JA Finance Park®

JA Finance Park provides students the unique opportunity to experience their personal financial futures first-hand. JA Finance Park helps students build a foundation upon which they can make intelligent financial decisions that last a lifetime, including decisions related to income, expenses, savings, and credit.

After in-class lessons, students participate in an immersive simulation that enables them to develop skills to successfully navigate today’s complex economic environment and discover how decisions today can impact tomorrow. Students will all be assigned a fictitious ‘life scenario’ with a career, salary, debt and family size. They visit storefronts representing the major line items in a budget – housing, utilities, food, etc. – and work towards providing for themselves and their families within their assigned means. Throughout the day they apply for auto and home loans and discover the impact a credit score has on financial well-being. Volunteers guide students through the simulation and provide their own life experience to bring authenticity to the experience.

JA Finance Park can be experienced in multiple ways: In-person at our Experiential Learning Center in Hillsboro, Oregon, or virtually from the students’ classrooms..

Questions? Contact us!

Audra Futter, Director of Experiential Learning Centers
afutter@ja-pdx.org

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Learn More about JA Finance Park

Through classroom lessons and the JA Finance Park simulation, students will:

  • Explore careers and future opportunities — discover career paths, earning potential, and the education and skills needed to pursue different careers.

  • Build financial literacy skills — earn a paycheck, create and manage a budget, pay bills, save, and make informed financial decisions.

  • Understand real-world financial responsibilities — experience the costs and choices involved in housing, transportation, food, healthcare, childcare, entertainment, and other everyday expenses.

  • Practice decision-making and problem-solving — evaluate options, prioritize needs and wants, and make decisions based on a realistic household budget.

  • Develop workplace and life skills — strengthen communication, critical thinking, teamwork, collaboration, and decision-making skills.

  • Understand the connection between education, careers, and income — see how career choices, education, income, and financial decisions can impact their future.

  • Apply classroom learning in a real-world setting — put their knowledge and skills into action through the JA Finance Park simulation.

Program Length:

JA Finance Park offers two experiences designed specifically for different age groups, with both in-person and virtual simulation options.

Entry Level — Grades 7–9

  • 12 in-class lessons prior to the JA Finance Park visit or virtual simulation

  • Designed to introduce students to foundational personal finance concepts and real-world financial decision-making

  • Learn more about the Entry Level program

Advanced Level — Grades 10–12

  • 7 foundational in-class lessons

  • 21 optional extension lessons that allow educators to dive deeper into financial literacy topics

  • Lessons take place prior to the JA Finance Park visit or virtual simulation

  • Designed to build more advanced financial knowledge and prepare students for life after high school

  • Learn more about the Advanced Level program

Volunteers:

Volunteers are an important part of the JA Finance Park experience and help students navigate realistic financial decisions during the simulation.

  • 1 volunteer is needed for every 6 students participating in each simulation.

  • Volunteers work directly with students as they create and manage budgets, make financial decisions, and navigate real-world scenarios.

  • Volunteers help students think through their choices rather than simply providing the answers.

  • Schools are encouraged to recruit their own volunteers.

  • If your school needs assistance with volunteer recruitment, please let your JA Site Manager know at least 60 days before your simulation date so we have time to help coordinate support.

  • Volunteer opportunities are available for business professionals, community members, parents, and other approved volunteers.

  • No financial or business expertise is required. JA provides volunteers with the training and resources they need to be successful.

In-Person or Virtual:

JA Finance Park can be delivered through an in-person simulation at our JA facility in Hillsboro or a virtual simulation, providing flexibility for schools based on scheduling, transportation, and other needs.

Cost:

$22 per student.

The program fee includes the classroom curriculum, teacher resources, student materials, and the immersive JA Finance Park simulation experience.

If you need assistance with program fee, please contact Audra Futter as we never want cost to be the only barrier for your participation.

JA Finance Park helps students move beyond learning about money to actually making financial decisions—and understanding how those decisions can shape their future