Leadership Academy: IPO Summer Camp

Investing Pays-Off (IPO) High School Summer Camp

IPO is a dynamic 10-day program for high school freshmen, sophomores and juniors with an interest in social entrepreneurship and making a difference in their communities. The program exposes multi-cultural students from the Bay Area and California to diverse career paths in the private, public and non-profit sectors while providing the opportunity to learn about and experience college life first-hand. Our approach is to engage students around issues that impact them every day such as access to healthcare, the cost of higher education and the global warming crisis and teach them how they can create change in their communities by being informed and involved citizens.

The goal of the Greenlining IPO Summer Camp is to provide a life-changing experience for students by connecting a sense of personal responsibility learned in the IPO program, with a fuller appreciation for civic and community responsibility. The Greenlining Institute believes that investing in young leaders and believing in their ability to have an impact now will pay substantial dividends in the future.

Your Experience

The IPO Summer Camp is an intensive learning experience incorporating financial literacy, team building, academic support and readiness, multi-ethnic cooperation, leadership and economic development. The curriculum also includes training workshops in advocacy, the legislative process, evaluation and public speaking, as well as forums with leading experts on issues facing California communities. Students will learn about the non-profit sector, its’ role in the marketplace, and complete a course of study in non-profit organizational development that includes budgeting and fundraising. Participants in the Camp also explore the merits of public-private partnerships, gaining an understanding of how business, government, academia, non-profits, foundations and others work together to address societal problems.

During the camp, students are divided into groups of 6 or 7. Each group is assigned to focus on a specific issue effecting California and develop a plan for a non-profit organization to address the issue. This is an opportunity for participants to contribute their ideas and vision on how to address the issue while incorporating and applying knowledge gained during training workshops, site visits and informal discussions with Greenlining staff. (Please click HERE for a list of issues students will explore this summer)

IPO participants are housed at Casa, a multi-ethnic residential facility located two blocks from the UC Berkeley campus. Casa is owned and operated by The Greenlining Institute and during the summer Casa is utilized exclusively for the IPO Summer Camp. Fun excursions to Great America, Giants baseball games and tours of San Francisco are part of the experience.

You Will Learn

IPO Summer Camp Participants gain valuable skills in problem solving, teamwork, and critical thinking. In addition, IPO Summer Camp participants:

• Work in teams to develop their own (fictitious) non-profit
• Participate in site visits to become genuinely engaged in ideas and solutions,
• Learn how companies do well by being responsible corporate citizens,
• Learn how to become effective advocates for change,
• Develop greater understanding of various career fields,
• Discover and develop their own leadership potential
• Engage with other collegiate level leaders in Greenlining’s Fellowship Program,
• Learn to work with and live together with people from diverse ethnic and socioeconomic  backgrounds, and
• Build camaraderie with peers and form lasting friendships.

All Expenses Paid

The program is free for all participants. A small deposit may be required to participate, but will not exceed $50, and will be refunded at the end of the program. Travel to and from camp as well as travel during camp will be paid for by The Greenlining Institute. Housing and food (3 meals per day) will be also provided by The Greenlining Institute. Participants are responsible for providing their own bedding, personal supplies (toothbrush, toothpaste, etc.), clothing and spending money.

Applying To The IPO Summer Camp

Unfortunately, IPO Summer Camp will not be accepting applications for the summer of 2013. Please check back in the Fall for the 2014 program dates and details.