Exploring Economics in Action in Portland

Winterim includes a number of local programs where students can engage in exciting activities found right here in Portland. One such program this year was Economics in Action: Exploring Economics, Finance, and Sustainability through Simulation. Led by Upper School History and Social Studies Teacher CT Henry and Upper School Science Teacher Rebecca Knight, this Winterim offered an immersive exploration of economics, business, and finance through hands-on activities and real-world observations. The students tackled real-world challenges, such as balancing profitability with environmental responsibility and collaborating to develop sustainable energy solutions.

On day one, the students learned about starting a business from guest speaker Sarah Melland of Forge Education. Forge is a local business that provides tutoring to students, including several OES Lower School students.

“One of the most powerful learning moments for me in this Winterim was hearing from Sara Melland. Her principles and experience starting a business gave me a lot more insight into the challenges and realities of putting an idea into the world and seeing how one's community reacts. Lastly, one impactful message that stuck with me was that you need to convince your audience that your product or service is a need for the great community.” Taylor D. ’27

On their second day, the students learned about financing a business. They met with OES parent Jim Huston (Hannah ’13 and Reed ’17) of the Portland Seed Fund, who gave the group a tour of two start-ups: Solarcore (a thermal solutions company that leverages NASA-inspired Aerogel to produce apparel for recreation and the military) and Photon Marine (which builds electric boat motors).

“My most powerful learning moment was touring Solarcore and receiving a presentation from the company's founder. He was very detailed and answered questions with clear responses. The content he covered was very interesting, such as how he created a start-up in STEM whilst having no previous STEM experience. That opened my eyes to realize that founders of start-ups don't have to be experts on the subject.” Athena L. ’27

On day three, they explored designing a product and logistics. They took a tour of the Adidas campus on N. Greeley, led by OES Board President Paul Ehrlich (Henry ’22 and Benj ’25), who is general counsel for Adidas Global Brands & Americas. They heard from several employees about their work there, including one who filled them in on how a supply chain works.

“One of the most powerful learning moments for me was hearing from James at Adidas. I found supply chain to be incredibly interesting, and learning about the logistics and thought behind every decision was insightful. Additionally, a pivotal moment was hearing from RapidMade about the reality of start-up businesses and the struggle that comes with being an entrepreneur.”
Cassidy P. ’27

Next they learned about manufacturing a product, with a tour of the 3D printing company of RapidMade, Inc., led by OES parent and co-owner Renee Eaton (Rachel ’09 and Sara ‘13).

“When we went to RapidMade, it was really insightful to me how the entire labor force works together but also separately. They each have something they mainly do, and yet they are able to work so cohesively.” Jacob P. ’27

Finally, they explored distributing a product with a virtual tour of an Amazon warehouse.

The students also played dynamic board game simulations that model key business scenarios, such as securing loans, hiring and managing employees, navigating market demands, optimizing supply chains, and investing in stocks. The simulations spanned industries like high fashion, smartphone production, car sales, and green energy, challenging students to think strategically and act ethically.

Connor R. ‘27 shared, “I will bring my love of board games to others and take what I know about what makes a board game fun and apply it to creating activities in the OES community.”

Overall, this Winterim was an impactful experience for the participants, bridging theory and practice to cultivate a deeper understanding of how businesses operate within the global economy.

“A powerful moment for me was simply realizing how much effort and care goes into creating and maintaining a business in the long term. Some things that led me to understand these challenges were hearing from Sarah at Forge Education and James from the supply chain at Adidas. Hearing from James was very interesting because it helped me learn how even large companies like Adidas have such complex ways of sustaining their production.”
Samantha O. ’27

“I will use what I learned to further enrich our community by thinking about the economic benefits and problems of my actions. How should I be utilizing paper? Should I buy from the vending machine? Is it alright for me to get a second plate of food and not finish it? There are so many economic things that change based on my decisions.”
Jacob P. ’27