Summer camp 2024

Our six-part entrepreneurial journey takes students from idea generation to market-ready concepts through hands-on workshops and expert mentorship.

Each camp session builds upon the previous one, creating a comprehensive entrepreneurial journey that takes 3rd–8th grade students from idea generation to pitching at the Fish Tank contest.

Fish Tank 2024 Every session

The first BizBuzz campers together in a library meeting room — Session 1, Ideation & Innovation, 95th Street Library, June 12, 2024.

Dates: June 12 to July 17, 2024
Where: 95th Street Library and Nichols Library, Naperville
Grades: 3 to 8

camp sessions: 6
guest speakers: 7
students taught: 110

6 sessions

Each session built on the one before it. Open any photo to see it full size.

01
Session 1June 12, 202495th Street Library, Naperville
2024 Session 1: Ideation & Innovation
In Session 1, students kicked off our free 2024 Summer Entrepreneurship Camp by exploring the basics of business-minded thinking, learning how to identify and solve real-world problems. After being introduced to concepts like value creation and market fit with 10 instructors, students dove into our Mini Fish Tank activity with $200+ in prizes.
Featured speaker
Kandice Henning
CEO of the Alive Center
“How to Become a Fearless Entrepreneur”
About the talk
Sharing her journey of creating one of Naperville's largest nonprofit organizations, she inspired students to embrace risk, pursue their passions, and lead through social innovation.
02
Session 2June 19, 202495th Street Library, Naperville
2024 Session 2: Unique Value Proposition & Networking
In Session 2, students learned how to craft a unique value proposition for their businesses and practiced their networking skills with 9 instructors. They put their skills to the test in a coffee shop simulation contest, responding to situations & prompts (and some surprises too!) to maximize profits and win $100 in awards.
Featured speaker
Isha Elandassery
Founder of Naperville Rising Women in Business
“Finding Your Competitive Advantage”
About the talk
Inspired by an activity she did at Indiana University, she taught students to discover their identity through a self-portrait exercise and apply their newfound skills to networking.
03
Session 3June 26, 202495th Street Library, Naperville
2024 Session 3: Marketing
In Session 3, students explored marketing, branding, and advertising through activities like the 'Guess the Brand' game and a flyer design challenge with $140 in prizes. With the Fish Tank competition just weeks away, students refined their business identities with 11 instructors and prepared to share them with the world.
Featured speaker
Mary Gibson
Naperville Park District President
“Pitch, Polish, Promote: Branding Lessons from the Ballot”
About the talk
After building a personal brand during her Park District election campaign, she taught students how to apply those strategies to their own businesses and innovations.
04
Session 4July 3, 202495th Street Library, Naperville
2024 Session 4: Public Speaking
In Session 4, students explored the art of sales and pitching. Guided by 14 instructors, they practiced their public speaking skills and competed in an interactive, hands-on pitch contest with over $170 in prizes. With this new knowledge, students began developing their presentations and pitches in preparation for Fish Tank.
Featured speaker
Athena Chen
Founder of the Naperville Children's Business Fair
“Confident Kidpreneurs: Believe, Build, and Be Bold”
About the talk
As someone who ran an Etsy shop with over $11K in revenue and helped hundreds of local students pitch their own businesses, she spoke to students about taking risks despite doubt and embracing the confidence of a kidpreneur who knows they can do it all.
05
Session 5July 10, 2024Nichols Library, Naperville
2024 Session 5: Finance
In Session 5, students learned the basics of personal and business finance from 16 instructors. They then put their skills to the test in a dream vacation budgeting game, planning their ideal trip and pitching it for a chance to win over $330 in prizes. Students also continued refining their Fish Tank pitches, now incorporating key financial details into their business plans.
Featured speaker
Scott Wehrli
Mayor of Naperville
“From Ideas to Impact: How Innovation Builds Better Communities”
About the talk
Mayor Wehrli shared how local entrepreneurs are innovating to solve real community problems in Naperville and beyond, encouraging students to use business as a tool for civic impact and leadership development.
Guest speaker
Eddie Yoon
Co-Creator of Category Pirates
“Finance is Freedom”
About the talk
He challenged students to rethink their relationship with money, describing it as powerful dynamite that must be used wisely. He urged them to create rather than compete, emphasizing that entrepreneurship, not just education, is the path to true freedom.
06
Session 6July 17, 202495th Street Library, Naperville
2024 Session 6: Pitching
In Session 6, the final session before Fish Tank, students participated in a business building workshop to finalize their pitch decks and practice rehearsing their scripts. Joining them for a special surprise were our preliminary judges (Athena Chen, Soohyun Cho, Isabel Yu, Nathan Mendoza, and Olivia Fisz), who offered exciting feedback.
Featured speaker
Sean Riley
CEO of Dude Wipes
“Dude, Start Now: Why Entrepreneurship Can't Wait”
About the talk
Sean spoke about the power of starting early in entrepreneurship and embracing the journey. He reminded students that by taking the leap now, they are already on the right path in one of the world's most fun and rewarding career choices.