Wooden Spoons Teach Business to Middle School Students

Some area middle school students in a program called Wooden Spoon got the chance to see what it will be like when it’s time to get jobs. Incoming 8th-grader Sky Vickerman worked a lunch shift at Rock Elm Tavern in Maple Grove.

“This is gonna be a super good opportunity to learn a lot more about small businesses,” said Sky. “‘Cause we’re actually working at one.” Sky and his classmates are taking a one-week West Suburban Summer School course called Wooden Spoon.

The idea is to teach kids the basics of running a business with hands-on experience.

“It’s a really interesting time and a really impactful time to do this,” said teacher Samantha Heitke. “They are going to be the kids who work part time as high schoolers in their communities.”

Rock Elm donated part of the lunch-crowd proceeds to CROSS Services. That group runs a food shelf serving Maple Grove and Osseo, among other cities. Rock Elm’s other location in Plymouth also hosted a Wooden Spoon event.

Maple Grove | Plymouth