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Summer camp makes lemonade for a cause

Local youth had the chance to learn what it takes to run a business while supporting a worthy cause, thanks to a summer camp put on by local teacher and tutor Christine Allaby.
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Christine Allaby organized a lemonade stand for the kids in her summer camp to show them the spirit of entrepreneurship and giving back. The kids raised more than $600 for the Alberta Children’s Hospital. Photo Submitted/For Rocky View Publishing

Local youth had the chance to learn what it takes to run a business while supporting a worthy cause, thanks to a summer camp put on by local teacher and tutor Christine Allaby.

Discovery Summer Camps' aim is to help children have fun while learning valuable skills over the summer, Allaby said – and her recent themed program Jr. CEO saw participants opening a lemonade stand and donating their profits to the Alberta Children’s Hospital (ACH).

“The whole idea is to incorporate some really fun, educational themes and have the kids engaged, but still learning, over the summer…. It's all about entrepreneurship and learning about what it's like to run your own business,” Allaby said. “What we did was a lemonade stand [and] the kids had to figure out in terms of supply [what] we would need.”

Participants were involved in rounding up the supplies, figuring out the location and determining the price of their lemonade, according to Allaby. And, thanks to the community’s support while the lemonade stand was open July 8 and 9, she said, the team was able to raise more than $600 for ACH.

“It just exceeded my expectations,” she said. “All I can say it was really exciting and I was shocked.”

On the second day, according to Allaby, the team ran out of lemonade and she ran out to pick up more. When she got back, she said, the stand was busy – the kids had enlisted the assistance of some RCMP officers who had stopped by, to help out by promoting the business.

“The RCMP were amazing. They came out and they were recruiting customers for us and helping the kids,” Allaby said. “The police officers actually went out holding a sign trying to get more traffic in. They were completely supportive, and we really appreciated their help.”

She said she was happy to see the community come out and support the kids and the ACH, adding the hospital has been an organization she’s supported for years.

“I think it's important for the kids to learn about giving back. They learned how awesome it is,” she said, noting the event was an opportunity to have “kids helping kids.”

Allaby said the team didn’t fully understand the extent of their earnings, at first, until they were recognized for their contribution. A representative from ACH provided the kids with a giant cheque to be presented to ACH for the amount they raised.

“She talked about how the money's going to help all the kids,” Allaby said. “It was really neat to see how the kids were engaged and they were learning so much…about giving back, and they were learning about how hard it is to run your own business.”

Additional themed camps will be offered throughout the summer – such as dinosaurs, space, railways, jungle, mermaids and pirates, along with an around-the-world camp at various times and dates. To find out more, visit mouldingminds.com/educational-camps

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