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With warm weather and plenty of sunshine all around us, it’s hard to believe that summer is quickly coming to an end! The end of summer means that Young Americans Center for Financial Education’s FUNancial Summer Camps are now complete as well. With a total of 1,035 participants this year, we have lots of stories and memories to share. Here are a few of our favorites!
Make it Appen Summer Campers pose with judges Matt Mattson, Katya Meza-Doyle, Dara Zedake, Reena Sandhu, and Christian DeRoche.
YouthBiz “Make it ‘Appen” camp was the first of its kind here at Young Americans! Throughout the week, 20 campers, ranging in age from 10-14 years old, researched and developed their very own app that could support a new business. Ideas included an ice cream finder, a homework scheduler, and a pinball-style game for kids. At a culminating event on Friday, each business team pitched their idea to a panel of judges for a chance to win the grand prize: $100 cash! The competition was fierce, but Burger Bounce, created by Sam, Cole, and Finn ended up winning top honors for their app in which players collect burger icons to win discounts at local burger restaurants. Thank you to judges Matt Mattson from Honey Pot, Katya Meza-Doyle, a HR Specialist, Dara Zedake from Great-West Financial/Empower Retirement, and Reena Sandhu and Christian DeRoche from Vantiv.
Denese Ellis read about Young AmeriTowne Summer Camps in the Wall Street Journal last summer, and decided to send her granddaughter Grace this year.
Young Americans offered Young AmeriTowne camp for the 28th year in a row this summer! During their week at camp, fourth and fifth graders enjoyed lots of games, activities, and lessons that helped to prepare them for a day running Young AmeriTowne. A special visitor to camp this year was 10-year-old Grace who travelled all the way from Pittsburgh to attend camp! Her grandmother Denese had read about the experience last summer in the Wall Street Journal, and was determined to send Grace this year.
Young AmeriTowne Summer Camp went On the Road to Loveland, Aurora, and New Mexico this summer! These off-site camps were made possible by wonderful regional partners. In Loveland, programs were delivered in collaboration with the St. Vrain Valley school district. The new Moorhead Aquatic Center hosted AmeriTowne in Aurora, and Central New Mexico Community College hosted AmeriTowne in Albuquerque. At On the Road in St. Vrain, participants ended up donating so generously at the town “Donation Station” that very few shops made a profit. Donations are proportionally matched by the OtterCares Foundation, which turns AmeriTowne dollars into real American dollars given to three nonprofit beneficiaries.
Summer Camp registration opens in January every year, and some camps do fill up quickly! Make sure to register early to give your child a hands-on learning experience that will last a lifetime.
