STARKVILLE, Mississippi (WTVA) – Nine enthusiastic campers from across Mississippi traveled to Starkville during the week to create their own advertising products to sell to locals.

The group gathered on Sunday to start their own business in the Idea Shop in downtown Starkville.

Campers have created their own businesses and products to sell at Camp ICreate. June 18, 2021.

Campers have created their own businesses and products to sell at Camp ICreate. June 18, 2021.

Products the campers built ranged from custom wood key chains and cowbells to large Mississippi state-themed paintings. Taken: June 19, 2021.

Mason Jones is one of these young budding entrepreneurs. At just 16 years old, he was in charge of the “I Create” camp activity.

He said he wouldn’t have attended the weeklong camp without his mother’s persuasion, but he’s so glad he did.

During the week, the campers planned, designed and built their own products to sell to people in the community.

The theme of this year’s designs centered around Father’s Day gifts. Products ranged from koozies and key chains to large Mississippi state-themed paintings created by Taylor Herron.

Herron has been a painter since the age of five, and she hopes to start a business for her artwork from the experiences she gained at the camp.

“I just want to make someone happy and make them say ‘I have this and no one else will have this in the world,'” Herron explained.

However, in addition to the fun of creating your own products, campers heard from local entrepreneurs about financing, marketing, and all the other things important to running your own business.

It is this aspect which, according to Jones, is the most salient part of his experience.

“Being here and just learning the business side of things was really fun because I didn’t know all of this,” he said.

Campers will sell their products on Saturday to end the camp.

Campers keep all the money from sales.