By Cathy Miller

TREP$, short for “enTREPreneurS,” is a nationwide enrichment program founded in New Jersey in 2007. During each six week session, children in grades 4-8 learn about starting their own business, culminating with the TREP$ Marketplace, where the young entrepreneurs officially launch their businesses.

In 2019, I had the unexpected pleasure of meeting Blairstown resident Sandy Roberts, the area’s TREP$ coordinator and advisor, and her mighty group of fledgling impresarios at the Blairstown Farmers’ Market. One year later, the newest crop of TREP$ set up shop once more at the Farmers’ Market to launch their businesses. How did the experience differ from the in-person program in 2019 to 100% online in 2020? Read on as Ms. Roberts details the trials, creative solutions, and triumphs of this intrepid group of kids.

She explained, “We’ve always held TREP$ classes in-person, with lots of discussion and hands-on projects. This year, due to the pandemic, we moved classes online and used Zoom. Our students met on Wednesday mornings for six weeks before the Marketplace, with one more meeting after the final Marketplace to share their experiences. We used Google Classroom to organize class materials, complete homework assignments, and stay in touch. Emails were sent every week as a backup.”

She continued, “As before, the first part of the class was a short presentation to discuss concepts like marketing, determining profit, setting a price, developing a business plan, and sales techniques. Normally we’d physically break into groups each week. Online, we used Zoom’s Breakout Room feature, which allowed participants to have their own private chat. As host of the meeting, I could visit each Breakout Room to check-in and communicate via text announcements.”

It wasn’t as easy as having everyone in the same room, but the students made it work really well. Returning TREP$, who were there to brush up on their business skills, were each placed with a group of less experienced students. Ms. Roberts said, “The experienced students really stepped up as leaders, helping to keep everyone on track. I was really impressed.”

The hands-on portion of the class was another challenge. Ms. Roberts noted, “Usually, I’ll provide all the materials for our work. This time, each week I sent the materials list in advance. Kids and parents did their best to gather items they needed, but we often had to substitute. Honestly, I think it helped in some ways. Entrepreneurs have to be quick thinkers – creative and adaptable. Figuring out how to put together a group project when everyone had different access to materials meant they had to think about working with a group in different ways. Each week they got better at anticipating potential pitfalls and more flexible in how they solved those problems. Given that they were going to hold their Marketplace under unusual circumstances, it was great practice.”

One extra class was added just before the Marketplace, giving students more time to plan in case they couldn’t get materials. It also allowed an additional question-and-answer session. The wrap-up meeting, after the Marketplace, will be unique. Usually, Ms. Roberts hosts a party for the students, presenting each with a certificate. She teased, without spilling any beans, “I’ve worked out some ways to celebrate their accomplishments even though we can’t be together.”

Of all the obstacles the group encountered, she said, “One of the hardest things was that we never met in person prior to the Marketplace on Aug. 8. Usually, students have time to get acquainted before and after classes. Nonetheless, we had at least one partnership born of a common love for dogs. Amelia and Amelia didn’t know each other at all before TREP$, but they developed their business together, made their products, planned their table decor, did everything over email. They literally met on the day of the Marketplace, but you would never have known that. They did a fantastic job of putting forth a unified business to the public. I was so proud of them, they worked so hard.”

Turning to public safety at the Marketplace during a pandemic, Ms. Roberts detailed, “We talked many times before the event about what the safety requirements would be this year – gloves, masks, hand sanitizer, social distancing. Those who were selling food products had to make sure everything was individually wrapped, all ingredients and potential allergens were listed, and that food stayed at a safe temperature. There is so much preparation that goes into launching their businesses. This year’s students had extra areas to consider, and every one of them nailed it. What’s amazing is that TREP$ kids don’t complain or worry. They face the challenge and know that they really can make it work. The program is a tremendous confidence booster for kids.”

Every TREP$ turned a profit at the Marketplace and six younger business owners completely sold out of products! Ms. Roberts proudly added, “You can’t hold these kids back! They’re our future.” It was an impressive effort by the youngsters – from their table decor and signage to their sales skills and ease in meeting the public.

Ms. Roberts gratefully acknowledged all those who helped during this unprecedented TREP$ session – the parents, who had extra duties helping their kids with the technology and acquiring supplies; the mentors, Steve Kosciolek, Caitie Kosciolek, and Wen-Ling Lai, who served as a “target market” for the TREP$, giving the students great, positive advice; YMCA Camp Mason for providing additional canopies for the day; the Foodshed Alliance and Blairstown Farmers’ Market for hosting TREP$; the Warren County Library System for sponsoring and hosting the classes; Kaleidoscope Enrichment (www.EnrichScience.com) for supporting the workshops and makerplace; and Hayley Romano and Pamela deWaal, developers of the TREP$ curriculum.

She added, “I’ve taught the TREP$ program several times under my company, Kaleidoscope Enrichment, but in 2019 it became an official program through the library, enabling us to reach many more students across the county. Though I’m now the Makerspace Coordinator for the library, I continue to host homeschool, after-school, library, clubs, and camp programs throughout the area as Kaleidoscope and now offer online classes in partnership with Make Magazine.” McGraw-Hill recently published “The Big Book of Maker Camp Projects,” a fine compendium of Maker enrichment, written by Sandy Roberts.

The next round of TREP$ classes begins in October with a late November/early December Marketplace event. Details will be provided through the Warren County Library System website at www.warrenlib.org. Students in grades 4-8 (ages 9-14) are welcome to participate. The program is offered free of charge, though parents are asked to pay for the workbook. Registration is open to Warren County Library System members first, after which any remaining spots are made available a week before classes begin.

Coming on the heels of a wildly successful Marketplace on Aug. 8, the Warren County Farmers’ Market (White Township School, Belvidere) invited the TREP$ to join them on Sunday, Aug. 30 from 10:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. Pop in to the pop-up for new businesses as well as Marketplace favorites and support these aspiring entrepreneurs.