A Day At Biztown

This month, I had the pleasure of visiting Junior Achievement’s BizTown, where Frontier fifth graders spent the day learning about business, economics, philanthropy, and community through hands-on experience. Thanks to a Women Giving Together grant awarded last year, every fifth grader was able to attend this immersive simulation at no cost.

JA BizTown engages students through a series of classroom lessons that culminate in a full day inside a fully interactive simulated town. Students learn how communities function and how the economy works, while exploring concepts such as free enterprise, taxes, and philanthropy. They also build personal finance skills by learning how to write checks, use debit cards, keep a register, make deposits, and open savings accounts. In addition, students practice teamwork, job readiness, and workplace skills. Before their visit, they even explore business management topics such as pricing, advertising, costs, and ethics.

The energy inside BizTown was exciting from the moment students arrived. The day began with campaigning and voting for their city leader, followed by speeches from the CEOs of each business. Once the town was in motion, every student took on meaningful responsibilities. Throughout the day, they balanced their roles as both consumers and business leaders, earned paychecks, managed expenses, worked as teams, and made decisions that directly affected their success.

One of the highlights of the visit was meeting the newly elected mayor, fifth grader Brooks. When asked what he learned most from the experience, he shared that the biggest lesson was responsibility. He also mentioned that he might be interested in running for mayor when he grows up!

It was a wonderful day and a powerful reminder of the impact of investing in young people. Through the generosity of Women Giving Together, all Frontier fifth graders were able to participate in an experience that builds confidence, leadership, and a deeper understanding of how communities work.