Island Rec is calling all child entrepreneurs, from grades 4-12 to participate in their first annual Kids Maker Fair on April 21 from 4-5:30 p.m. at the San Juan Island Grange.

“Talking to young people at our various programs this summer, I realized how many creative kids there are out there making stuff who don’t have an outlet,” Jen Henry, Island Rec’s Recreation Specialist, said. She remembered making Dream Catchers as a child. Everyone in her family still has one of her creations, she laughed. “For 10, 11 and 12-year-olds it’s so empowering.” So after some brainstorming, she came up with the Kids Market Fair, a place kids can sell their wares with adult supervision, and learn tricks of being a business person.

Booth spots are $25 if registered by April 13 and $30 after that.

There are several workshops kids can participate in to help them come up with ideas for items to market, discuss the formula for pricing as well as sales techniques like eye contact and smiling. They will learn how to keep track of the time they put into their creations, the cost of materials other fees to understand what the item’s value might be.

“We were going to put a cap on the price, like five dollars, but then we realized they might make something worth more than that so we shouldn’t limit it,” Henry explained.

The next workshops will be March 3 for fourth through eighth grade and March 6 for ninth through 12 grade. Visit the Island Rec Website for more information on those.

“I’m very curious to see how the classes go and see what the kids are going to do,” Henry said.

One thing to note is that there will not be any food items that require refrigeration although baked goods are acceptable.

So far there are already eight signed up for the Market, and there will only be space for about 12-15. Young vendors can have business partners if they choose.

“I picked the Grange for this first one specifically for its small space,” Henry said, with hopes that over the next several years the event will grow.

“I love seeing the kids see lasting results for things they have worked hard for, seeing that confidence after working hard for their successes.”

As a result of those achievements, Henry hopes the young entrepreneurs will eventually be able to sell at other venues like the Farmers Market.

There will be no haggling with the vendors about their prices, “You are paying for their excitement,” Henry said. “Come, bring some money and support the kids. In the next few years, they could be our next entrepreneurs, running shops in Friday Harbor.”