ENTREPRENEURIAL SUMMER CAMPS: HAVE FUN AND BUILD A BUSINESS
Our favorite camps that combine entrepreneurial learning with tons of fun.
Just in time for you to start making those summer camp plans, our annual roundup of entrepreneurship summer camps is here to help. Kids, tweens, and teens can find in-person and virtual camps that take place across the country so there is something for everyone. Your kids will not only learn how to start a business, but some camps also include mentoring from local entrepreneurs and some even have cash prizes! Most importantly, whether or not your kids grow up to be entrepreneurs, campers will learn to think like entrepreneurs and develop an entrepreneurial mindset including getting comfortable with risk, not being afraid to fail, and learning to see opportunities instead of problems. Here are some of our favorite entrepreneurial summer camps for kids, tweens, and teens …
In this four-week online program, your highschooler will get the chance to launch their very own startup. They will do everything from learning how to create a startup to pitching their idea in front of real life investors. This opportunity not only will build their resume, but it will give them the chance to encounter real-world situations and improve their problem-solving skills. Programs run in four-week sessions between June 17 and Aug 16. Sign up now as the tuition will rise from $3,200 to $3,950 on April 1st.
Girls and boys (6 to 12 years old) will learn how to create their own products and open an e-commerce shop. East and west coast locations include California (Beverly Hills (co-ed) and Santa Monica (girls only)) as well as in Westchester County, New York. Head over here for the exact dates, tuition fees, and sign-up links for your preferred summer camp location.
Camp BizSmart runs 10-day camps for 11 to 15-year-old kids and teens. Participants will work in teams made up of 6-7 kids and teens for the duration of the 10-day program while being mentored by Silicon Valley industry experts. On day one, each budding entrepreneur negotiates for an executive management Team Role. On day 10, teams have to present and defend their solutions before a panel of venture capital and angel investors. The 2024 summer program fee is $2,495, click here for details.
Camp WIT (Whatever it Takes)
Your teen can enjoy a 5-day virtual entrepreneurship camp in which they will pitch a business idea (and have a chance of winning a $1000 prize), earn the opportunity to be featured in Forbes Magazine, and meet a variety of CEOs, entrepreneurs, and leaders. At the end of the WIT Camp, participants will earn 2 units of college-credit and get a chance at getting featured in a TODAY Show blog and be a guest on the DO WIT podcast. Program tuition is $985 for this amazing week, and there is financial aid available. To enroll, click here.
Female Strong organizes in-person camps for girls ages 8-12 in Chicagoland and virtual camps for girls living in other parts of the U.S. This year, in addition to their renowned focus on entrepreneurship, creativity, and confidence, Female Strong is introducing STEM-focused camps. Camps are sponsored and hosted by local companies so dates and locations are still TBD. Keep an eye out on their website for dates and times.
Kid Entrepreneurship’s online sessions that teach the basics of entrepreneurship and business development take place year-round for kids ages 5-18. Courses are offered in English, Spanish, and Portuguese. And are free! Depending on your child’s age, virtual programs run for either 5 or 16 days.
Launch Generation’s overnight summer programs for 14-18 year olds aim to educate and inspire the next generation of leaders. Teens will attend hands-on sessions on topics such as budgeting and credit, negotiations, prototyping, business structures, and financial models, personal goal setting, branding, resilience, and more. Staff and visiting mentors include entrepreneurs, industry experts, and financial educators. This year’s program takes place at University of San Diego, in San Diego, California from July 13 – 20. Tuition of $6,000 covers room and board in San Diego, airport transfers from San Diego Airport, San Diego excursions, transportation to site visits, and more. Scholarships are available. Apply and get more information here.
LEAD (Leaders, Entrepreneurs, and Athletic Development) Camp for 3rd-12th graders in the Washington DC area provides a balance of teaching kids how to develop ideas while also enjoying outdoor athletic activities. Together, campers will launch a product or service using the skills and tools learned through daily team challenges, interactions with guest entrepreneurs, and weekly “Shark Tank” style pitch competitions. Tuition for one-week programs for 3rd-8th graders in June and July, and a three-day bootcamp for high schoolers, is $495. Sign up quickly as this camp tends to fill up.
Kid and teen entrepreneurs (7 to 15 years old) worldwide are welcome to join Moolah U’s online summer camp one week sessions running between June 3 and August 9. In just one week, your kids will be guided through the process of building their own business that makes real money and make their first sale before Friday! Program tuition is $425. You can reserve a spot here.
Project Echo has many after school and summer-only entrepreneurship programs to choose from. Each offers activity-based lessons that teach middle and high school students to develop and market a business idea in a competitive setting. Its campus-based Summer Program, Start-Up! Summer, is a plug-and-play entrepreneurship program for schools interested in partnering with Project Echo. This project-based summer program focuses on core academics, creativity, and personal interactions. It then culminates in a classroom-based showcase event, where student teams pitch their start up ideas to panels of judges via Zoom. If you’re interested in passing along the details to your child’s school, you can grab the information here.
SheEO Academy’s 2024 summer camp line-up for girls ages 7-12 will include “Build her Business” and “She’s the CEO Virtual Camp.” All camps will teach girls the essentials of creating and distributing products. They’ll also learn how to apply the STEAM approach so they can turn their entrepreneurial dream into reality. All in-person camps take place in Virginia. For fees and registration, head over here.
Spark’s 2024 programs include Budding Entrepreneurs, Bulls & Bears, Jr. CEOs, Money Matters, Sports Management, and many more. SPARK partners with top schools across the country for their face-to-face summer camps. Age groups (K-1, Grades 2-4, and Grades 5-8) and prices vary by location. The full 2024 summer schedule can be found here.
Middle and high school students can join one of Summer Discovery’s summer enrichment programs at Georgetown University or UCLA. Georgetown offers an entrepreneurship program for each age group from 6/30-7/12 and 7/14-7/26. UCLA offers three different three-week programs for middle and high schoolers. UCLA tuition and details can be found here. Georgetown tuition and details can be found here.
Teen Biz Camp powered by Target Evolution
Kids ages 10-18 in Houston or Dallas can learn about business and earn money in this 3-week summer camp. The camp is held 3 days a week and includes both online and onsite sessions. Lunch is provided daily, along with guest speakers, professional mentors, and weekly field trips. The camp includes a Pitch Day for cash prizes as well as a weekend pop-up shop where kids can put their new skills into action while earning money next to top brands at local shopping malls and Macy’s stores. Tuition is $300 and a limited number of scholarships are available. All details and registration can be found here.
Wharton Global Youth offers a number of on-campus and online summer programs. On-Campus programs for kids in grades 9-11 include Essentials of Entrepreneurship as well as other business topics. Online, kids in grades 9-12 can find general business, career, and financial literacy programs. Kids in grades 9-11 can also attend a program on innovation and startup culture at Wharton’s San Francisco campus. Details on all the programs, dates, and tuition can be found here.
Although not technically a summer camp, the SCALE Program by Young Founders is an advanced quarterly initiative for kids ages 12-17 that kickstarts every month. It’s tailored to young entrepreneurs who already have some experience in establishing companies or have earned a minimum of $500 in revenue. This quarterly SCALE program is committed to empower these teen tycoons, providing them with continuous momentum through personalized teaching, coaching, and guidance. Details can be found here.
All the camps may change their programs and schedules and add new sessions so visit their websites and social media channels for the latest updates. Know an entrepreneurial summer camp we missed? Please share the details in the comments so we can include it in future updates!