BY ADAM STEISS

A group of 44 potential business gurus aged 14 to 16 will take part in a camp for young entrepreneurs in August. The program is part of an initiative by the Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi of Montreal to promote entrepreneurial skills amongst youth in the city and encourage kids to form a creative attitude towards work.

The Entrepreneurship Camp for Young Montrealers will kick off its second year at Camp Beauvallon in the Eastern Townships. For three days the camp combines educational activities such as debates and project creation with the standard camper's fare of sporting events, board games and campfires.

"It's supposed to be a way of exploring entrepreneurship so all the activities we have developed are educational in purpose but are also more dynamic so the participants can get a taste of entrepreneurship. They learn what co-ops and businesses are and the difference between a regular job and being your own boss," said Despina Sourias, one of the entrepreneur officers responsible for organizing the camp who works out of the NDG branch.

The camp will also feature speeches by local entrepreneurs. Last year's program included a conference with Paul Trottier from the French language home builder’s show Ma Maison Rona. Representatives from youth entrepreneurship organizations also made presentations informing the campers about the programs they offer.

“What we are trying do is promote entrepreneurship among youth and create and entrepreneurial spirit in Quebec,” said Katherine Korakakis, coordinator of last year’s inaugural camp. “As such, we have to come up with initiatives and activities involving this spirit, and since there’s no school in the summer, we came up with the camp idea.”

As part of the entrepreneurial experience campers will experience the various stages of starting up a business. “[Last year] they went from different workshops dealing with aspects of financing, business planning, market research, and production. On the final day they actually had to produce an item or create an event or community organization.” said Korakakis

The ECYM is part of a five-year initiative by the Quebec government to promote youth entrepreneurship within the province. Last year’s success saw potential for growth of the ECYM, as many of the inaugural campers were clamouring to rejoin for this summer.

“We saw feedback right away. [Last year’s campers] really enjoyed it and many of them wanted to return for this year, but we wanted to give the opportunity to other kids as it is a free camp and it’s the only one of its sort,” said Korakakis.

• Registration for this year's edition of the camp closed on May 5. For more information about Carrefour Jeunesse-Emploi of Montreal in NDG, call 514-482-6665.