Colby pictured with some of the kids from Grit Camp
This past summer, two local college age students Colby Harris of Fernandina Beach and Dylan Tedder of San Marco, helped build a business from scratch by starting and running Grit Camp - a summer sports camp for young people in order to build more mental, physical, and emotional resilience. Living in the Grit.org headquarters in San Marco, Colby and Dylan learned and implemented time tested life and success principles including a daily 5:40 am cold shower, 1 hour daily workout, leading a summer camp by day, and marketing, selling, meditating, journaling, and reading by night. As Dylan says about part of his learning experience, "in order to better yourself, sometimes you need to get uncomfortable. The Grit lifestyle teaches determination and how to overcome obstacles. It also teaches self-discipline which is crucial for becoming the best version of yourself."
As interns at Grit University, Colby and Dylan earned a weekly salary plus profit sharing from Grit Camp and each amassed a $6,000 net profit by the end of the summer. Not only did they learn the mechanics of operating and running a small business, but they also helped make a positive imprint on the young campers they led each week. Led by Colby and Dylan, 14 local highschool athletes also helped run the camp and in return earned valuable volunteer hours or hourly compensation. What Colby and Dylan thought would be a summer of personal and financial growth ended up revealing an even more important life lesson - the power of paying it forward. As Colby says "While running grit camp, when a young kid who typically wouldn't step outside of their comfort zone actually gets out there and goes for it, it gets me beyond thrilled! The best feeling comes when they run up with a big smile on their face and experience that sensation of achievement. By the end of the summer it had become very clear to me that the difference I was making was so much more gratifying than any amount of money I could ever make. "
Coming off the end of a school year where all kids had been in remote learning, separated from friends and interaction, and no organized outlet for sports, the timing was just right for the boys and girls at Grit Camp, who ranged from 5 - 14 years old. And the mom's enjoyed the much needed break too! Having a safe environment to be outside, exert energy, laugh, sweat, and have fun was a great distraction for kids during this unknown and confusing time for them. With inspirational movies during lunch and guest speakers ranging from an NFL coach to a professional surfer, the campers learned and implemented the
Grit Creed through sports, calisthenics, and completing the Grit Combine. As an added service, Grit Camp offered a lunch menu from local restaurants each day which helped boost the local food industry by spending almost $10,000 with local restaurants.
Grit University is accepting applications for college age students that want to live in Jacksonville next summer and get an education in the real world. Whether it's running a sports camp or launching a new business, Grit University is designed to complement your undergraduate education by instilling life and success principles by teaching proper habits and attitude. And as an added bonus, interns have the opportunity to make a phenomenal income. Applicants can find out more at GritUniversity.com and reach us at
contact@grit.org.
End of summer party at Top Golf with our high school athletes and counselors
Founder of Grit.org, Brian Harbin, and intern Colby Harris during his check presentation
Dylan Tedder pictured with his girlfriend and parents at the end of summer banquet at Seasons52
Brian Harbin with Dylan Tedder and Colby Harris at Grit Camp, which was held at Riverside Presbyterian Day School in Riverside
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