DETROIT — New Detroit, Inc. and Michigan State University announced today they are partnering to provide 100 business minded high school juniors and seniors an up close look into college life at a five-day business camp on the MSU campus this summer.
Camp Enterprise, which New Detroit started in 2003 as a one-day camp, has grown into a five-day session that will take place July 17-21, 2013. This is the first year that MSU has co-sponsored Camp Enterprise.
“Camp Enterprise is a unique opportunity for business minded young people to experience campus life and consider their opportunities at one of Michigan’s leading universities,” said New Detroit President and CEO Shirley R. Stancato. “We are especially pleased to have Michigan State University on board as a co-sponsor this year, which will enable us to expand the opportunities available to young people.”
“Students who participate in Camp Enterprise grow their understanding of business development as they present their business professionals to industry leaders. They become better equipped for educational and professional success.”
With generous support from MSU, and also Flagstar Bank, AT&T, Plunkett and Cooney, and Plante Moran, Camp Enterprise is an intense introduction to the business world for teenagers with an interest in becoming entrepreneurs. Business professionals teach students what is needed to transform an entrepreneurial idea into a practical business plan. Then the students, working in teams, develop individual business plans and present them to a panel of business professionals. The panel chooses finalists for awards and prizes based on their presentations and business plans.
The Camp will start with orientation at Wayne State University on July 17, where students and their parents learn about Wayne State, financial literacy, dressing for success and study skills as they are led on a campus tour and engage in a series of team leadership activities. The following morning, the students ride buses to East Lansing, where they’ll stay in the university’s dorms through July 21. Participants will explore their options on campus tours, meet with university admissions officials and become empowered with a life-changing team business planning experience.
“At Camp Enterprise, the students are engaged in extremely demanding, but fun challenges, with other students from the Detroit region,” said David Gamlin, New Detroit’s Director of Youth Development. “In addition, with the help of business professionals from various occupations, they invest in helping these young people by teaching business and leadership skills which brings out the best in these kids.”
Since the program’s inception in 2003, approximately 1,100 high school students have participated in the program. 100 percent of Camp Enterprise attendees have graduated from high school and 80 percent of attendees have attended institutions of higher education.
Attendees will be high school juniors and seniors at the start of the 2013-2014 school year who have not previously attended Camp Enterprise. There is no cost to the selected participants. All student selections have been accepted based on eligibility and available seats.
