Twenty Five Virgin Islands high school students got hands-on business training, formed teams and vied for prizes for the best conservation-oriented business plan in the V.I. Resource Conservation & Development Council’s “Youth Conservation Entrepreneurial Retreat” at Carambola Beach Resort this week.

The council partnered with James Amps III and his A.M.P.S. Entrepreneurship and Leadership Institute to put on the retreat, with a little help from the U.S. Department of Agriculture.

“We wanted to spark their interest in agriculture and conservation, for them to understand these are fields where they can start a business and to spark them into thinking about planning for their future,” said council President Diane Capehart just before the four teams showcased their business plans before an audience of teachers, family members and friends at Carambola Friday. She credited Faye Williams of the council for both the idea for the retreat and the drive to make it happen.

Amps has been holding youth entrepreneurship retreats for seven years now, he said. All of the retreats focus on the process of creating a business plan and setting up a business, but this was the first one to have an overarching theme or focus, he said.