“I take my students to JA Finance Park because it’s a fun, immersive experience that gives my students the opportunity to practice crucial life skills like budgeting, thinking about savings, and planning investments in a supportive environment. The work my students do at JA Finance Park seems to “sink in” far better than any of the financial literacy lessons I’ve ever taught on my own in my classroom.”
-Hannah Drager, Teacher
JA Finance Park, presented by Transamerica, helps students build a foundation for making intelligent and lifelong personal financial decisions through a hands-on, realistic simulation experience. The program has been recognized by Harvard University’s Global Education Innovation Initiative as a program with innovative curriculum and best practices related to 21st century skills in financial literacy education.
During their visit to JA Finance Park, located inside American Furniture Warehouse at 8501 Grant St. in Thornton, Colorado, students become an adult for the day and are immersed in a reality-based decision-making process addressing aspects of individual family budgeting, including housing, transportation, food, utilities, healthcare, investments, philanthropy, and banking.
Corporate and community volunteers help deliver lessons while sharing their own stories and experiences, which keeps students engaged in the curriculum and experience.
The new JA Finance Park Advanced version allows students to have a more personal focus to see the long-term impact of their education, savings, and credit decisions.
A new virtual version of JA Finance Park is also available. Much like the hands-on version, JA Finance Park Virtual users adopt a fictional persona, create an avatar and make fiscal decisions based on a predetermined life circumstance, all in a digital game-based environment.
JA Finance Park is offered at no cost to students or schools thanks to the support of volunteers and donors.
If you have questions, please contact us at FinancePark@JAColorado.org.
