Lemonade Day Chicago is a free, community-wide, educational program designed to teach youth how to start, own, and operate their own small business. Students work with teachers or after school instructors through a 14-step guided curriculum that walks them from a dream to a business plan, while teaching them the same principles required to start any big company.  Inspiring youth to work hard and make a profit, they are also taught to spend some, save some and share some by giving back to their community.  The program culminates on June 8 with Lemonade Day, an event where students become entrepreneurs and launch their own lemonade stands across the Chicago area.  In 2013, we’ll reach 10,000 students and work with over 40 school partners.

PROGRAM COMPONENTS

School & Partner Registration (November-March)

Schools and community organizations that target youth are encouraged to apply to reserve program materials and schedule a kick-off meeting to determine how to best implement the program at each location. The program can be offered before or after school, during the school day, or as a parent-led take home activity. For more information on how to get involved, contact Nick Prestemon.

Instructor Training (January-May)

We host a variety of trainings for instructors to help them teach the Lemonade Day curriculum. Instructors are encouraged to collaborate and leverage the best practices being used across our network of partner organizations.

Entrepreneurship Lessons (March-June)

The Lemonade Day curriculum empowers students to take ownership of each step of the business plan development process. Students learn how to set goals, develop a business plan, secure start-up funds, create a unique marketable product, select safe locations, make a profit, and report their results.

Best Tasting Lemonade Contest & Corporate Preview Day (Friday, June 7, 2013)

Student teams from each school and partner organization will compete in our Best Tasting Lemonade Contest. This downtown Chicago event will also highlight our sponsors and promote lemonade stand locations for Lemonade Day.

Lemonade Day (Saturday, June 8, 2013)

On Lemonade Day, students become entrepreneurs and launch their own lemonade stands across the city. We mobilize community members to purchase lemonade, tell their friends, and support the work of young entrepreneurs.

About Lemonade Day in Chicago

In Chicago Lemonade Day is presented by the Future Founders Foundation, a chicago-based nonprofit that offers engaging project-based learning opportunities to students in 3rd through 12th grades.  In addition to Lemonade Day, the Future Founders Foundation operates two other programs: Connect to the Future connects middle and high school students with mentors to help them explore various career opportunities and develop skills for success, and Future Founders, a program that encourages high school students to become entrepreneurs, work for entrepreneurs, or bring an entrepreneurial spirit to corporations.