Back Deaf campers participate in small business class and project

July 19th, 2012

Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project
Deaf campers participate in small business class and project

Every year, from the beginning of June to the end of July, there's no shortage of children and students wandering the halls of Brentwood Baptist Church—Monday through Friday, from 9-5.

Some of the 47 of them are Deaf—and the rest are friends and family of that community.

They're attending Camp SummerSign, which has been sponsored and hosted by Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church for the past several years, where they spend the summer months playing games, building community, going on field trips, and more.

This summer, twenty 9-to-11-year-old campers attended a small business class where they learned the basics and participated in a project.

Beryl Corey, Director of Special Ministries at Brentwood Baptist Deaf Church, said, "[Four groups in the class have] spent six weeks creating a business name with a product to sell. They've priced items at Kroger, signed papers for a loan of $30…at a nearby bank, and purchased the items needed."

Then came the launch. Just this week, on Wednesday, July 18, from 2:30–4:00 p.m., the groups set up their booths in the Connection Cafe, ready to sell their $0.50 and $1.00 handmade desserts.

"They're dynamic kids," Beryl said. "They're not selling a lot because it's about the experience of budgets, banks, etc. Brentwood Baptist staff, parents, and friends were invited to shop, and the other 27 campers were given a dollar to buy snacks from their peers."

After just one hour, the four groups sold out of their products. Their total sales amounted to $197 with one group turning a $50 profit.

"It was a first for us and the children already have ideas on how to make improvements," Beryl said. "Next week, we'll close out the 8-week course by returning to the bank to pay off the loans and see how much profit they made."

Friday, July 27 is the last day of camp. A program will take place for parents, family, friends, and the Deaf community to celebrate all the campers have learned and accomplished this summer.

Beryl said, "This one project was just a glimpse of what we've been doing with these kids all summer. Please continue to pray for the beautiful 47 children who've been in our care all summer and their families."