Established in 2023 by Carbondale-based financier Ron Speaker, The Finance Camp introduces Roaring Fork Valley high school students to investing through a hands-on, weeklong boot camp focused on financial literacy and personal finance.

Each year, about 15 local students are selected for the free program, which combines classroom instruction, guest speakers and real-world investing experience.

“I’m always preaching to the kids that they should be a detective of opportunity,” Speaker said. “Great ideas are never invisible. We really encourage them to pay attention to how the world and the economy work. It’s hard to invest money in something you don’t understand, and it shouldn’t be done.”

At the start of the camp, each student opens a trading account with Charles Schwab funded with $500 in seed money. Students who pass the final exam receive an additional $750. After the camp concludes, participants enter a six-month investing sprint, with the student who grows their account the most by Dec. 31 earning a $5,000 grand prize.

That prize went this year to Dylan Riley, a Roaring Fork High School sophomore and member of the Rams baseball and football teams. Riley grew his account by 50% between June 15 and Dec. 31, 2025. According to Speaker, it was the strongest performance by a student since the camp began.

“I wanted to apply because it sounded like a great opportunity to learn how to invest and turn your money into more money,” Riley said. “It’s great knowledge to have, even if I don’t do it as a job. It’s another source of income and a useful skill.”

Riley said investing appealed to him because it felt interactive.

“The idea of making money with your money instead of just letting it sit in a bank is fascinating,” he said. “It’s kind of like betting on companies’ success, which is pretty fun.”

Riley entered the camp with some basic investing experience, but said the strategies he learned from Speaker and guest instructors helped him grow the original $500 investment into more than $7,000, including the grand prize.

“The camp was really fun and full of great people, teachers and food,” Riley said with a laugh. “I focused on undervalued tech and AI stocks that were backed by larger companies or government leaders. I also tried to invest in companies whose products I could see myself using in the future.”

The camp curriculum covers topics such as the history of money, investing fundamentals, cryptocurrency and long-term wealth-building strategies. Speaker uses guest speakers, multimedia and clips from films such as “The Big Short” and “Wall Street” to keep students engaged.

Speaker said Riley’s success highlights the long-term potential of starting early.

“His $7,000 could multiply many times over the next 50 years,” Speaker said. “That can be life-changing.”

Riley said one of the biggest lessons he learned was the importance of time.

“I learned how important starting early and compound interest really are,” he said. “I also learned about diversification and not selling everything at once. Those lessons showed up in how my account performed.”

While the $5,000 prize draws students in, Speaker said the goal is to build lasting financial habits. The program also includes guest speakers and group lunches focused on professional etiquette.

Applications for the 2026 Finance Camp are open to students ages 14 to 17 through April 15. Applicants must complete at least 25 hours of community service as part of the application process. More information is available at thefinancecamp.com.