Coming Soon to Sarasota County
What Is Finance Park®?
JA Finance Park is an immersive, hands-on financial literacy experience where middle school students learn how to manage their personal finances and plan for their futures. Students are exposed to real-world decisions about careers, income, expenses, and long-term financial goals.
Before Arrival at JA Finance Park:
Students prepare in the classroom by:
Exploring career pathways and income potential
Learning how education impacts earning power
Understanding budgeting, saving, and spending decisions
Examining credit, debt, and financial responsibility
Identifying personal interests, strengths, and career goals
Through guided lessons, students begin to connect their academic choices today to their financial independence tomorrow.
At Finance Park:
Students enter a realistic financial simulation where they assume the role of an adult with a career, salary, and personal life scenario. As participants, they:
Build and balance a monthly household budget
Make decisions about housing, transportation, and insurance
Manage expenses such as groceries, utilities, and childcare
Allocate funds for savings, emergencies, and long-term goals
Adjust financial plans based on real-world constraints
Students must make thoughtful trade-offs, learning firsthand how financial decisions shape their quality of life.
With guidance from volunteer mentors and business professionals, students experience the challenges and opportunities of financial independence in a supportive, real-world environment.
The Result:
JA Finance Park builds financial confidence, critical thinking, and long-term planning skills.
Students understand how education, career choices, and financial habits work together to shape their future success.
Testimonials
“It’s incredibly important. Businesses have to participate. Businesses have to partner, because it builds resiliency in the community we serve. I can’t think of a better way to do it than though Junior Achievement”
