Lemonade Day Set To Make A Sweet Comeback In Swan Hills
Get ready, Swan Hills! Lemonade Day is making a triumphant return on June 15, and it’s set to be an unforgettable experience for kids from kindergarten to grade 12! This incredible, free program is the perfect blend of fun and education, teaching young minds how to start and run their very own lemonade stand business.
Lemonade Day has an inspiring origin story, starting in Houston, Texas, back in 2007 with just 2,700 kids. Fast forward to today, and it’s a massive movement reaching over 1 million children across North America! After a northern Alberta Lemonade Day chapter opened up, Community Futures Yellowhead East (CFYE) launched the first Lemonade Day in our region in 2019, including Swan Hills, Whitecourt, Barrhead, and Lac Ste Anne County. The buzz has been contagious, spreading to Fox Creek, Woodlands County, Mayerthorpe, Onoway, and Alberta Beach.
Each young entrepreneur who signs up receives a backpack complete with an Entrepreneur Workbook and must complete Lemonade University. Here, they’ll dive into essential skills like budgeting, setting business goals, customer service, and giving back to the community. It’s a complete package of fun and learning!
This year, 19 enthusiastic kids from Swan Hills have already registered. They’ll attend the virtual Lemonade University (LU) training sessions from May 28 - 30, 4 – 5 PM, ready to soak up all the knowledge they need. After LU, these budding business stars will craft their own unique lemonade recipes and build the most eye-catching stands, ready to showcase their entrepreneurial spirit on Lemonade Day.
And here’s the best part: they get to keep all their profits! The program encourages them to spend some, save some, and share some, instilling valuable lessons in financial management and generosity.
Each participating community in the CFYE region will celebrate the event with three fabulous awards:
· Entrepreneur of the Year
· Best Tasting Lemonade
· Best Lemonade Stand
Although the official registration deadline was May 15, there’s still a chance to join the fun! The Grizzly Gazette has confirmed that CFYE can still accept a few more participants, so don’t miss out! Visit lemonadeday.org/northern-alberta to sign up and get more details.
Mark your calendars and get ready to support Swan Hills’ youngest entrepreneurs on June 15! Let’s make this Lemonade Day the best one yet!
Dean LaBerge, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter, Grizzly Gazette
