Summer$tock

FAQ's

What is camp startup?
Is there any FUN involved?
What is the age eligibility?
My child is a very mature 13-year-old. Can you make an exception?
What are the dates, locations, and costs?
Where do the boys and girls live? Do they have classes together?
Why do the boys and girls have separate classes?
How will they get to camp?
What should they bring?
Who are the staff?
How does my teen register?
What is Independent Means?
Do you offer scholarships?

What is Camp $tart-Up?
Camp $tart-Up is an 11-day residential program designed to give teens a financial grounding for the rest of their lives. Through a fun, fast, interactive curriculum, campers learn the basics of entrepreneurship, budgeting, investing, and saving. Working in teams, they form a mock startup, produce a business plan, create a stock portfolio and acquire skills for independence and self-confidence. Participants enjoy field trips to innovative businesses and meet mentors and role models who open their eyes to greater possibilities.
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Is there any FUN involved?
Past participants tell us the whole camp is fun, but we make room for plenty of extras: a pool for hot afternoons; an impromptu kickball game before bed; a Jeopardy-style tournament; a visit to NASAs Jet Propulsion Lab to see the earthly applications coming out of JPLs Mars Project; field trips to green, leading-edge companies; sports arenas; museums; and time to just hang out with new friends.
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What is the age eligibility?
Participants must be between the ages of 14-18.
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My child is a very mature 13-year-old. Can you make an exception?
As much as we’d like to, experience has shown that it’s not a good idea. We hope you’ll consider sending him/her to camp next year.
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What are the dates, locations, and costs?

July 11 through 21 (concurrent sessions)
Camp $tart-Up for Girls, Scripps College, Claremont, CA
Camp $tart-Up for Boys, Scripps College, Claremont, CA

July 28 through August 7 (concurrent sessions)
Camp $tart-Up for Girls, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, Wilbraham, MA
Camp $tart-Up for Boys, Wilbraham & Monson Academy, Wilbraham, MA

Cost: $2,995, includes room, board, and field trips. Early Bird Special price if register before March 31st: $2,800. Full and partial scholarships are available. Download a scholarship application here.
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Where do the boys and the girls live? Do they have classes together?
The boys and the girls typically live in separate but adjacent dorms. They will eat together, go on field trips together, and present their business plans and portfolios at joint presentations, but their classroom sessions will be separate.
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Why do the boys and girls have separate classes?
Research has shown that during key adolescent years, single-gender learning environments can better accommodate the different cognitive, social, and developmental growth rates of boys and girls.
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How will they get to camp?

Scripps College is just outside of Los Angeles. We suggest they land at Ontario Airport. It’s about 20 minutes from campus. They will be met there by a Camp $tart-Up staff member. More about getting to Scripps here.

For Wilbraham and Monson Academy campers, we suggest Bradley International Airport in Windsor Locks, CT. It’s about 45 minutes from campus and campers will be met at the airport by a Camp $tart-Up staff member. More about getting to Wilbraham and Monson Academy here or about accommodations.
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What should they bring?
Look here for a complete list of what they should and shouldn't bring very soon.
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Who are the staff?
Each location is lead by a director and assistant director, and a team of counselors. Past counselors have included graduates from top MBA programs, entrepreneurs, and teachers. All are mature adults with academic training in business and finance and experience working with young people. More about the staff.
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How does my teen register?
Look here for a downloadable enrollment application and scholarship application or give us a call at 805-965-0475.
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What Is Independent Means?
Since 1992, Independent Means has been the leading provider of financial education. In addition to our summer programs, which have run continuously since 1995, we create custom financial education for families, private schools, and financial institutions around the country. The company is led by CEO Joline Godfrey, one of the world’s leading experts on children and money. She is the author of Raising Financially Fit Kid and No More Frogs to Kiss: 99 Ways to Give Economic Power to Girls. More about Independent Means Inc. More about Joline.
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Do you offer scholarships?
Yes. You can download a scholarship application here.
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Twenty $ecrets to Money and Independence: The DollarDiva's Guide to Life.