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High School Students Explore the World of Accounting at Seidman's ACED Camp
June 20, 2025
Nearly three dozen high school students from across West Michigan got a head start on their future careers at this year’s Accounting Careers + Education Discovery (ACED) Camp, a multi-day immersive program hosted by the Seidman College of Business School of Accounting. Designed to introduce students to the diverse career opportunities within the accounting field, ACED Camp aims to bring fresh perspectives into the profession and address the nationwide shortage of accountants.
The program welcomed students to Grand Valley State University’s Allendale and Grand Rapids campuses, where they engaged in hands-on learning, connected with professionals, and got a taste of college life. And thanks to our generous sponsors, this experience was at no cost to them.
Day One: Getting Acquainted and Campus Life
The camp kicked off with a warm welcome as students checked into
the dorms and settled into their new surroundings. The group explored
campus through a photo scavenger hunt powered by the Goosechase app,
had dinner at a GVSU dining hall, and spent the evening at the
recreation center before relaxing in the residence halls. The goal for
the first day was simple: break the ice and start building connections.
Day Two: Food Trucks, Financial Aid, and Escaping the Ordinary
Day two began with a presentation on college admissions and
financial aid followed by a student-led tour of the Allendale campus.
Students then launched into their first accounting lesson: designing a
food truck business. They examined real-world concepts like financing,
operating, and investment activities before enjoying lunch from
Casa de Los Abuelos, a local food truck owned by GVSU alum
Cesar González.
In the afternoon, students explored managerial accounting principles through another food truck simulation, identifying startup costs and critical business decisions. The day wrapped up with an interactive visit to The Great Escape Room in downtown Grand Rapids, where students practiced soft skills like teamwork, time management, and communication—essential traits for any business professional. Evening activities included games, water balloons, and treats from Kona Ice, another alum-owned business.
Day Three: Real-World Accounting in Action
On the third day, students split into groups for two industry
visits. One group toured the ReChaco factory in Rockford, where they
designed custom Chaco sandals and watched them being produced on-site.
A custom “Price is Right”-style game developed by the Chaco team
helped students connect the dots between product design, materials,
labor, and overhead costs.
The other group visited BDO, West Michigan’s largest CPA firm, for a deep dive into professional accounting careers. Students toured the firm’s Grand Rapids office, participated in a Q&A with professionals, and practiced their interpersonal skills through a speed networking session.
Both groups reunited at Seidman for a lunch and froyo bar provided by The Pumphouse, then swapped locations to ensure every camper had the full experience. The day concluded with a visit to GVSU’s Pew Campus and an interactive t-shirt shop simulation where students customized their own ACED Camp shirts and calculated product costs and target profits. Hungerford CPAs & Advisors sponsored the simulation and joined the students for dinner.
Day Four: Wrapping Up
On the final day, students checked out of their dorm rooms and enjoyed breakfast together in the campus dining hall before heading to Plante Moran’s Grand Rapids office. There, they toured the space, learned about the firm’s many service areas, including tax, audit, forensic accounting, and consulting. There was even a fun round of trivia and a raffle!
After the visit, the group returned to the Pew Campus for an etiquette lunch in the Regency Room at DeVos, led by Cindy Brown and sponsored by PwC. Four PwC professionals joined the students for lunch and informal conversation, offering insights and answering final questions.
To close out the camp, students received their custom-made Chaco sandals, stopped by the Laker Store for GVSU gear, and wrote "thank you" notes to the sponsors and hosts who made the experience possible. Back at Holton-Hooker, they wrapped up with paper plate awards created by the student counselors and personalized poems. Campers exchanged hugs and contact info—and even asked about next year’s dates.
Looking Ahead
ACED Camp offers more than a glimpse into accounting, it shows
students the value and versatility of the profession through engaging,
real-world experiences. From networking with professionals to
simulating business decisions, campers left the program with a deeper
understanding of what accounting is and what it can be.
For more information, please visit our ACED website.