A mini-grant was awarded to teach business skills and money management to campers and counselors at the District IV 4-H summer camp by tasking them with operating concession stands during snack time.
Each cabin operated its own concession stand. Campers were charged with making sales to customers, which taught customer service and basic money math through counting change. Counselors were charged with pricing and marketing the snacks, which taught them business management skills.
Campers also learned to budget and engage in comparison shopping using the play money they received to purchase snacks. Between pricing and shopping, both campers and counselors learned how businesses and consumers interact in a market economy.
Campers and counselors were drawn from the five counties and reservation which comprise District IV of 4-H in Montana. Participating campers were ages 9 to 13, and counselors were ages 14 to 18.
Counting change proved to be demanding for campers. Counselors were directed to set snack prices at non-rounded amounts, so that campers counting change would develop their arithmetic skills. However, this made transactions time-consuming, so extension agents supervising the project believe simpler pricing is advisable for any future versions.
Counselors reported that campers were highly engaged and entertained by the project, and the camp plans to make it a permanent camp activity.
For further information on Montana 4-H, please visit their website: http://www.montana4h.org/.