JA Finance Park
The economy keeps changing, so do we.

Step into your financial future

JA Finance Park is coming to Greater Fairfield County. It's an immersive simulation where students step into their own financial lives, apply what they learned in the classroom, and practice the decisions that shape their future before the stakes are real.

I'm in. Show me how See how it works
High school students holding tablets laugh and talk with a volunteer during a JA Finance Park simulation.
90%+

of education leaders see a disconnect between what students learn in school and what they need to succeed economically.

Source: 2026 JA study of education leaders
Why it matters

School teaches students what to know. JA teaches them what to do with it

Today's students will make some of the biggest financial decisions of their lives within just a few years of leaving school. JA Finance Park gives them a safe place to practice first.

JA has been preparing students for the world they're actually entering for generations, and for the one coming next.

Impact

Where awareness becomes actionable belief

Students Who Attended JA Finance Park Across the Country:

95%

of students see more clearly how education connects to their future.

95%

of students are more motivated to pursue their goals.

94%

of students believe they can succeed in the workplace.

Foundations that last

ConfidenceFinancial capabilityFuture-focused mindset
For supporters and sponsors

Invest in what comes next

JA Finance Park is new to Greater Fairfield County and community support is what brings it to life. Every sponsor, volunteer, and supporter helps local students leave school ready for the financial decisions ahead.

The results speak for themselves: students leave more confident, more motivated, and better prepared to connect what they learn today to where they want to go tomorrow.

I want my business at Finance Park

  • Sponsor the experience

    Put your company behind financial literacy and work readiness for students in our community.

  • Bring your team

    Employees volunteer as role models at the booths, sharing real-world experience with students.

  • Support as an individual

    Help more local students step into their financial future and stay connected as the program grows.

How the experience works

Classroom lessons lead into a day at JA Finance Park, where every financial choice has consequences and every decision builds real skills.

  1. Learn in the classroom

    Teachers lead JA lessons so students arrive ready to make real decisions.

  2. Step into a life scenario

    Each student gets a persona with an education, a career, a family, and a net monthly income.

  3. Visit the booths

    Students make buying decisions and get guidance from volunteers who share real-world experience.

  4. Balance the budget

    Working alongside peers, students adjust their choices and pay the bills until the budget adds up.

  5. Debrief and reflect

    Students talk through what they learned and set goals for their own financial future.

Two tracks, one simulation

Educators choose the track that fits their students. Both tracks prepare students in the classroom and culminate in the JA Finance Park simulation.

Entry level

The core concepts of earning, saving, and spending.

  1. Income
  2. Saving, Investing, and Risk Management
  3. Debit and Credit
  4. Budget Plus
  5. Simulation and Debrief

Advanced

Careers, education, and planning for the long term.

  1. Career Clusters
  2. Net Income
  3. The Value of Education
  4. Financial Decision Making
  5. Next-Level Budgeting
  6. Insurance
  7. Investing for the Future
  8. Simulation, Debrief, and Reflection

Hands-on activities include a career scavenger hunt, a budgeting game where real-life surprises test the plan, and insurance scenarios students debate together.

In their words

This was one of the most amazing experiences I've had as an educator of 15+ years. My hope is that even more school districts adopt this experience for their students.

JA Educator

“JA gave me more than just a competition. I learned responsibility, taking risks, discipline, and how to think long-term.”

JA Student
Get involved

Financial literacy and work readiness aren't electives anymore. Neither are we

Educators, volunteers, individual supporters, and business sponsors all have a place at JA Finance Park. Tell us who you are and we'll follow up with the right next step.

I am…

We'll only use your email to share JA Finance Park updates and next steps.