b'YOUTH ENTREPRENEUR DREAM CAMPteambuilding, positive body language, speaking with the media, how to take and give constructive comments, and useful techniques for being a confident public speaker. They are also able to interface with experienced businesspeoplerare in any other settingand build their interpersonal skills. Not only do they gain knowledge and hands-on experi-ence, but they also have the opportu-nity to interact and build networks with professionals and business leaders in the community, explains Sutherland.Graduates of a Youth Entrepreneur Youth Camp proudly display their certificates. Standing far right is the camps founder Geena Jackson Adds Montgomery: A huge success for me is that nearly everyone who goes This isnt the first youth-oriented busi- The format is similar to the youth campsthrough the camp comes out with vastly ness training program Jackson has beenJackson had earlier developed for theimproved public speaking skills. When involved in. Earlier in her career as anSquamish Nation: a three-day workshopmost kids come into the camp, theyre economic development officer for theheld over a weekend for up to 25 youthquite shy and its hard for them to intro-Squamish Nation in B.C., she helped facil- aged 11 to 18. Young entrepreneursduce themselves in front of their peers. itate a business skills training program.pick a business, choose a role withinBy the end, theyre at a graduation cere-Often, program participants wouldthat business, and develop a businessmony speaking in front of up to 100 bring their children along, who wereplan. It can be anything from an apparelpeople. And thats amazing to see.more tech-savvy than their parents company to a food truck, to powwow and who to Jacksons surprise showedregalia to jewelry, says Jackson. TheThe graduation ceremony is an impor-keen interest in the business lessons.uniqueness of the businesses that cametant part of the program. It is where the This prompted her to develop her firstout, the brainstorming and the creativitystudents present their pitch video to the Entrepreneur Youth Camp for Squamishwas unbelievable. camps judges in front of an audience of Nation members in 2015.The camps cover everything from basicsfriends, family and community members. They would put down their electronics,like target markets, start-up costs andAfter the videos are evaluated, winners put down their colouring books, comeoperating budgets, to more granularare selected to win prizes, such as a $250 and sit beside their parents and startdetails such as whether a portion ofMasterCard gift card. taking notes, says Jackson. And a light- profits would be donated to charity. bulb went off. I wonderedhow couldThroughout the weekend, participantsThe Bears Lair Youth Entrepreneur we change the paradigm of economicsrefine and present their plans to theDream Camps are supported by First within communities? [We had] this beau- other groups and coaches, who giveNation communities and industry spon-tiful pocket of opportunity to educate,feedback on what works and what couldsors, including Shell Canada and TC elevate and inspire these youth to takebe improved. At the conclusion of theEnergy, and are free for participants. them to the next level.camp, the young entrepreneurs produceBy the end of 2023, Jackson facilitated a five-minute video pitch in the style of25 camps serving over 450 Indigenous GETTING STARTED Bears Lair. youth across Canada, including Onion While Jackson would later move on toLake Cree Nation in Saskatchewan and successfully pitch and develop Bears Lair,The energy and engagement of theHaines Junction in the Yukon. This year, the vision of an entrepreneurial campyouth in these camps is incredible, saysshe hopes to double that number and for youth never faded. With filming onShannon Sutherland, vice president ofhold at least 40 to 60 camps. the first season completed, Jackson andmarketing, communications and events Montgomery assembled a small teamwith Canadian Council for AboriginalSo far, the feedback from parents, coun-to revive the youth camps, expandingBusiness and a member of the Mtissellors and coaches has been overwhelm-them to include Indigenous youth fromNation of Alberta. I participated in aingly positive. Its probably the most across Canada.panel on social media for entrepre- gratifying thing that weve ever done neurs at one of the events, and the youth They held the first Bears Lair Youthasked so many insightful questions. Iand that our team has ever been a part Entrepreneur Dream Camp in Augustcontinue to keep in touch with some ofof, says Jackson. The electricity and the 2022, in Six Nations on the Grand Riverthem today.love, the respect and the pride that goes in Ontario. Roughly two dozen youngon with these campsparticularly when people attended, split into groups, andVARIED SKILLS theyre finished at the graduation cere-were led by an experienced coach whoUltimately, the camps youth partici- mony and you see the connectedness taught them the essentials of businesspants learn many skills beyond justwith the communityits relationship-over the course of three days.business acumen. They learn aboutbuilding. It really is a beautiful camp.66A CCAB PUBLICATIONWinter 2024'