Brown County youngsters will have a chance to learn how to run a business — and make some money for themselves — this summer.  The Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce is organizing a local exercise of the nationwide Lemonade Day program.

The free program is open to all young folks from Elementary School through High School.  It kicks off this Saturday, June 11, from 3:00 – 5:00 p.m. in Lednicky Park, next to Chick-Fil-A.  Saturday will be registration day.  After that there will be four training classes this summer (schedule to be announced), where the kiddos will be taught how to plan, prepare for, market, and operate their lemonade stand.

Then Lemonade Day will be August 13, where each child will set up his or her lemonade stand at a local participating business.  The stands will be judged for Most Creative, and the stand with the highest sales will win a bicycle.

The web site for Lemonadeday.org states:  “Lemonade Day is a fun, experiential program that teaches youth how to start, own, and operate their very own business — a lemonade stand!”  The children will learn business skills, responsibility, financial literacy, goal setting, and teamwork.  The program teaches four steps: (1) Set a goal (2) Make a plan (3) Work the plan (4) Achieve your dream.  During the summer the kids can build their stand, develop their best lemonade recipe, budget their expenses for supplies, and set their sales goals.

At the registration this Saturday Chick-Fil-A will be giving out lemonade and free chicken samples.  The first ten children to register will receive a free Lemonade Day backpack.  Chick-Fil-A will also provide a number of door prizes, and a Lemonade Day stand kit (including aprons, a pitcher, a lemon squeezer, cups, and straws) will be awarded, sponsored by Nickelodeon.

Presenting Sponsors for Lemonade Day are ASAP Creative Arts and Texas Tech University.  Big Squeeze Sponsors are Chick-Fil-A and Texas Bank.  Additional sponsors are Smile Doctors and Farmers Insurance Lenzi.

If unable to attend the registration event this Saturday, you can register online at: lemonadeday.org/brownwood.  For more information call the Brownwood Area Chamber of Commerce at 325-646-9535.