Echoville

On a chilly Saturday in November, Shelby participated in Echoville.   This is a great event that has so many different applications for the kids in Echo company.  Each student (or team of students) come up with a "business" for the fictional town of Echoville.  They do all the work in preparing their business.  They take out "loans" from their parents to purchase supplies.  The loans have to be paid back with interest (math skills).  They need to decide based on their costs what to charge for their business items.  They have to purchase a business license (proceeds go to a local food bank).  There are elections for mayor, sheriff, etc.  Shelby was elected as the secretary this year.  They have to manage and run their business for the day of Echoville.  We arrived at 8:00 to set up and were finished at about 2:00 in the afternoon.  It is open to the public, and it was great to see the creativity that the kids showed.

Shelby and her friends Kara and Laura had a shop called "Random Emporium #2."  They sold all sorts of things (hence the "random" part).  They had homemade cookies and brownies, sodas, homemade Christmas ornaments, colored hair spray (which was a BIG hit), and carnival-style games (which were the BIGGEST hit!).  Once they paid back all of their loans, they cleared about $30 for the day.  (All of the proceeds are donated as well.)  I think it was a great learning experience for all of them, and a day of fun too!

Shelby and her "business partners"--Kara and Laura

Setting up the shop

the entrance to Echoville

Shelby took a break to visit the shop next door...paintball target shooting!