Each summer, the Native Nations Institute conducts the Native American Youth Entrepreneur Camp (NAYEC) on The University of Arizona campus in Tucson.
The camp fosters skills to encourage private-sector development in Indian Country.
NAYEC instructors teach high-school juniors, seniors, and recent graduates the basics of economics, computer skills, and business-plan preparation through activities that lead to personal and professional development.
Students also have the opportunity to meet and seek advice from Native American business professionals through classroom visits and field trips to nearby native-owned businesses. At one of the culminating events of the camp, the Youth Marketplace, students get a taste of what it's like to run their own businesses using what they learn in the camp classes. The Business Plan Showcase presents business plans that students prepare throughout the camp, providing prizes for the most promising ideas.
