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Youngsters can learn business skills this summer at Camp CEO

Sunday, May 22, 2005 1:00 AM CDT

CARBONDALE - Lessons in wheeling and dealing can be learned by youth at the Illinois Entrepreneurship Network's CampCEO this summer at Southern Illinois University Carbondale.

The weeklong course will offer young adults an inside look at the challenges and opportunities presented by business ownership. Two camps are scheduled, the first for junior high students is set for June 19-24 while high school students will attend June 25-July 1.

Gov. Rod Blagojevich announced the unique camps earlier this week and said "Promoting entrepreneurship and small business growth is the most important way to create jobs across Illinois, and CampCEO is a perfect way to help young adults develop business ownership skills. Information is power, and these students will leave CampCEO armed with business knowledge and business plans that could be a great start to a groundbreaking new product or service."

Campers will develop business plans, learn from business experts, build leadership skills, visit Illinois businesses, make new friends and take part in recreational events. Attendees will also develop skills in negotiation, sales, customer service, problem solving, networking, time management, record keeping and public speaking.

At the conclusion of the camp, students will present their business plans to a panel of judges during the CampCEO Business Plan Challenge, where they can walk away with real venture capital to start their own company.

All students will leave the camp with their business plans, marketing plans, a briefcase, business cards and a wealth of real-world experience useful in day-to-day life.

CampCEO is coordinated by the Southern Illinois Entrepreneurship Center, one of 13 entrepreneurship centers across Illinois, that belong to Blagojevich's Illinois Entrepreneurship Network.

Space for CampCEO is limited and admission is granted through a competitive application process. For more information or to register, visit www.CampCEO.biz.

- Becky Malkovich