Registration is open for the seventh annual Lemonade Day, giving young entrepreneurs a helpful way to learn the basics of business.
Organizer Amanda Robinson said she started taking applications on March 1 and will continue until May 15. So far, 554 kids have signed up, but by the time registration closed last year, over 1,200 kids had signed up. The program is open to anyone from Kindergarten to Grade 12.
"They learn everything they need to know," she said. "From, am I going to have a partner? What do I call my business? How much they need to spend, how much they need to make, that sort of thing.
"It's the first introduction to local businesses, municipalities and charities for them."
Robinson said there were 66 towns participating this year, including Wetaskiwin, Stettler, Castor, Blackfalds, Leduc and Camrose.
Lemonade Day is an annual program designed to get youth involved in business. It started in 2007 in the United States. After signing up, students are sent to "Lemmy University", a crash course on budgeting, planning and operating a lemonade stand. Once the youth have been briefed, they are required to seek out a local business and get a permit to set up shop on their property. They also need to reach out to the municipality for a business licence.
Once the young businessperson has their plan in place, on June 14 everyone gets to work. Kids keep all the money they earn, but Robinson noted many kids donate some of their earnings to charity. Since 2019, the kids have donated over $40,000.
"The program encourages kids to spend some, save some and share some," she said. "They're encouraged to spend a little to reward themselves, save a little for a rainy day. Almost every stand will also donate a portion to a charity of their choice.
"The nice thing is that it's charities they pick. Often things close to their heart, like hot lunch programs or animal rescue. Probably 50 per cent goes to animal shelters."
There is also a competition aspect to the day. Kids can win prizes for best-tasting lemonade, best-designed stand and best entrepreneur in the area. The top entrepreneur province-wide gets a nomination to compete in "Lemonade Day National" in the United States. Robinson said a girl from Edson placed second among 20,000 competitors a few years ago.
Robertson added Lemonade Day is open to anyone and attendance is usually split down the middle between boys and girls.
Visit https://lemonadeday.org/northern-alberta to sign up or email Robertson at arobinson@albertacf.com for more information.
