Young Americans Center for Financial Education welcomes four Daniels Scholar interns to our team this summer! Madison Turner, Sasha Shadrina, Miguel Gonzalez, and Imad Rashed, current college students, have all stepped into roles as Counselors in Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters summer camps. I caught up with three of these exceptional individuals between camps to see how their experiences have been so far. Madison Turner, aka Madi, just finished her freshman year at Texas Christian University. She is working on a communications major there, and knows that she will start her own nonprofit someday. For Madi, this summer has been a “huge learning experience.” Although she has worked with children in the past, seeing them take on new, “adult” roles in Young AmeriTowne demonstrates to her how important financial education is. And, the campers are also fun to watch. “I thought it was a good life lesson when one of my students had to pay a co-pay in the AmeriTowne Medical Center,” said Madi. “He didn’t realize that he would need to put some money aside for emergencies, so this was a good example of why you shouldn’t spend all of your money.” Another accomplished intern, Imad Rashed will begin his sophomore year at Cal Poly this fall where he’s studying business. He was excited about the Young Americans Center opportunity because he thought teaching young people about business would be something different and interesting. Plus, even though he grew up in Denver, he didn’t have an opportunity to do Young AmeriTowne as a kid. In addition to facilitating learning for campers, Imad is excited that he has learned a few lessons himself this summer. “When it seems like nothing is going according to plan, I have to improvise and make sure they have a good experience regardless,” said Imad. He added, “It’s been so great having the opportunity to teach students about the world we live in and to see these lessons really stick with them.” Sasha Shadrina is just as excited about her summer so far. She is a finance major at the University of Denver, and she is also beginning her sophomore year this fall. Passionate about financial education, what she has found most interesting about her experience this summer is infection between her many interests–kids, business, education–that Young Americans Center has provided. Sasha was particularly impacted by her experience at Moorhead Recreation Center two weeks ago where she enjoyed helping kids see a different future for themselves. “It was so meaningful for me to see how much these students learned in just one week,” she said. “Kids who started the week shy ended up running for an election.” The addition of these four interns serves two purposes. Madi, Sasha, Miguel and Imad have all helped our staff deliver quality programs. But even more importantly, these four are serving as such great examples to the students they work with. Thank you to our interns for your time and dedication!

Daniels Scholars Teach and Learn in Young Americans Center Camps

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, General, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

Young Americans Center for Financial Education welcomes four Daniels Scholar interns to our team this summer! Madison Turner, Sasha Shadrina, Miguel Gonzalez, and Imad Rashed, current college students, have all stepped into roles as Counselors in Young AmeriTowne and Junior Money Matters summer camps.  I caught up with three of these exceptional individuals between camps to see how their experiences have been so …

Campers in Running Your Own Business camp enjoyed an extra treat on their final day of camp last Friday: a visit from 106.7 The Bull’s Chelsea Thomas! Running Your Own Business summer camp teaches the basics of business to third and fourth grade students. Campers learn about marketing and pricing, they learn how to create a business budget, they manufacture products, and they develop a business name and slogan. At the end of the week, campers sell their products in a Mini-Marketplace that’s open to family, friends, and special guests like DJ Chelsea. Owning your own business, even if it’s just for a week, teaches a lot. Cadence, Grace, and Zoe teamed up for “Me, Myself, and I Designs”, and because they didn’t know each other before camp began, they had to learn to work as a team. “That was one of the hardest parts,” said Grace. Cadence chimed in, “But when we finally learned how to work together, it worked really well!” Across the room at a business called “MIP,” co-owner Carson attributed their business success to using product labels. Each product had a description and price, which Carson thought helped customers know what they could buy. “I think it was a really good idea,” he said. CHELSEA PURCHASED PRODUCTS FROM SUMMER CAMP BUSINESSES. DJ Chelsea stopped by the Mini-Marketplace to shop and to see the campers in action. She was impressed with their business savvy, particularly their marketing skills which definitely have a real-world application. “You can tell these kids have learned a lot,” said Chelsea. “I ended up buying two friendship bracelets instead of one because they convinced me that it was such a good deal!” iHeart Media is the parent company behind 106.7 The Bull, which joined Young Americans Center for Financial Education as a proud partner in 2018. This partnership aligns with iHeart’s broader goal to “inform, inspire and support neighborhoods across the U.S.” By supporting hands-on financial education programs like Running Your Own Business summer camp and Young AmeriTowne, where students can have a career for a day in the iHeart Media Radio Station, iHeart Media is helping to educate a generation of young people about how to successfully navigate their finances. And in the words of camper Claire, “You can learn about finance in a really fun way!”

Sponsor Spotlight: iHeart Media provides hands-on, real world experiences

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, Get Involved Leave a Comment

Campers in Running Your Own Business camp enjoyed an extra treat on their final day of camp last Friday: a visit from 106.7 The Bull’s Chelsea Thomas! Running Your Own Business summer camp teaches the basics of business to third and fourth grade students. Campers learn about marketing and pricing, they learn how to create a business budget, they manufacture products, …

Young AmeriTowne Ballot Box Photo

Tales from Towne: Real Election Experience

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, Young AmeriTowne Leave a Comment

“Our vote is our voice.  Our vote is our choice.” –Caroline Bennet, daughter of Senator Michael Bennet There are two elected positions in Young AmeriTowne: Mayor and Judge.  And for campers participating in Young AmeriTowne 2 summer camp last week, the election of these two students provided real-world experience in elections, campaigning, and politics. By Wednesday, students had already participated …

Summer Camp Bank Deposit

Looking for 37 Donor Friends!

Young Americans Center for Financial Education Classes + Camps, General, Get Involved Leave a Comment

If you were 10 years old, and your family had no money for “extras,” what would be the best news ever? How about a scholarship to the summer camp of your dreams! For 37 deserving students, the answer is “Yes! There’s a place for you at Jr. Money Matters, Girls Can, International Towne, …” In fact, every camp, from the brand ...
Campers at RYOB Summer Camp

Top five reasons to send your child to Young Americans Center Summer Camps

Mary Tallerday-Smith Classes + Camps, Events, International Towne, Programs, Spark Change, Young AmeriTowne, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Summer will be here before we know it, which means warmer days, vacations, and summer camps for your children!  Keep reading for the top five reasons you should consider sending your child to a Summer Camp at Young Americans Center for Financial Education this year.  And don’t just take our word for it–see what last year’s campers had to say …

YouthBiz Startup Mini-Camps Students stand together after pitching their businesses with judges. Thinking about spring break brings to mind a relaxing vacation. But for 48 entrepreneurs, this year’s spring break was spent creating the perfect business idea as part of YouthBiz StartUp Mini-Camps, a partnership between Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Denver Public Libraries.

Best Week Ever: Entrepreneurs Win Big at YouthBiz StartUp Mini-Camps

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Thinking about spring break brings to mind a relaxing vacation.  But for 48 entrepreneurs, this year’s spring break was spent creating the perfect business idea as part of YouthBiz StartUp Mini-Camps, a partnership between Young Americans Center for Financial Education and Denver Public Libraries. The YouthBiz StartUp curriculum guides 11-14 year-olds through the basics of creating a business idea.  Young people …

YouthBiz Green Background Iconography

Spring Break Mini Camps

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

We may have snow on the ground, but spring is just around the corner, and Young Americans Center for Financial Education’s YouthBiz program is proud to announce the return of Spring Break Mini-camps! Offered in conjunction with Denver Public Library, these FREE camps offer a prize of $350 for your business idea.  Young people will learn, think, speak, and act like …

Interview Workshop lesson in the YouthBiz Lab

Lights, Camera, YouthBiz Entrepreneurs in Action!

Stacy Winner Classes + Camps, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

On Saturday, ambitious current and future business owners gathered to learn about interview skills and how to be confident speaking on camera. Since YouthBiz partners with Colorado & Company every month to feature a young business owner, it is important to sound knowledgeable and professional when talking about yourself or your business. We were lucky enough to have the workshop …

Leila Hollis is just 12, but she’s already started three businesses! Her latest enterprise is “Leila’s Essential Care” which sells sugar scrubs and foot balms. This business combines Leila’s love of creating things and her desire to earn extra spending money. Plus, Leila won top honors at YouthBiz Camp at Young Americans Center for Financial Education last summer!

Colorado and Company: Leila’s Essential Care

Janet Redwine Classes + Camps, YouthBiz Leave a Comment

Leila Hollis is just 12, but she’s already started three businesses!  Her latest enterprise is “Leila’s Essential Care” which sells sugar scrubs and foot balms.  This business combines Leila’s love of creating things and her desire to earn extra spending money.  Plus, Leila won top honors at YouthBiz Camp at Young Americans Center for Financial Education last summer! Watch Leila’s …