The Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator

The Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator is an interactive and responsive career exploration experience that inspires high school students to develop a plan to pursue a meaningful career and future.

This exciting new experience will help students realize their strengths and interests and how they align with a variety of career choices. Students will be motivated by insights from emerging entrepreneurs and stories of Colorado Business Hall of Fame inductees, tailored to each student’s interests and aptitudes. Volunteers guide students through each of the interactives and share their own real-life experiences to encourage them to think deeply about their future.

JA provides comprehensive learning resources for in-class lessons before and after students’ visit to the Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator. Curriculum is customized to each student’s experience, guiding them through a process to identify, research, refine, and pursue their goals.

Pre-Register for the 2023/24 School Year

THE DANIELS FUND JA DREAM ACCELERATOR SUPPORTS THE FOLLOWING:

CDE High School Standards

Analyze the impact of education, skill development, and cost of living factors related to income
Set goals and monitor progress on attaining goals for future success

Colorado Essential Skills

Demonstrate awareness of how dreams and interests translate into career pathways at local, regional, national, and global areas

ICAP Requirements

The ability to plan and set realistic goals can lead to a sense of well-being and positive mental health
What is your greatest hope for next year/your future?
What colleges/ careers/ military branches have you researched and how might this research support you in the future?
What are your future goals and what steps do you need to take in order to accomplish these?

Visit Details:

Up to 40 students can experience this discovery center per session

Sessions last 1.5 hours and educators can choose from two different time options

Students will rotate through six experiences

Located inside the JA Free Enterprise Center (6500 Greenwood Plaza Blvd.)

The Daniels Fund JA Dream Accelerator includes two lessons prior to the visit and two lessons after the visit. The lessons are educator-led and required to be completed to ensure a meaningful experience for students. All materials are provided by Junior Achievement.

Pre-Visit Lesson Objectives

Students will be able to:

Analyze and examine results of an interest inventory assessment
Identify top career, education, and training opportunities based on personal interests and aptitudes
Discover entrepreneurial characteristics in order to develop growth mindset strategies
Reflect on assessment results

During Their Visit

Students will participate in six interactive experiences:

Introductory Film – Inspires students to be excited about the legacy of entrepreneurship in Colorado and their role in continuing that legacy through their own future
Picture Your Strengths – Gain perspective on how their personal qualities, strengths, and aspirations can provide the foundation for passion-driven careers
Colorado Business Hall of Fame Laureates – Discover how the careers of laureates match their own interests
Reality Check – Understand the costs that are associated with their anticipated adult lifestyle
Entrepreneurial Mindset – Educates students on the key attributes of the entrepreneurial spirit
Visualization – Illustrated mural engages students to consider their future goals and greatest hope

Post-Lesson Objectives

Students will be able to:

Analyze their career interests and alignment with Picture Your Strengths experience results
Reflect on lifestyle aspirations from the Reality Check experience considering the cost of education and training
Create short- and long-term goals and next steps based on their reflections
Have the confidence and knowledge to take the next steps in their career journey

Designed by Gallagher and Associates, the creative designers behind
the Spy Museum, the College Football Hall of Fame, and the US
Olympic Museum, just to name a few – the Daniels Fund JA Dream
Accelerator will be a place for discovery.

For more information about this first-of-its-kind program, email DreamAccelerator@jacolorado.org.