Grade Level

6th - 12th

Time Commitment

Preparation: Read the volunteer guide. Volunteer hours: 8 AM - 2 PM

JA Finance Park teaches students the important principles of financial literacy including saving, investing and budgeting.

This program is a reality based, hands-on simulation for students that enables them to build foundations for making intelligent lifelong personal finance decisions. It also allows them to develop a realistic understanding of the economic issues they must deal with upon graduation from high school and in the development of a budget.

JA Finance Park (Entry Level)

6th - 10th Grade

JA Finance Park is a 12 session program that introduces students to personal financial planning and career exploration. At the culmination of this teacher-led program, students visit JA Finance Park, a realistic on-site or virtual community, to put into practice what they've learned by developing and committing to a personal budget.

93%

BUDGET READY

93% of students indicated that making purchases during the simulation helped them to understand how budget works.

91%

BETTER PREPARED

91% of students indicated that making participating in the simulation helped them to better prepare for the budgeting challenges in their future.

92%

VOLUNTEER VALUE

92% of students indicated that their interactions with the volunteer in the program will have a positive influence on their personal development.

JA Finance Park Advanced

11th - 12th Grade

JA Finance Park Advanced is Junior Achievement’s capstone curriculum for personal financial planning and career exploration for high school students. An advanced curriculum and simulation give students a more personal focus. Students select their career and define their future lifestyle and financial goals.

95%

BUDGET READY

95% of students indicated that making purchases during the simulation helped them to understand how budget works.

94%

BETTER PREPARED

94% of students indicated that making participating in the simulation helped them to better prepare for the budgeting challenges in their future.

94%

VOLUNTEER VALUE

94% of students indicated that their interactions with the volunteer in the program will have a positive influence on their personal development.

What Students Will Learn

Students experience the JA Finance Park simulation, where they apply classroom learning by creating a family budget based on a hypothetical life situation.

Income

Students recognize the fundamental role of income in managing their personal finances and how the decisions they make about education and career will have an impact on their potential income and quality of life.

Savings, Investing & Risk Management

Students explore why saving money is critical, and they compare investments as a part of their overall financial planning. They examine risk and how insurance may help protect savings. They also examine risk and how insurance may help mitigate certain expenses

Credit & Debit

Students compare financial institutions and their services. They weigh the advantages and disadvantages of debit and credit. Students will explore the role of credit scores and credit reporting on personal finances.

Budget

Students discover the importance of spending money wisely and recognize a budget as a valuable tool.

The Hands-On Approach

Most of us learn best when we are able to experience things firsthand. JA Finance Park takes reality-based learning to a new level by placing students into authentic, tangible, real-world scenarios where they take control of their decisions.

JA Finance Park includes three parts:

Classroom lessons and activities
Budgeting simulation at JA Finance Park
Debrief and follow-up in the classroom.

JA Finance Park brings together teachers, community and corporate volunteers, and local businesses to prepare students for adult life.

Through hands-on classroom activities and site-based experiences, JA Finance Park students build a foundation for making intelligent, lifelong personal-finance decisions. The program includes hands-on in-school activities that culminate with a visit to the JA Finance Park

JA Students Need You!

JA Finance Park Volunteers are in High Demand

To ensure a successful visit, we need 10-20 volunteers daily to provide guidance to students as they plan their budgets.

Volunteer Commitment

Commit to volunteer from 8:00 AM - 2:00 PM on the day of the site visit. Training will be provided from 8:00 AM - 9:00 AM and students will arrive shortly thereafter. This training provides volunteers with the opportunity to understand the in-class program as well as the on-site schedule and procedures. Volunteers gain firsthand knowledge and experience about their role in assisting the students.

Share your life experience with students at JA Finance Park. Each volunteer will help students build a foundation for making intelligent, lifelong, personal financial decisions by coaching a few students through the process of developing a budget.

The Day at JA Finance Park

"Who will I become?"

Upon entering the park, each student is given a unique "life situation" - a personal profile with the details of their adult life like the one below.

Job Title: Project Manager

Annual Salary: $63,000

Age: 38

Marital Status: Married with 2 children: girl age 8/boy age 5

Monthly Taxes: $1,234

Social Security: $326

Medicare: $79

Other: Drive 22 miles round-trip to work each day

Employment background: After graduating from high school, you joined the Navy and earned your bachelor's degree in engineering. You are fortunate that you do not have any outstanding student loans. While you were in the Navy, you worked on large-scale projects. You will need a master's degree to move up in your company or secure a new job with better pay.