Students survive money camp

Middle schoolers explore the mysteries of money

[February 21, 2008]

While Kootenai County public school teachers spent curriculum day focusing on academics, a group of middle school students recently opted to pursue something they often find more valuable-money!

Traveling from as far away as Cheney, 33 students gathered in Post Falls on February 15 to spend their day off from school at the My Life, My Money™ Camp, a unique experience provided by the financial "camp counselors" of STCU. The free, all-day camp was held at the NIC Workforce Training and Community Education Center.

A letter from camp

After weeks of preparation and eager anticipation, My Life, My Money Camp finally arrived for STCU employees and the troop of middle school students. Students arrived as early as 8:15 a.m., paperwork in hand and raring to go. Hopped up on some tasty doughnuts, fruit juice and a smorgasbord of candy, students began camp excited to explore the mysterious cosmos of finance.

Senior camp counselor, Elisabeth Hooker, and her junior counselors from STCU kept students on their toes from the get-go, with a pop quiz on the day's first topic-decision making. Fancy economic terms such as "opportunity cost," "disposable income," and "entrepreneur" were tossed about as students learned that making a plan for their money today can make a huge difference in their future.

"I like camp already!" said Amber Baker of Post Falls.

Participating in various camp projects, students studied how to build savings and how their credit score-and the price they eventually would pay for a loan-is determined. They also learned how to write a check and to keep a checking register. (Many students graciously wrote checks to their counselors, which we promptly cashed. Thank you!)

Graduates of My Life, My Money Camp returned home armed with a new sense of financial awareness-and a fashionable My Life, My Money T-shirt!

www.flickr.com