Heartfelt summer campers share what they learned about creativity, starting a business and problem-solving.
Sometimes adults need to give children the space to see what they’re capable of. 
In this episode, Rhonda Meyers hands the microphone to Heartfelt’s fourth- and fifth-grade summer campers. What started as a few friends making bracelets grew into a student-run business complete with marketing, a written proposal and plans to donate proceeds to a local charity.
The campers shared how they learned to work with people who have different ideas. They disagreed over decisions and learned to compromise rather than abandon the project.
One of the campers donated over 50 origami ninja stars to the business that he and his friend made the previous summer. His takeaway:
[00:23:16] Gabe: “You can’t do much alone.”
When bracelets sold faster than they could make them, the children learned how to pivot. They practiced speaking up, listening to one another and recovering when things did not go as planned — lessons that go beyond their summer business.
[00: 27:19] Charlotte: “I'm most proud that everyone was working really hard and that they didn't force people to buy stuff.”
Give children room to create and lead, and they will show you they are capable of more than we imagined.

What Happens When We Let Children Lead

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