Spark. Ignite. Launch! Kidpreneur Program                                       Spring 2020

Instructor: Heather Shelby (Colleen Ryan as second)    269-930-3784 call or text     hello@sparkignitelaunch.com SparkIgniteLaunch.com 
Location: Berrien Springs Public Library
OR
Community Evangelical Free Church
120 E. Bertrand Road, Niles
Grades: 3-8
Berrien Springs - Wednesdays 3:30-5:00 PM (See the schedule below.)
Niles - Tuesdays 1:30-3:00 pm

Spark. Ignite. Launch! is an exciting, new program designed to engage children in entrepreneurial thinking and foster their natural, enterprising spirit. Kids will learn vital business skills while starting their own micro-business in a fun and hands-on way. My positive environment and supportive approach encourages team-building, collaboration, and promotes self-confidence and leadership skills. Each day the kids will learn a new concept that will prepare them for the last day of class – Market Day!! 
On Market Day, each child will have their own booth and the opportunity to sell their products!
Syllabus - Berrien Springs
Syllabus - Niles
Instructor Resume

Our program helps kids to... 
• Connect lab concepts to real-world examples 
• Set goals 
• Spot opportunities to solve problems 
• Explore their own passions and interests 
• Understand that making mistakes is an important part of learning 
• Learn the value of money 
• Develop leadership, teamwork, communication skills, and self-confidence 
• Learn important life skills that can be applied to any career choice in any economic environment 
A quick google search results in dozens of articles from leading minds on why we should be teaching 
kids entrepreneurial skills from a young age. 
Entrepreneurship is the best preparation for an unpredictable economy. Teaching entrepreneurship 
changes mindsets and instills a set of skills that can be applied to any career. And with economists 
predicting that the jobs of tomorrow don’t even exist today, entrepreneurial skills are life skills.


Jan 15 - Week 1:  Introduction to Entrepreneurship 
Jan 22 - Week 2:  FIELD TRIP to the Fab Lab at Lake Michigan College; Intro to laser
  cutting/engraving, 3D print, vinyl, sewing  TRANSPORTATION NOT PROVIDED;
  ** class time approx. 3 hours
Jan 29 - Week 3: Ideas & Opportunities 
Feb 5 - Week: 4 Your Idea: Products & Services
Feb 19 - Week 5:  Branding: Business Names and Logos
Feb 26 - Week 6:  Who Are My Target Customers?
March 4 - Week 7:  Prototypes & Product Design
March 11 - Week 8: Pricing
March 18 - Week 9:  Marketing Part 1
March 25 Week 10:  Marketing Part 2
April 1 - No class SPRING BREAK
April 8 - No class SPRING BREAK
April 15 - Week 11:  Goal Setting, Money Smarts & Budgeting
April 22 - Week 12:  Sales and Customer Service
April 29 Week 13:  Pitch It!, Review, Wrap Up
May 6 - NO CLASS; make-up day if needed due to weather; work on making your product
May 13 - NO CLASS; make-up day if needed due to weather; work on making your product
May 20 - NO CLASS; make-up day if needed due to weather; work on making your product
May 27 - NO CLASS; make-up day if needed due to weather; work on making your product
TBD - Week 14:  Market Day!! (Berrien Springs time and location yet to be decided; Niles will be May 30 if no religious conflict)  Required.  

*Please note: it is important to make as informed a decision as possible when choosing your student's Community Resource classes. Most locations will allow a student to drop a class after one meeting, at no charge if it wasn't a good fit for the student, but not all. Some classes plan ahead based on the number that have signed up and have purchased materials, hired teachers, etc. and there might be a fee for class time or materials given to the student if the student drops after one or two meetings. The school cannot pay for classes that students do not complete, so choose wisely; if you do not take the class off of your student's schedule by the deadline, you may be asked to pay for the class time incurred prior to dropping the class.
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Teacher of Record: Lynne Wieferich K-8