Learning can be delicious.

Shawnigan students have been profiting from hands-on experience as they create sushi for sale on campus. It's all part of the experiential learning module in Mr. Gary Dukelow's Economics 12 class.

Each year, students break into randomly selected groups for the co-operative Sushi Project. The process begins with the designation of roles, including executives and financial officers. Then, from ordering to production to sales, they compete with the other groups to develop the most viable business venture. There are plenty of tasks along the way, such as ordering and costing, marketing, and dealing with human resources.

The groups make more than 100 boxes per session and typically sell out. However, there's also financial statements to prepare and tax to be paid before the profits can be shared and bonuses can be earned.

Naturally, there are a few differences between running a Sushi business on campus and running a corporation in the real world. However, the venture gives the students job and life experience, and even something to add to their resumes once they enter the post-Shawnigan workforce.

In addition, the 'tax' they've paid becomes another learning tool as they discuss where to spend the revenue in the course's philanthropy unit. Past beneficiaries have included Cops for Cancer and the MS Society of Canada, while this year students have voted to contribute to the SLS Thailand EDGE Project.

The enthusiasm emanating from the shared kitchen shows how valuable the experience can be. Perhaps it's why Mr. Dukelow says "it's not fund-raising, it's fun-raising."

– Jon Zacks