Rotary sends two CDDHS students to Camp Enterprise

June 18, 2015 · 0 Comments

“I believe our legacy will be defined by the accomplishments and fearless nature by which our daughters and sons take on the global challenges we face. I also wonder if perhaps the most lasting expression of one’s humility lies in our ability to foster and mentor our children.”
– Naveen Jain
The Rotary Club of Shelburne recently sent two Centre Dufferin District High School (CDDHS) students to ‘Camp Enterprise’. The experience for TJ Felice, age 15, and Adam Lloyd, age 15, was nothing short of amazing, and, they believe, the best possible start to their future professional careers.
Camp Enterprise was started in Canada in 1976, by the Youth Service Committee of the Rotary Club of Toronto.
A three and a half day experience, Camp Enterprise aims to educate and inspire students (typically in Grade 11 & 12), to become the best they can be, and align them with possible future business contacts at the same time.
The program consists of a series of panels, presentations and discussions on the subjects of business and the free enterprise system – where students can interact with business professionals and other like-minded youth.
This year, camp took place from May 7th–10th at the YMCA Glen Cedar facility in Caledon.
64 GTA-based students took part in the weekend, after passing a rigorous application and screening process.
In Shelburne, Felice and Lloyd were selected for their “exceptional attitudes,” said Rotary Club of Shelburne Camp Enterprise program coordinator, Randy Narine.
“This program is for students who have real future business potential, but don’t necessarily know ‘what they want to be when they grow up’,” he said.
To help these exceptional students reach their goals, and decided what their goals even are, Camp Enterprise encourages participants to “expand their imagination on the whole subject of business and private enterprise”.
Paid for by Rotary, the experience was free to the CDDHS students, who could have paid more than $350 each for a similar experience.
“Money can be made and spent in so many ways,” said Narine on Rotary’s decision to invest in Felice and Lloyd. “From any start-up great things can grow – sometimes it just takes the exposure and encouragement of adults who have been where they are. These kids deserve that chance.”
Narine went on to say that he’s seen garbage collectors become wealthy, and investment bankers lose it all. “All valid business ideas should be considered,” he said.
TJ Felice applied to take part in Camp Enterprise through his Guidance Department. Already a business owner, this lawn care professional wants to take his business to the next level.
“I learned so much at Camp Enterprise,” Felice said. “I came out with a lot of business know-how. It was like being in a real business environment. It’s also very social, and I think I’ve made friends for life. I’m glad I did it, and I think now I’m a step ahead of other kids who are looking to start their own businesses.”
Felice also told the Free Press that he’s now able to see himself in a larger role in the future, and has learned to present his business ideas as “bigger, and better” (and more economical) than the competition.
Adam Lloyd, who also works in landscape and design, says he’s grown too.
“I knew my lawns needed to look good when I was done,” Lloyd said. “Now, I have more of the business aspect of lawn care in mind while I’m working.”
Lloyd also says he’s learned better business practices, and he too has made friends and professional contacts for life.
Both students agree that the experience has “paved the way towards a brighter future”, as it concerns their professional ambitions.
Over the weekend, students:
• Took part in presentations and panel discussions on starting a business;
• Completed presentations and discussion exercises on planning and team building in business and life;
• Acted out educational and business games;
• Heard a presentation of the fundamentals of the free enterprise system;
• Participated in labour and management agreement negotiation “plays”;
• Heard presentations on communications and financing, business ethics, and marketing and branding.
In addition to the presentations and discussions, Lloyd and Felice were also given plenty of free time to participate in recreational activities and to interact with other students on a more social basis.
Rotary is a world wide organization of business professionals dedicated to the idea of “Service Above Self“. It has local business and professional men and women as members. Members of Rotary volunteer their time and services by working on many fundraising projects – usually donating the proceeds back into the community they represent.
For more information about the Rotary Club of Shelburne visit www.rotary.org or call 519 925-1418.
For more information on Camp Enterprise visit campenterprise.ca