Friday, April 18, 2008

Biz Town Field Trip

Maddie's class took a field trip today to a place called BizTown. The idea was for them to experience what it was like in the real world working for a company. They were CEOs, CFOs, Store managers, and other employees for each of the 18 companies. It was like walking into a business-like Disneyland of some sorts. Very cool!!

Maddie was the CEO of BizTown Reality. I was a volunteer for International Sign Co. Each business had to buy and sell, pay their utilities, etc., and pay their employees. Everybody received a paycheck x 2 and was able to practice depositing and removing money from their savings acct. They had to keep their check registers balanced, and go out to other companies to purchase things to build up the biztown economy. (the cafe even sold real snack food and drinks). In my little sign company my designer had to sell and design signs and each business got to come up w/ their own slogan. My team of sign kids were AWESOME!!! Talk about busy though! Half the time I couldn't even keep up. The CFO was always at the computer printing or depositing checks. Kids from all the businesses would drop off their invoices to us (some of them just slapped them on the counter and we'd find them later, OOPS).

We kept a break schedule and everything. There were phone calls to answer and computers to keep track of purchases and other financial stuff. UPS delivered supplies for us to price and sell. Kids had to give speeches in the town meetings. Many of the kids had to make and produce their own commercials at BZTV (also run by kids). Each business had a TV so everybody could view the commercial after it was edited.

It really was a great learning exp for these kids to learn about teamwork, and financial responsibilities. Maddie can't wait to go back in Jr. High. Here are some pictures....


That is the town mayor in the middle, hard at work preparing his speech.





By far the busiest place, as each kid stopped here at least twice to deposit their paychecks. not to mention the 18 business loans they granted. PHEW!! Glad I didn't have to volunteer here!











This was my station at I.S.C.






Quiet on the set. BizTown Reality commercial in progress...









Maddie looks sophisticated well beyond her years as CEO.
















Making sure each business is paying on their lease.


Maddie giving speech to the town describing her company.

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