Entrepreneurship Games for Students: Flynn’s Green SuperCamp Reflection

entrepreneurship games for students Flynn at Green SuperCamp Bali

Entrepreneurship games for students can help young people develop confidence, leadership, resilience and teamwork through real-world experiences. Twelve-year-old Flynn confidently walked through the international airport departure gate, heading off to Bali for an experience of a lifetime at Green SuperCamp Bali.

Although Flynn was excited, saying goodbye at five in the morning and watching him leave Australia without us for more than a week filled us with both pride and nerves.

Flynn participating in entrepreneurship games for students at Green SuperCamp Bali
Flynn enjoying the activities at Green SuperCamp Bali.

Entrepreneurship Games for Students at Green SuperCamp

Students learning quantum strategies at Green SuperCamp Bali
Learning Quantum learning strategies.
Entrepreneurship games for students including Balinese martial arts activities
Balinese martial arts in the mud pit!

When Cathy and I first learnt about Green SuperCamp, we immediately recognised the tremendous character-building benefits it could provide for our children.

The activities challenged students physically, emotionally and mentally. They also helped the children build confidence, courage and self-belief.

Many activities at camp acted as entrepreneurship games for students. They encouraged teamwork, leadership, perseverance and problem-solving — all important qualities for future entrepreneurs.

Students building focus and discipline at Green SuperCamp Bali
Focus…
Students building confidence through entrepreneurship games for students
… self confidence…
Students learning determination at Green SuperCamp Bali
… determination!

We wanted to share Flynn’s experience on our Enterprise for Kids blog because we strongly believe the values taught at Green SuperCamp help build future leaders and entrepreneurial kids.

Flynn’s Reflection on Green SuperCamp Bali

Below is Flynn’s reflection written in his own words after returning home from camp.

Students participating in cultural activities at Green SuperCamp Bali
The Balinese mud dance!
Fun entrepreneurship games for students at Green SuperCamp Bali
Green SuperCamp was an awesome experience!

“SuperCamp was an absolutely awesome experience!

The biggest challenge that I faced was going to Bali on my own without my parents. I just knew that I wanted to go on the Green SuperCamp, and to do that I had to go on my own.

I loved trying all the fun activities like mud wrestling, the high ropes course, Balinese dancing and seeing all the zoo animals.

Students participating in teamwork activities at Green SuperCamp Bali

I became friends with kids from all over the world. There were kids from America, Australia, Bali, Indonesia, London, India, New Zealand and Japan.

Everyone there was really nice, happy and determined to persevere through challenges. I liked everyone at Green SuperCamp!

One of my favourite activities was the mud fighting because I learnt self-defence and how to throw people over my back. This activity taught me perseverance and the importance of never giving up.

Leadership and Entrepreneurship Games for Students

Students learning leadership and entrepreneurship strategies
Learning…
Key success strategies taught at Green SuperCamp Bali
… the key to success!

We were taught Quantum strategies to think and learn. As a result, my reading became seven times faster.

The Bali Green SuperCamp was a fantastic experience. I think everyone should have a chance to go!”

Watch Flynn sharing his Green SuperCamp experience after returning home.

Positive Changes After Camp

Team-building entrepreneurship games for students
Team building…
Students learning responsibility and teamwork at Green SuperCamp
… responsibility and care!

Since returning home, we have noticed a number of positive changes in Flynn. His teachers commented that he had been making a real effort at school and staying away from mischief.

He even started reading books willingly — something he usually avoided. In fact, Flynn reached his school reading goal within only three weeks.

In addition, he showed greater responsibility with chores, stronger focus in soccer and more confidence in everyday life.

Experiences like these demonstrate how entrepreneurship games for students and leadership activities can positively influence young people long after camp finishes.

To learn more about Green SuperCamp and its programs, visit SuperCamp International.

The Green SuperCamp experience aligned with the wider philosophy of Green School Bali, where “project based” learning is designed to be practical, creative, sustainable and connected to real life.

Key Takeaway: Entrepreneurship Games for Students Build Confidence

Key takeaway: Entrepreneurship games for students help children build confidence, resilience, leadership and teamwork through real-world learning experiences.

Where to Next?

If you enjoyed this Green SuperCamp story, you may also enjoy:

Next up we share Jai’s experience at Green SuperCamp Bali!

We would love to hear your thoughts, so please leave a comment below.

Money Lessons for Kids: Who Is Teaching Them About Money?

Kids watching a TV advert showing how advertising shapes money lessons for kids

Money lessons are happening all around our children, whether we notice them or not. If you don’t teach your kids about money, then there are plenty of people out there who will. And not all of them will teach your children what they really need to know.

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Media, celebrities, advertising, peers, schools, banks and family choices all help shape what children believe about earning, spending, borrowing and wanting more. That is why money lessons for kids need to begin at home, in the everyday moments where children ask for things, make choices and learn how money really works.

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Teen magazine showing how media can shape money lessons for kids
Kids are constantly receiving money lessons from media, celebrities, advertising and peers.

Money Lessons for Kids: Who Is Teaching Them About Money?

Our kids are educated financially from many sources, whether we like it or not. Everywhere they go and everything they look at is conditioning them around money.

For example, teenage kids are very influenced by their peers, TV, advertising and social media. They are pressured to want to have all the latest and greatest of everything. AND… they have to have it now!

If you have a teenager in your house, or even a preteen, you will understand this very well. They will tell you that they are the “only” ones in the “whole world” who don’t have one. And if you try to compromise with a cheaper version from Target… well, forget it! Brand name or nothing!

The Money Lessons Children Learn From Wanting More

Many parents fall into the trap of giving in to their kids’ persistent demands. We have… more times than we should have! And the older a child gets, the better they are at arguing their point.

Sometimes parents lend their child the money with the view of having them pay it back when they can afford it. Other times, parents simply pay for the item fully and do not expect their child to pay anything back.

But what is this teaching children?

That is the question we had to ask ourselves when Flynn wanted an iPod for school camp.

Flynn’s iPod Money Lesson

Our son Flynn was preparing to go on a camp with his school. He claimed that ALL the kids would have iPods, and that he wanted to buy one to take on camp.

Flynn Howitt learning money lessons for kids through his iPod goal
Flynn’s iPod goal became a real-life money lesson about earning, choices and avoiding debt.

He counted up his money and found that he was short about $100. He was very persistent in his request, so we decided to sit down and have a conversation with him around the value of money.

Our dilemma was this: if we were to say an outright, “No, we can’t afford it,” then we would be conditioning him with a mindset around lack of money.

On the other hand, if we said, “Yes,” and simply paid for it, then we would be conditioning him with the mindset to borrow, then spend… and he would probably not appreciate it too much.

So…………… we came up with another solution.

Turning a Want Into a Money Lesson

We said, “Yes.” He could buy an iPod. However, we were not able to pay for it.

Instead, we brainstormed ideas with Flynn on how he could raise the $100 himself. Time was of the essence, as he was going on camp in three days.

Together, we came up with several ideas. He could increase the marketing of the honey he was selling through his Honey Enterprise. He could sell some of his unwanted things, such as his surfboard. He could also do a deal with his sister and buy the items she had lined up to sell as part of her New From Old enterprise, then resell them with a mark-up.

The discussion gave him motivation, and we took the punt that if he was really keen for the iPod, then he would make it happen.

The point of all this is that we didn’t automatically say, “No, we can’t afford it,” and we didn’t say, “Yes, and we will pay for it.”

Rather, we put the onus on Flynn to work out a way to achieve his goal without getting himself into debt. We used this opportunity to teach Flynn about money.

Who Is Teaching Your Kids About Money?

In our society, kids are conditioned to earn, spend and borrow from a very early age. This conditioning can carry through to adulthood and tie people to a job, especially when they need that job to pay for the interest payments on their “things”.

That is why money lessons for kids matter so much. If we do not consciously teach children how to think about money, they may simply absorb the messages around them.

Sporting heroes and advertising shaping money lessons for kids
Sporting heroes are often used to influence what children want to buy.

It is hard for our kids to avoid this type of conditioning. Their sporting idols appear on TV advertisements telling them what a great investment they are making if they buy x, y or z… and finish with a trusting wink!

In the same way, celebrities promote all sorts of things, from insurance and jewellery to holidays. Retailers offer low-cost, easy monthly payments for expensive items that people may not really be able to afford.

There goes the “earn, spend and borrow” cycle again.

Advertising Teaches Money Lessons Too

Advertising does not just sell products. It also teaches children what to value, what to want and how quickly they should expect to have things.

For this reason, parents need to be part of the conversation.

When a child says, “Everyone has one,” or “I need it now,” there is an opportunity to slow the conversation down and ask some better questions:

  • Do you really want this, or do you feel pressured to want it?
  • How much does it cost?
  • How could you earn the money?
  • What would you need to give up to buy it?
  • Could you buy it second-hand?
  • Could you create money rather than borrow money?

These simple questions can turn everyday wants into powerful money lessons.

Schools, Debt and Financial Choices

The education system may teach many important things, but practical money education can still be limited. Many young people move towards adulthood without having deeply discussed debt, credit, consumer pressure, business, enterprise, financial freedom or how to make money work for them.

Student debt showing why money lessons for kids matter before adulthood
Young people can face financial pressure before they have learnt how money really works.

As a result, many young people begin adult life already carrying financial pressure. This might come through study costs, consumer debt, car loans, lifestyle spending or the general cost of getting started.

That is why a financial education for your kids before they leave home matters.

The Australian Government’s MoneySmart guide to teaching kids about money is a helpful reminder that parents can start early and make money part of everyday conversation.

Can These Money Lessons Change?

Enterprise for Kids image about changing money lessons for kids
Money lessons can help children see new possibilities.

We can look at life as being a game full of experiences. We are here on earth to play the game.

Yet from an early age, the odds can feel stacked against us achieving personal and financial freedom when we are conditioned to earn, spend and borrow for unproductive things.

Can this change?

Absolutely.

And who is the best person to teach this change to your children?

Well, if you have already achieved financial and personal freedom, then the best teacher is YOU!

And if you haven’t, then find someone who has achieved the type of financial or personal success you would like for your kids. You may even learn something in the process. 🙂

Money Lessons for Kids Begin at Home

The most powerful money lessons for kids often begin in ordinary family moments.

A child wants something.

A parent has a choice.

We can shut the conversation down, pay for everything, lend the money, or turn the moment into a learning opportunity.

Flynn’s iPod story reminded us that teaching kids about money does not always require a formal lesson. Sometimes it simply requires a different conversation.

Instead of saying, “We can’t afford it,” or “Yes, we’ll buy it,” we can ask, “How could you create the money?”

That question changes everything.

Key Takeaway: Money Lessons Are Happening Every Day

Key takeaway: money lessons are happening around children every day. Media, peers, celebrities, advertising and family choices all shape how kids think about money. Parents can use everyday wants, like Flynn’s iPod goal, to teach children how to earn, choose, create value and avoid unnecessary debt.

Where to Next?

Who is teaching your children their money lessons — and what are they learning?