(Farmers market visitors paint rocks and have fun with Plazm editor and Nugget Newspaper writer T. Lee Brown. A new partner in Kid Made Camp, she is one of many professionals who share their time with Kid Made Campers and their community | Photo by Jerry Baldock/Outlaws Photography)
Central Oregon kids will share and sell their original arts and crafts at Northwest Crossing Farmers Market this Saturday. They spent the week at Kid Made Camp, getting creative at The Environmental Center.
There they learned the fundamentals of entrepreneurship, including how to handle money, interact with customers, and price their handmade creations. Kid Made Camp values include wholesome health, sustainability, creativity, and ethical business. The camp provides hands-on activities with no digital device use, and encourages kids to engage with their community in real life.
“This is such a good group!” exclaimed Kid Made Camp founder Angelena Bosco, admiring their textile artwork. She led the students through the Environmental Center’s beautiful garden, then out to an open field where they could run around in the sun.
Experts including a banker, a small businesswoman, and Sisters artist Wendy Bachmeier taught the campers this week. T. Lee Brown brought knowledge from the design and branding firm Plazm, which recently expanded its presence to Central Oregon.
“These kids are tomorrow’s B-Corp CEOs,” said Brown, referring to public benefit corporations. “They’re learning, making, and selling right here in Central Oregon. It’s a whole lot of fun.”
Mid Oregon Credit Union was on-hand to teach campers about money. Kids learned how to spend some of their revenue, but save some and donate the rest to charity. Under Bosco’s direction they created play money and practiced making change for sales.
Community members can show their support by shopping at the Kid Made Camp booth this Saturday at Northwest Crossing Farmers Market, 2754 NW Crossing Dr. in Bend, from 10am-2pm. The camp encourages shoppers to take their time browsing, and ask the campers questions about the items they have made.
Kid Made Camp will offer one more arts and crafts focused camp in Bend, August 5-11. Their special Food Cart Camp takes place in Sisters August 19-25. On August 25, students will have the opportunity to work a real, certified food cart at Sisters Farmers Market. Details may be found at kidmadecamp.com.
The camp is also providing free, donation-optional activities at Sisters Farmers Market throughout the summer. Visiting kids can sit in the booth and work on rock painting, button-making, and other fun options. On August 25, all kids are welcome to join in a free performance workshop with Starshine Theater, and perform on the beautiful Songbird Stage for a talent show.
Sisters Farmers Market is open every Sunday through the end of September, from 11am-2pm at Fir Street Park. Kids are invited to bring swimsuits and towels to enjoy the splash pad fountains. Details may be found at sistersfarmersmarket.com.
