Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park™, the mobile version of JA Finance Park™, was created through the generous support of Capital One and the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention, Office of Justice Programs, U.S. Department of Justice. The mobile delivers the JA Finance Park curriculum and a one-day experiential learning opportunity to middle grades students who do not have access to permanent JA Finance Park facilities.

The first generation of Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park debuted in September 2006. It consists of two 53-foot trailers that transform into a high-tech, 2000-square-foot learning lab. When set up, the mobile unit becomes a miniature city with 19 custom-designed storefronts that represent various budget categories. Within this city, students experience firsthand the challenges of making financial decisions that are within the means of their uniquely assigned life situations. This unit can accommodate 50 students at a time.

Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park was piloted in October and November 2006 by Junior Achievement of the National Capital Area in McLean, Virginia, and Junior Achievement of Central Virginia in Richmond, Virginia. Feedback about the program has been exceptionally positive.

Check out this video to get an in-depth look at the program in action!

Mobile Future
Capital One has committed to support Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park for a second pilot during 2007-2008 in Dallas, Texas; Richmond, Virginia; McLean, Virginia; and Washington, D.C. 

Because the project still is in pilot phase, it is not yet available for general use.  However, the positive response to the first Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park pilot demonstrates the need and demand for this program throughout the United States. 

JA Worldwide anticipates the construction of the second version of the mobile late in 2007. Although still in the conceptualization stage, this new unit will be a traveling version that sets up in preexisting building spaces. Once assembled, the touring version of Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park will look much like the original mobile version, only larger. It is estimated to accommodate 100-120 students per day.

In 2008, the Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park programs will operate with new pilot goals that include verifying the viability for widespread use of these innovative program models. Also, more pilot sites will be added, primarily in Capital One markets.

Are you a Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park volunteer? Access our volunteer resource section here.

For more information about Capital One/Junior Achievement Finance Park, contact Beth Mazak, Director of Mobile Capstone Programs, by phone at 719-540-6232, or by email at emazak@ja.org.