Lemonade Day teaches kids about business

The YMCA of the Triangle is sponsoring Triangle Lemonade Day next month, an effort to teach kids about how to start, own and operate their own business – a lemonade stand.

The free program includes a backpack with an Entrepreneur Workbook that teaches them the 14 lessons of Lemonade Day. It includes information on creating budgets, setting profit-making goals, serving customers, repaying investors and giving back to the community. Kids keep all the money they make and are encouraged to spend some, save some and share some. The program is best for kids up to eighth grade.

Lemonade Day started in Houston, Texas in 2007 and has grown from 2,700 kids to 120,000 kids in 31 cities across America and Canada last year, according to the website. The goal, organizers say, is to empower youth to take ownership of their lives and become productive members of society.

It all culminates on May 5 when kids across the Triangle and around North American will host lemonade stands.