K-12 entrepreneurship Education
growing the next generation of innovators
thank you to our spotlight sponsor!
LEARNING BY DOING
It’s never too soon to start building the future. The Mill’s K-12 programming shows young people the power and possibilities of entrepreneurship through fun, hands-on, experiential learning.
We’re proud to partner with local experts in youth support and education. The Boys and Girls Clubs of Bloomington have been serving our community youth and their families for decades, helping kids have fun, develop skills, and become healthy, well-rounded citizens.
We also partner with MCCSC, RBBCSC, Ivy Tech, and other local leaders in education to ensure our programming aligns with what’s already happening in our community, leverages existing resources, and connects the dots in the pathway from K-12 to secondary ed.
YOUNG ENTREPRENEURS CAMP
Young Entrepreneurs Camp shows young people how to take an idea they’re passionate about and turn it into a business venture. They learn critical skills that help them identify their ideal customer, understand the business opportunity, figure out how to make money from their idea, how to market it, and more. The camp runs over six weeks in the summer, in partnership with the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington, and culminates in a big night when the kids present their plans to family, friends, and community leaders.
To enroll your child, inquire through the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington.
runs June 15 - July 20
MEETS AT THE MILL ON WEDNESDAYS
Register through the Boys & Girls Clubs
LEMONADE DAY!
Lemonade Day is a fun event in which kids open lemonade stands on the same day across Monroe County, offering delicious variations on a classic summer treat. This year’s Lemonade Day will be held on June 24.
A national program, Lemonade Day has helped over a million young entrepreneurs open lemonade stands since its launch in 2007. Here in Monroe County, Lemonade Day is led by the Boys & Girls Clubs of Bloomington. The Mill is proud to partner on this great event!
The program offers a slate of activities leading up to the big day to help kids prepare and get them excited about designing their stands. Lemonade Day teaches the basics of entrepreneurship in lessons that cover business skills, financial literacy, teamwork, social and emotional skills, goal setting, and Responsibility. Mentors guide children through the lessons via the My Lemonade Day app and help them through the journey of planning, launching, and operating a business. The young participants receive an initial investment for supplies from sponsors. After the event, they pay their investors back, keep the rest of their profits, and are encouraged to spend some, save some, and share some.
upstrter opportunity fair
The upSTRTER Opportunity Fair (STudent Resource fair for Trades & Entrepreneurship Recruitment) teaches high school students critical skills for seeking employment after graduation, introduces them to the entrepreneurial support systems available in Bloomington, and gets them in front of hiring businesses. Students travel to The Mill during school hours and speak with local employers and groups like Ivy Tech and The Mill.
Booths are available for businesses in the trades and/or entrepreneurship industries. Exhibitors are encouraged to set up an interactive display and answer student questions about the different career opportunities that are available, as well as provide advice on what steps to take in order to achieve a successful career in the trades and/or entrepreneurship fields.
October 19, 2023
10 AM – 2 PM AT THE MILL
businesses share their entrepreneurial stories
Register through the Success School at the Chamber
NURTURE TOMORROW’S LEADERS
Become a sponsor of The Mill’s K-12 entrepreneurial programming! Your support helps us develop programming that taps into the creative spirit and energy of our community’s young people.
HIGH SCHOOL STARTUP INTERNSHIP
For students interested in problem-solving, innovation, and entrepreneurship, The Mill offers hands-on help in an afterschool internship. Two tracts offer the chance to work in teams to either build out a business or tackle a community challenge. Students learn about design thinking, develop an action bias, network with mentors and community leaders, and acquire real-world skills that will benefit them long after the internship ends.
This intership supports students interested in Innovate WithIN, Incubator EDU, the Maverick Challenge, and other programs and curricula.
Registration is now closed for the 2022-23 school year.
RUns 2022-23 School year
Participants must be a junior or a senior for the 2022-23 school year and enrolled at the Academy of Science & Entrepreneurship, Bloomington North, Bloomington South, or Edgewood High School.
Weekly group sessions & one-on-one mentoring
All programming takes place at The Mill.
DUAL CREDIT
Earn dual high school and college credits through Ivy Tech!