ENTREPRENEURIAL SUMMER CAMPS: A GREAT WAY TO SPEND SUMMER 2021
Virtual (and a few in-person!) summer camps and workshops that combine entrepreneurial learning with loads of fun.
Ready for another season of entrepreneurial summer camps? We know we are! A few of these amazing camps are now ready with their in-person program plans, while others still offer virtual-only options. But in-person options are changing daily so for the most up-to-date information, follow your preferred camp’s social media accounts. You can also personally reach out to any of the camps listed below before you reserve a slot for your budding startup founder.
Alexa Cafe by iD Tech – Plans for an on-site camp that combines tech, entrepreneurship, and social impact for girls 10-15 years old will be finalized by the end of spring. For now, Alexa Cafe by iD Tech continues to offer its virtual programs with spring, summer, and year-round options. These online courses promise hands-on, immersive lessons that develop valuable skills your kids are going to need in today’s fast-paced digital world. While social distancing measures are in effect, Alexa Cafe by iD Tech’s code, TOGETHER50, can save you up to $50 when signing up for any of the Virtual Tech Camp courses here.
BizzyGirls – BizzyGirls empowers young girl entrepreneurs aged 7 to 16 to create their own product line and run an e-commerce startup. As of blog publication, the session dates and program fees of BizzyGirls’ virtual summer camp for 2021 have yet to be announced. But there’s good news! Your girl doesn’t have to wait until summer to join BizzyGirls. BizzyGirls offers an after-school online workshop that runs for 11 weeks from April 6 to June 15. Tuition costs $165 with two payment options possible. Registration links for campers based on the east and west coasts can be found here.
Break Into Business – Break Into Business offers three in-person camps (Atlanta GA, Baton Rouge LA, and Santa Rosa Beach FL) and a virtual one. All programs promise maximized entrepreneurial learning on the 5Ps (people, product, profit, promotion, and pitch) with two Business Coaches for up to 15 students aged 9 to 14. Entrepreneurs have the opportunity to pitch their business for real seed funds at end of week and then join a nationwide Big Summer Launch on Sat 6/19! The top 5 businesses will be selected for Big Summer Pitch on June 26; the best pitch wins $1,000 in investment funds from a panel of entrepreneurs. In-person camps cost $300 per attendee and run from either June 7 to 11 or June 14 to 18. The virtual program starts on June 14 and ends on 18 for $175 per student.
Camp BizSmart – Camp BizSmart opens its regular 10-day, in-person summer camps at Santa Clara University on July 19. Your child has the option to join the classic CampBizSmart for 12 to 16-year-olds or the BizSmart Accelerator for 15 to 17-year-olds. For the former, your child and their teammates have to solve a business plan challenge designed by CEOs and startup founders in Silicon Valley. For the latter, your child and their teammates have to pitch their business product in a competitive setting and close the highest investment deal possible from the attendees. Commuter tuition is $2,250, while residential tuition is $4,750, covering the program fee, materials, housing, and three meals a day. For Camp BizSmart, registration is here. For BizSmart Accelerator, slot reservation is here.
Camp WIT (Whatever it Takes) is a (virtual) place where t(w)een entrepreneurs from 7th-12th grade can come together and get valuable access to people, opportunities, and experiences. The camp’s “Activity” leaders are entrepreneurs from different fields and industries. Camp WIT gives you the chance to connect and learn from over 45 entrepreneurs from 20 different fields. You can do an entire month session or 1, 2, or 3 week sessions. Tuition is $1,750 for each 4 week session, $1,400 for 3 weeks, $1,000 for 2 weeks, and $700 for 1 week. Financial aid is available. Teens who complete the 4 weeks can participate in a Pitch Competition with $1000 prize!
Launch Business Camp – Launch Business Camp offers its 2021 Summer Camp as a virtual option only. This online camp, geared towards kids as young as 9 and teens up to 18, covers everything a young entrepreneur should know, from design-thinking to business math to branding. Registration is ongoing here, and you have the choice to enroll your child for one week ($300 fee) or two weeks ($425). The workshop kit, which comes with a T-shirt and a workbook, is mailed directly to registered campers.
Moolah U – In Moolah U, kids run their ideas through a business model and build their own business in just 5 days. Along the way, they will learn about money and how to make it work for them. Young entrepreneurs will work one-on-one with a mentor to go from idea to pitch to profitable business in five short days, making their first sale by the end of the week! Campers develop an entrepreneurial mindset and critical skills needed for smart financial choices in the future. For ages 8-17. Tuition is $195 for the five-day camps which run between May 24 and August 27.
SheEO Academy – Your girl can join SheEO Academy’s next generation of empowered female leaders and business moguls either online or in-person in Arlington, Fairfax, and Falls Church, Virginia. The 2021 camp sessions run June through August. You can find schedule and registration details of the Girl Boss, Girl Entrepreneur, and She’s the CEO camps here. Tuition fees range from $35 per virtual session to $325 for the 5-day on-site summer camp. Discount codes are available on SheEO Academy’s website.
SPARK Business Academy Inc. – Empowering aspiring entrepreneurs of all ages since 2014, SPARK offers both in-person and online programs for 2021. Depending on your child entrepreneur’s age, they can choose to join an online program specializing in entrepreneurship, financial literacy, philanthropy, international diplomacy, debate, fashion, food truck management, or sports management. Sessions begin in June and end in August, and the fees range between $150 and $240 (with discounts for siblings, multi-sessions, and referrals). For its on-site programs, SPARK partners with specific schools. You can check this list if your child’s campus is included.
Startup Kids Club – Austin-based Startup Kids Club believes that entrepreneurship can give all learners, no matter their age or background, the opportunity to succeed in life beyond the classroom. You can head over to Startup Kids Club’s join page to learn more about the 2021 virtual and in-person camps once these are open for registration.
Unreasonable Kids College Club – If your future boss likes to help others and solve problems that benefit the community, encourage them to check out Unreasonable Kids Club. All online, the after-school sessions, workshops, and camps of Unreasonable Kids Club share one goal: “To create opportunities for kids to tackle topics like poverty, environmental, and other issues of his or her interest.” Each program exposes kids as young as 6 and teens as old as 15 to various disciplines and brain-based learning activities. The creative curriculum also challenges campers to develop their social entrepreneurial superpowers so they can come up with startups that make the world a better place. Registration is ongoing, and program rates start at $48.
VentureLab – VentureLab promises a complete virtual adventure in entrepreneurship for its summer camp. Mentored by seasoned entrepreneurs, VentureLab campers go through every business stage, from idea generation to pitch, and learn how to build a startup from the ground up. You can fill out this form for a scholarship request or sign up here to reserve your child’s spot.
Young Founders Institute – Mostly remote for now, with one in-person option at The University of North Carolina (UNC) in Chapel Hill, the Young Founders Institute and its two summer camps, Young Teen Entrepreneurs and Teen Entrepreneurs, start on June 13 and end on July 30. For campers aged 12 to 14, the Young Teen Entrepreneurs program, with mentors from top universities, teaches attendees how to launch a business from an idea. For campers aged 15 to 18, the Teen Entrepreneurs program, with top CEOs and elite business school professors as consultants, provides attendees with a goal that they must complete. Campers have to create a real revenue-generating business, distribute the profit to charity, or use it for business growth. Interested campers must complete an interview process before the Young Founders Institute accepts their applications for the remote ($2,500), commuter ($2,600), and residential ($3,500) programs.
Your kids can make the most out of their summers with any of these entrepreneurial summer camps. They could even participate in two camps, thanks to the virtual options available. Make sure to factor in the correct time zone when considering an online program!
Looking for summer business ideas for your kids? Take a look at our list of best businesses for kids. And your kids can look for more inspiration from these amazing girlpreneurs who started their businesses from ages 5-15.
Know an entrepreneurial camp that we forgot to include? Let us know in the comments section below or tag us on social media.