Bearcat Express Coffee Shop
The Bearcat Express coffee shop is an ongoing business venture run by and for students. It is located in the Douglas High School Media Center and is open on Monday through Friday from before school through the first half of 5th hour. Feel free to stop in and take a look if you are in the neighborhood!
Bearcat Express Coffee Shop has been in operation for more than ten years. From its humble beginnings funded by a grant, it has grown to be an amazing opportunity for students to learn employment skills in a setting that respects their comfort zone, differences in abilities, and need for transition life skills.
The Bearcat Express is totally self-sufficient. All equipment, supplies, and wages are paid from monies taken in through the sale of a large variety of hot and cold beverages including cappuccinos, lattes, hot chocolate, hot or cold tea, Chai tea, smoothies, slides, and sparkling iced tea. The menu includes 25-27 regular flavors and 10-12 sugar free flavors.
From monies taken in each month 20% is set aside for capital expenses to replace worn out equipment. Supplies are then ordered and paid for. Money left at the end of the monthly expenses is set aside for student employees to be paid out quarterly as part of a profit-sharing plan.
Life Skills Kitchen
Bearcat Baked Goodies
While relatively new compared to the Bearcat Express Coffee Shop, Bearcat Baked Goodies is completing its first full year of operation with a mighty roar! During its first half-year all costs were underwritten by outside sources. As of the beginning of the current school year, supplies and replacement equipment are being purchased from the sale of snacks and baked goodies. There is no profit sharing plan set aside for this current school year but it is the hope and dream of staff and administration that it too, will become totally self-sustaining including profit sharing paid quarterly to students working in the life skills kitchen.
Cookies, bars, snack mixes, trail mix, and homemade candies are some of the great treats turned out by student workers during STEP classes 1 and 2 Monday through Friday. As with the Bearcat Express, students keep inventory of supplies needed and shop for those items once a week at local grocery stores. Goodies are made by students for students. They are packaged and sold by the piece or serving in the Bearcat Express. Items are also available by the batch for meetings or luncheons. Check in at DHS for available items and prices!