JA Finance Park and JA Biztown - JASTL
Simulated Learning Programs
Innovative | Bold | Relevant
JA Finance Park and JA BizTown is all that, and more. These financial literacy laboratories exist to inspire and prepare youth to succeed. There is no question about it: Financial literacy and sound money management skills are essential to success. Today more than ever, young adults need a strong foundation for making intelligent, lifelong, personal financial decisions.
To improve the financial literacy of our future business leaders and employees, Junior Achievement has created an exciting reality-based learning environment for middle and high school students.
JA Finance Park and JA BizTown allows middle and high-school grade students to see, touch, and live the experience of personal finance in a real-life setting of stores, shops, and financial institutions, by basically becoming "an adult for the day."
Program Goals
The goals of JA Finance Park and JA BizTown are to:
- Teach students to develop and follow a monthly budget
- Help students to research and understand the actual "costs of living" for the basic necessities of life
- Encourage students to develop and demonstrate personal responsibility for learning and self-management
- Communicate and work with schools to promote the highest level of student achievement
- Challenge students to think critically, creatively, analyze tasks, and solve problems
At JA Finance Park and JA BizTown, students are given a unique life profile after answering a series of future life-style questions. Their life profile includes an income, marital status, even kids! Using this new adult persona, students work to create a balanced monthly budget while making decisions regarding housing, transportation, insurance, savings, entertainment expenses and much more.
How You Can Participate
Volunteers are needed to mentor small groups of students throughout their day at JA Finance Park and JA BizTown. No special budgeting expertise or preparation is necessary and thorough training is provided for all volunteers!
Related Events
JA BizTown Homeschool Visit Day
When: Monday, 16 Mar 2026
Where: Junior Achievement Dennis & Judy Jones Free Enterprise Center
Time: 9:30 AM CST
Homeschool students come to JA BizTown for a simulation visit day from 9:30 AM - 2 PM. They will be prepared to assume job responsibilities, manage bank accounts, and experience life as a consumer/employee.
JA Finance Park Homeschool Visit Day
When: Wednesday, 01 Apr 2026
Where: Junior Achievement Dennis & Judy Jones Free Enterprise Center
Time: 9:30 AM CST
Homeschool students come to JA Finance Park for a simulation visit day from 9:30 AM - 2:00 PM. In the tablet-based program, students explore and learn about different budget categories, create a budget, make purchasing decisions, and pay for their expenses.
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