SAN MARCOS — Earlier this month 30 local students from grades five through eight spent a week at Palomar College participating in a variety of activities focused on learning how to become financially free adults. Money Camp, offered by the college’s Community Development department, proved so popular that an additional week will be offered August 6-10 at Palomar’s Escondido Center from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. each day.

"The Money Camp curriculum is very interactive, engaging the students in the learning process," said Teri Safranek, director of Workforce & Community Development at Palomar College. "One of the highlights of July’s camp was guest speaker and money expert George Chamberlin, who has agreed to come back and speak at the next Money Camp." Chamberlin is well-known as a local TV and radio commentator and newspaper columnist.

According to Safranek, students at the camp play a game similar to Robert Kiyasaki’s "Cash Flow" by physically going around the room to pay their bills and buy assets with their paychecks. "When they hear the payday theme music they Advertisement

[ Chatton and Associates ] jump out of their chairs and rush up to the instructors to get paid; then, they track their income and expenses and watch their assets grow. The goal of the game is to receive enough passive income from their assets so that they can choose to work or just live off their passive income," she said.

Started by Elisabeth Donati and business partner Larry Stein in 2003 on the premise that adolescents know shockingly little about building a financial portfolio, the popular program from Santa Barbara made its debut at Palomar in July. The day camp combines how-to sessions on the stock market with money-themed music, games and activities.

"Donati wanted to help the next generation learn how to manage their money and also has a passion to teach financial principals to help get our country out of debt," Safranek said.

In the fall a high school program will be offered in the afternoons and classes are being planned for adults in the spring. For more information or to register, call (760) 744-1150, ext. 2702.