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 27-28 for students entering third through fifth 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 in Waukon. Students listened to presentations from local businesses and also visited Aztec Parlor, Epic Wear, Hello Sunshine, KNEI Radio and Paws Up Pet Supplies in downtown Waukon to witness what they were learning at the camp being utilized in a real business setting. The students concluded camp by presenting their own 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: Brenda Hackman of Allamakee-Clayton Electric Cooperative, Jeremy Troendle of The Standard Newspaper, Lara Berryman of Hello Sunshine, Barb Shull of Freedom Bank, Tracey Tepesch of Paws Up Pet Supplies, and Tyler Halverson of Epic Wear. The business ideas pitched by the camp participants this year included such names as CH Mowing, GW Sports, Karts 4 Kids, Kara’s Kat Kafé, Brooke’s Hen House, BeYOUtiful Jewelry by Addi, Cam’s Pet Center, M’s Creative Shop, Kayden’s Doggy Daycare and Zephyar Café. Submitted photo.