When Life Gives You Lemons: 7th Annual B/CS Lemonade Day

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By Molly McIntire

When life gives you lemons, open a lemonade stand! The 7th Annual Bryan College Station Lemonade Day will be held Saturday, May 6.

Lemonade Day is a free opportunity for kids in Kindergarten through 12th grade to have fun while learning how to own and operate a business. Lemonade Day City Director Caitlin Wheat says the confidence and experience the kids gain will help them in their future, regardless of their future occupation.

“It builds confidence in kids,” says Wheat. “So even if they don’t go into business at any point, no matter what they do with their lives, they will carry the confidence that [Lemonade Day] instills in them with them wherever they go.”

This year will be the first year that Bryan College Station will host Lemonade Day on a Saturday, as the previous Lemonade Days were held on Sunday.

“Much of the country has always held Lemonade Day on a Saturday. The [National] Lemonade Day [organization] allows for cities to choose a day, and even a month, that works best for the communities … switching to Saturday for our community just seemed like the right decision this year,” says B/CS Lemonade Day Founder Lenae Scroggins.

Scroggins says the Sunday to Saturday switch may allow the children to benefit from having more opportunities for site selection. Businesses that are open on Saturdays and not Sundays provide more traffic for children set up in front of these businesses. Additionally, children may have longer and later lemonade stand operation hours this year, as there won’t be school the next morning.

“Part of running a business is choosing hours of operation,” Scroggins says. “Kids learn how to plan, set goals, time and money management, and how to market their business.”

Not only is Lemonade Day a fun and easy way for kids to gain business experience, but it is also used as an opportunity to show kids what it means to be a community leader.

“It teaches a contributor mindset instead of an entitled mindset,” says Wheat.

Lemonade Day isn’t just for the kids though, as Scroggins encourages the entire community to get involved.

“Everyone in Bryan College Station has a job on Lemonade Day. If you’re not out there selling, you’re buying or showing support for our next generation of productive, innovative citizens,” says Scroggins.

Get Involved Any child can take part in Lemonade Day, although adults are needed as mentors and volunteers. There is no registration fee, and the program does not charge kids for the supplies they are given. Upon registration, a child will receive a backpack and informational workbook. After that, it’s up to the child and their mentor to choose how and where they want to set up. Any profit a stand makes is for the child to keep.

Lemonade Day has no set time, but Wheat says that kids usually set up around 9am or 10am and will stay open until 3pm or 4pm.

Registration is available online through www.lemonadedaybcs.com.