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By Dian Ver Valen
The Times 

'Lemonade! Get your lemonade!'

Dayton sixth-graders learn entrepreneurship on National Lemonade Day

 

Dian Ver Valen

Dayton sixth graders (l to r) Yasmeen Geroux and Cassidy Laughery hold signs and call out to passers by on Main Street Saturday to entice customers to visit their lemonade stand.

DAYTON – This little community was abuzz with activity Saturday, both at the annual street sale on South 3rd Street as well as all along Main Street and beyond, where Dayton sixth graders hollered and coaxed passersby to support their cause and buy a glass of lemonade.

One grinning young man pedaled about in the Weinhard Hotel's surrey with a tray of full lemonade cups in the front basket, his digital device playing music and a sign on the back reading, "Musical Lemonade Taxi." In front of Crofts and State Farm, young ladies held big signs and yelled, "Lemonade! Get your lemonade!" Or "Get your cup of Freezy Squeezy Lemonade!"

This was Dayton's first taste of National Lemonade Day, a delicious event enjoyed in communities across the nation and inspired by Texas nonprofit organization Prepared 4 Life. This year, Jeff McCann's sixth grade entrepreneurs took part in Lemonade Day as an experiential way to learn all about running their own businesses.

"The kids absolutely loved the experience," McCann said. "The weather was perfect, and I received nothing but positive feedback from the public; based upon customer feedback forms and talking with patrons."

Students began in the fall and have worked since, setting goals, planning and budgeting, finding an investor and mentor, selecting a site, advertising, building stands, purchasing supplies and making lemonade, choosing a charity to support, and finally, running the business on Saturday.

At the end of Lemonade Day, the plan was for students to use their proceeds to pay investors; the rest of the money would be divided up, donating a portion to charity and saving a portion (10 percent) for themselves. And every group made money for their charity, McCann said.

"The group profits ranged from $48 to over $400," he said. "The group who took in the greatest profit of $417.75, Freezy Squeezy Lemonade (members: Cassidy, Sadie, Amanda, Jamayka and Yasmeen),  decided to forgo their 10 percent group profit and donated the entire 100 percent of their earnings to their charity (Embracing Orphans). They could have taken their 10-percent cut and split it five ways, but I think it is highly commendable that they gave all that they collected. They showed that spirit of giving all is not just during Christmas."

And the students were just as excited and satisfied with the project. "Lindsey, one of the students, said she loved the whole experience of learning the finances, interacting with the public and making the lemonade. Mason, another student, said he liked it because, 'We get money for our charity,'" according to McCann.

None of this was possible, McCann said, without the Lemonade Day mentors and business owners who worked closely with students to put them in a position to succeed, helping with encouragement as well as financing, locations for lemonade stands, and other logistical support.

Adult mentors and businesses in the community help the students, providing mentors, financing, and locations for lemonade stands.

"I was very impressed with how well my team did," said Port of Columbia Manager Jennie Dickinson, who mentored the Starlight Lemonade Stand. "They came up with a quality product, were very enthusiastic, and they exceeded their sales goal. I also learned some things, such as the need to put more emphasis on the accounting portion of the business plan with them and practicing counting back change prior to the day of the sale. All in all it was a great partnership with the school that the port hopes to continue into the future."

Brad McMasters, economic development coordinator with the Port of Columbia, visited all the stands on Saturday and said he had a great time. "Lemonade Day was a total success. The community support from businesses, local media and individuals was impressive and appreciated."

McMasters mentored the Country Lemonade group that set up in front of Washington Federal bank on Main Street. "The students really pulled it together, and there was evidence of innovation, creativity and professionalism everywhere you turned," he said. "As a former teacher, I know the value of this kind of real-world approach to learning. Kids are so much more engaged and they retain more. It's very powerful. They also learn as much from their challenges as they do from their successes."

MENTORS/BUSINESS SPONSORS:

Vickey Beckmeyer – Croft’s Floral & Gifts

Candy Jones – Village Shops

Dave Schreck – NAPA/Skyline Autoparts

Sean Thurston – Elk Drug

Beverly Rising – Banner Bank

Judi Brooks – Washington Federal

Dian Ver Valen

Wyatt Matthews advertises this group's stand in front of the Weinhard Hotel.

Chuck Amerein – Dayton CrossFit

Shelly & Gary McLeod – Weinhard Hotel

Suzi Tasker – Aardvark Granola/Blue Mountain Station

Eleanor Specht – Best Western

Mindy Betzler – Dingles

Bette Lou Crothers – State Farm Insurance

Jerry Waggoner – Dayton Mercantile

Jennie Dickinson & Brad McMasters – Port of Columbia

Dayton PDQ

Valerie Kerr

 

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