NICC Waukon Center hosts “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp ...

Northeast Iowa Community College (NICC) Waukon Center held its “Build Your Own Business” Summer Camp June 21-22 for students entering fourth through sixth grades this fall. This two-day camp was a “Shark Tank”-style experience (based on the “Shark Tank” television series) where students learned basic business concepts and vocabulary in formulating a business idea, created their own business plan, discussed customer service and created their own logo and business cards, printed by The Copy Shoppe. Students listened to presentations from local businesses and also visited Silver Laine Co., Cunningham Hardware, Town Theater, Aztec Parlor and Paws Up Pet Supplies in downtown Waukon to witness what they learned at the camp being utilized in a real business setting. The students concluded camp by presenting their business ideas to area business leaders who represented the “sharks” that provided feedback on those business ideas. Build Your Own Business Camp is sponsored by Northeast Iowa Community College, Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and the Allamakee County Community Foundation.

Pictured above are the camp’s participating youth with the area business leader “sharks”. Those “sharks” included: Back row - left to right: Jessica Wagner of Aztec Parlor, Mike McMullen of Cunningham Hardware, John Earp of Town Theater, Tracey Tepesch of Paws Up Pet Supplies, Brenda Hackman of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative and Jeremy Troendle of The Standard Newspaper. The business ideas pitched by the camp participants included such names as Dustie Daycare, Custom Cases, Christen Theatre, Tom’s Lawn Mowing, Bake Shop Mayhem, TW’s Game Wizard, Breakfast Hub, Moore Sports, Ceeping it Clean and Cut, and RJ’s Veterinary. Photo courtesy of Allamakee County Economic Development & Tourism and NICC Waukon Center.