Bears' Lair Dream Camp, which has taught over 1,200 Indigenous youth across Canada business acumen and social involvement since it began two years ago, held their 38th camp in Maskwacis from July 16 to 18 at Maskwacis Cree High School.
The Bears' Lair Youth Dream Camps came about after the success of the Bears' Lair national TV show, which is now in its second season on APTN. The Dragon's Den-style reality show features entrepreneurs as they pitch their business ideas for the chance to win $180,000 in prize money.
The immersive, three-day camps for Indigenous youth aged 11 to 18 focus on the basics of starting and operating a business and preparing youth for leadership roles and giving back to their communities.
"(We) encourage Indigenous youth, who are the leaders of tomorrow, to pursue their dreams," said Geena Jackson, business development expert and the creator and host of The Bears' Lair.
"Most importantly, we teach social confidence and life skills that will take them to the next level of anything they want to pursue in their life, whether its leadership in their own community, post secondary or becoming an entrepreneur."
The camp held in Maskwacis had 14 participants, although the camps can accept up to 30 youth.
Most of the participants of this camp were aged 11 to 13, said Jackson.
"It's nice to have a younger group because their minds are so open to new ideas," she said.
The participants play games, complete a number of team challenges, practice public speaking, undergo media training, learn financial literacy and "putting their phones down for three days and connecting with each other," said Jackson.
The youth were organized into four teams, creating their own business logo, defining a target market and marketing plan, making a budget and then presenting their pitch videos to a panel of judges on the last day.
Each team came to the front while their video played, then gave business cards to the judges and shook their hands. The judges then asked one question of each team about their business model.
One of the teams developed a custom cake business called "Custom Baked Cree-ations."
They projected their specialty customized cakes would sell for $800 each. They planned to sponsor a local sports team with a portion of their profits.
"Button I - Indigenous Toys" wanted to create Indigenous-themed toys so children could say, "I see me" in the toys. They projected a profit of $1 million after their first year.
"Fly High Athletic Gear and Sportswear" presented on their start-up, operational and marketing costs. They wanted to donate 10 per cent of their profits to the Maskwacis Early Learning Program.
The Wikasin Cafe group created a delicious Indigenous menu with gluten-free options. They would be located in Maskwacis. They projected a profit of $47,000 in their first year.
One of the judges commended the group for their accurate and achievable goal.
Another noted, "Hit a goal, and set another one."
"All the skills they've learned ... this is just the beginning for them," stated one of the advisors after the video pitches concluded.
All the participants received a $100 prize. The winning team was awarded $250 each.
The judges said the teams were "very, very very close," but in the end, the first place award went to Fly High.
Coda Nepoose, 12, on the winning team, said the group games were his favourite part and they helped his team come together.
"I think it helped me, working with my team," he said.
Nepoose already had an interest in business and the camp helped him learn a lot.
"I kind of already wanted to do it but it helped me see what I had to do," he said.
Nepoose said he thinks the most important thing he learned was teamwork.
"One idea just blew up into a big store. Without my teammates that probably wouldn't happen," he said.
"By myself, it wouldn't have been as fun."
Hailey Buffalo, 17, was keen to learn more about running a business as her step dad is a business owner.
"So I already have a role model," said Buffalo.
She added she's most likely to start a culinary business in the future.
"My favourite part was communicating with the advisors," said Buffalo. "It was quite fun."
Cale Nepoose, 14, said the camp was a good learning experience.
"I think the hardest part, honestly, was working with a bunch of new people I've never met," he said.
He thinks what he'll remember the most is "to be confident and not be afraid to talk in front of big crowds."
