, launched by Marquetta Atkins, as an example.

Atkins was hired last year by the Urban League to run its Education and Youth Empowerment programs. Her first charge: develop within a month a summer camp that would provide high-school-age students with some useful activities that could benefit them later in life.

Talk about pressure. But Atkins, a communications major from Wichita State University, more than rose to the occasion. She quickly put together the camp idea, marketed it to area high schools, and enrolled 35 campers in her first summer. This year the camp size is about the same, though a number of campers have returned from last year.

Atkins teaches the campers both entrepreneurial and life skills, such as being able to deliver prepared speeches before large audiences, as well as cooperating with others. She does this through classroom instruction on such things as how to launch a business or write software code, and by completing group projects. The camp culminates with the campers having to present in a “shark tank” on June 29 and a trade show, open to the public on June 30, both hosted by Bank of America.

Somehow Atkins sandwiches between these instructional events 12 field trips for the campers to see area businesses, meet successful entrepreneurs and attend entrepreneur events, such as 1 Million Cups.

In addition to designing the curriculum for the camp and acting as its leader, Atkins must raise funds for it – another important entrepreneurial activity. Last year she received one grant, which covered nearly all of the camp’s costs. She also requires the campers to pay small fees ranging from $15 to $25. The fees are low so the camp can be accessible for any teen who wanted to attend. Atkins believes that even a small fee is important for campers and their families to have “skin in the game,” which helps ensure commitment to the program.

And commitment there is. Atkins said she was amazed at the sophistication of some of the business ideas, including some cool software apps, that her campers came up with last year. She believes this year’s crop will do as well or even better.

If you or your organization would like to host the campers and demonstrate what your business does for next year, or would like to judge in the trade show on June 30 at the downtown Bank of America, you can contact Atkins at 316-262-2463 or campdi2016@gmail.com.

The camp also can always use donations (checks made out to Urban League of Kansas-Camp Destination Innovation, 2418 E. Ninth St., Wichita, KS 67214).

This story was originally published June 24, 2016 at 12:01 AM with the headline "Camp teaches entrepreneurial, life skills."