Junior Achievement of Washington
Positions:
In-School Program, JA Finance Park
Location:
Varies
Focus Area:
Education/Youth Mentoring
Populations served:
Time Commitment:
5-10 lessons, 30-60 minutes each
Youth
Junior Achievement (JA) is the nation's largest organization dedicated to giving young people the knowledge and skills they need to own their economic success, plan for their future, and make smart academic and economic choices. JA’s in-school programs are offered at no cost to the school and community organizations. These life-changing programs help students develop life skills in the areas of financial literacy, work readiness and entrepreneurship. JA of Washington is funded by over 3,600 corporate and private contributors and special events.
Junior Achievement of Washington was founded in 1953 and has served over two million students across Washington and Northern Idaho.
Program Reach
Junior Achievement of Washington reaches more than 70,000 students per year in over 3,700 classrooms and after-school locations. JA programs are taught by volunteers in inner cities, suburbs, and rural areas. Regionally nearly 8,000 students per year are served across Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho. Each year more than 2,700 middle-school students from Eastern Washington and Northern Idaho spend a day at mobile JA Finance Park®. The traveling, experiential learning exercise gives middle and high schoolers a trial run at maintaining a household budget within a simulated business community.
Volunteers
Junior Achievement of Washington’s 5,000 volunteers come from all walks of life, including business people, college students, parents and retirees. Regionally, nearly 500 dedicated community members serve as mentors, job shadow hosts, classroom and mobile JA Finance Park® volunteers.
Volunteering with JA Washington
JA In-School Programs - CURRENTLY SUSPENDED
Volunteers receive training, materials and support!
For more information contact Janet Banaugh at janetb@jawashington.org or (509) 624-7114
K-12 instruction delivered by corporate & community volunteers
Relevant, hands-on experience for knowledge & skills in Financial Literacy/Work Readiness/Entrepreneurship
Elementary School Programs (Kindergarten-5th grade) consist of 5-8 activities/lessons lasting 30-45 minutes each
Middle & High School Programs (6th-12th grade) consist of 6-10 activities/lessons lasting 45 minutes–1 hour each
VOLUNTEER TIME COMMITMENT
A typical Elementary JA class is taught in five to eight weekly classroom visits lasting 30 to 45 minutes each. Middle & High School programs are taught in five to ten weekly classroom visits lasting 45 minutes to 1 hour each. It all depends on the grade level of the program you choose. You can choose your classroom based on a number of factors. We're flexible!
JA Finance Park®
JA Finance Park® allows middle and high school students to build foundations for intelligent, personal financial decision-making skills.
Middle and High School students’ experience begins with in-class, teacher-led personal finance instruction covering topics such as: income and earning, investing, financial institutions, credit and credit history, applying for a loan, risk and insurance a multitude of personal finance topics.
The JA Finance Park® budgeting simulation at the Shriners Event Center in Spokane is the culmination of the program. When students enter JA Finance Park® they assume an adult identity, including a job, salary, and family situation, to use as the basis of their simulation experience. Students put their classroom studies into action as they analyze budgeting options and tackle “adult” financial problems. This eye-opening experience gives students a solid foundation on which to build effective personal financial habits for life.
VOLUNTEER TIME COMMITMENT
All first time volunteers are required to attend a 90-minute training prior to student arrival. Volunteers are paired with small groups (5-7 students) for a 4.5-hour simulation (including a lunch break). Total time commitment: 1 visit (6hrs)
