Spring Resources from
Wisconsin Business World
Teachers,
As the spring semester begins, we know your classrooms are coming back to life with new routines, fresh goals, and eager learners. To help you start the semester strong, we’re sharing a collection of engaging programs and project-based learning opportunities designed to support student learning from day one.
From ready-to-use lesson plans (perfect for sub days or easy integration) to statewide competitions that align seamlessly with your curriculum, these resources are built to support your instructional goals throughout the semester.
If you have any questions or would like help getting started, we’re just an email away—we’re here to support you all spring long.
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Wisconsin Business World, in partnership with Georgia-Pacific., present the
2026 Business World Summer Camp
July 12-15, 2026 | UW-Stevens Point
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Registration Now Open!
We are excited to partner again this year with the UW Stevens Point Sentry School of Business and Economics, who will be hosting our 2026 Summer Business World Camp. In our camp, students learn how to build, run and manage a fictional business while working with other students from all around the state. They will engage and learn from executives from well-known and established Wisconsin businesses as well as tour a local manufacturer.
But, even more importantly, through our hands on, intentional curriculum, students have a chance to practice important life skills that will take them far in their future careers.
| | Watch our 2025 Summer Camp Recap! | | | Registration is now open. We limit camp to 100 students, and please know our camp fills quickly! As we want camp to be accessible to everyone, we will be offering a code to educators to comp their students’ registration fees. Please email Shelby Paradowski at sparadowski@wmc.org with any questions. | | |
Statewide Classroom Contests
Deadlines: June 12, 2026 at 11:59pm
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Looking for a fun classroom project to engage your students as the school year comes to a close? Submissions are now open for two of our Statewide Competitions – Our Kwik Trip Innovation Competition, and our ITU AbsorbTech “Why Wisconsin” Essay Contest.
The competitions are open to students in 6-12 grade, and we award cash prizes to the top entries! Many teachers throughout the state have added these competitions into their curriculum. Participation is a wonderful way to bring business into your classroom.
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Innovation Competition
Presented by
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Upload a creative presentation featuring your new Kwik Trip product idea explaining why Kwik Trip should put it in their stores and why guests will purchase your idea. Pay close attention to and explain your target market, price point and marketing ideas in your presentation.
Your project may be formatted in the manner that best showcases your ideas. Be creative in your presentations. And most of all, have fun INNOVATING!
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"Why Wisconsin"
Presented by
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Behind every great state are excellent businesses helping support local activities, individual livelihoods and build their communities up. Your essay must include information about how business is a force for good within your community.
In an essay of no more than 1,000 words, describe an example of an impact a Wisconsin business has had on you or your community showing how business is a force for good!
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One-Day MINI Business World Programs
Each school year, our WI Business World Team facilitates one day MINI Business World programs where middle and high school students are given a chance to experience camp at their schools, on a business site, campus or community center.
We partner with CESAs, business partners, local chambers and other community-based organizations to offer regional events. Our goal for the 2025-26 school year is to continue to build on the regional events, giving your students the opportunity to work with students from other schools.
While learning about business, entrepreneurship and career opportunities is the foundation of all of our programs, it’s the soft skills – communication, collaboration, creativity and leadership - that students embrace while building their businesses that make our programs shine!
And the best part? We present our programs at no cost to your districts!
| | What WMC Foundation Covers: | | |
- Supplies students will need for a successful day
- Prizes
- Lunch and Snacks
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The only cost to your district is the transportation to and from the event, as well as any internal staffing costs (subs, etc.).
While our 2025-26 school year calendar is full, we are running many regional programs that still have space for your students. Please reach out to Shelby Paradowski at sparadowski@wmc.org, for more information on how to bring a program to your area next school year.
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2026 National Civics Bee
Essay Deadline: February 3, 2026
The Eau Claire Area Chamber of Commerce is honored to host the 2026 Wisconsin National Civics Bee®, the sole statewide competition where middle school students will showcase their civic knowledge and leadership skills. This exciting event will take place in late spring/early summer 2026 in Eau Claire.
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The National Civics Bee® encourages 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students to get involved in civics, share ideas for strengthening their communities, and develop valuable public speaking and critical thinking skills.
Student essays are being accepted now through February 3, 2026.
Educators are encouraged to incorporate the Civics Bee into classroom assignments or offer it as an extra credit opportunity. The Educator Toolkit provides resources to make participation easy.
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Connecting Classrooms to Careers:
New AP Courses Launching in Wisconsin
The WMC Foundation has endorsed a new collaboration with the College Board to bring career-connected Advanced Placement courses to Wisconsin high schools. Part of the new AP Career Kickstart initiative, the courses blend AP’s academic rigor with industry-guided relevance. The first offerings—AP Business with Personal Finance and AP Cybersecurity—are being piloted in select classrooms this year, with a nationwide launch planned for the 2026–27 school year.
Developed with input from educators, higher education leaders, and nearly 400 employers nationwide, these courses emphasize both technical knowledge and essential skills such as communication, collaboration, and critical thinking. Students will have opportunities to earn college credit and industry-recognized credentials, opening pathways to college, apprenticeships, or direct entry into the workforce.
For more information, please contact Michelle Grajkowski at mgrajkowski@wmc.org.
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About Wisconsin Business World:
Wisconsin Business World is committed to reach, inspire and engage students from every corner of the state and to teach them the importance of business, entrepreneurship and the free market through virtual and in-person events, all while informing them of economic opportunities in their own communities. Wisconsin Business World is a proud program of WMC Foundation.
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