It?s called Exchange City, and it?s full of young future business leaders, mayors, reporters, bankers and lawyers all working in jobs that imitate the real world.
Here 10- to 14-year-olds spend a week learning how to “design and build new businesses, create a thriving corporate community, develop new business skills and strategies and learn about entrepreneurial opportunities and challenges,” according to Junior Achievement of Central Maryland Inc.
More importantly, said camp director Brian Hagen, the youth get hands-on experience applying personal finance lessons taught by the camp.
Those lessons include how to write a check, balance a checkbook as well has how to budget, shop, negotiate and spend money, Hagen said.
“They learn so many valuable and invaluable life skills that can take them from age 12 all the way to their adult lives,” Hagen said.
Inside Exchange City, located in Owings Mills, there is a functioning advertising agency, radio station, boutique, post office, law firms, newspaper, restaurant, bank, public accounting office, sports shop, warehouse and government office complete with a mayor, according to a junior achievement outline of the program.
The children get paid ? in Exchange City money ? and learn skills such as how to apply for a loan, how to craft a budget to run a business from meeting payroll to manufacturing, advertising and delivery of their products.
Youth participating come from a variety of backgrounds and include children from private schools as well as inner-city Baltimore, Hagen said.
“I like the camp because it helps you with life skills,” said Brian Macklin, 12, from Owings Mills. “Now, I know how to cash a paycheck and put money in the bank.”
“I absolutely love this camp,” said Sean Waag, 12, of Timonium. “It?s one of the best camps I?ve ever been to.”
Brian is news reporter and Sean is the mayor in Exchange City.
Exchange City
» Register at 8:30 a.m. Monday to join the camp for the week at 10711 Red Run Blvd.
» Cost $195, including lunch meal
» Age: 10 to 14 years
» Call 443-394-7211
» Camp hours: 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. with extended 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. hours
