Spring Break
Real Life Academy unites real world, high school
Volunteers help students understand personal finance, money management
Caitlin Heidbrink
Issue date: 4/14/08 Section: Money/Health
Imagine jumping into a life-size version of the board game Life. Launching into a career, getting married, having kids and making important life decisions - all with fake money - in less than a day. While this may seem like just a clever idea, it is a real event.
On April 3, high school students experimented with realistic life situations in a program called Real Life Academy. This event runs through the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce and the Eau Claire School District each spring and fall. Currently, Altoona, Fall Creek, Eau Claire North, Memorial and Regis high schools are involved in the action, said Katy Kiley, special projects director for the Chamber of Commerce.
Students are given a check book with one months salary for a career of their choice, Kiley said. They are also given a random life status, which tells if they are single, married or have children. She said they travel to thirty different stations where they must make financial decisions regarding a car, home, groceries, cable television and a myriad of other life considerations.
To prepare Real Life Academy, students go through a financial curriculum in the classroom to understand personal finance and money management skills. They also research what career they would like and learn what their salary would be if they stayed in the Chippewa Valley, Kiley said.
The program runs through a committee that includes local teachers. Approximately 250-300 students go through each session of Real Life Academy. They are mainly comprised of business and finance classes, but have expanded to include a larger variety of students, she said.
While most stations at the event are sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, there are always some that need volunteers, Kiley said. University students volunteer each spring and fall to run a station. Kiley said the stations are easy to execute and students don't need to have any specific major.
Recruiting volunteers for this fall will begin in October. Students can contact Kiley to get involved.
On April 3, high school students experimented with realistic life situations in a program called Real Life Academy. This event runs through the Eau Claire Chamber of Commerce and the Eau Claire School District each spring and fall. Currently, Altoona, Fall Creek, Eau Claire North, Memorial and Regis high schools are involved in the action, said Katy Kiley, special projects director for the Chamber of Commerce.
Students are given a check book with one months salary for a career of their choice, Kiley said. They are also given a random life status, which tells if they are single, married or have children. She said they travel to thirty different stations where they must make financial decisions regarding a car, home, groceries, cable television and a myriad of other life considerations.
To prepare Real Life Academy, students go through a financial curriculum in the classroom to understand personal finance and money management skills. They also research what career they would like and learn what their salary would be if they stayed in the Chippewa Valley, Kiley said.
The program runs through a committee that includes local teachers. Approximately 250-300 students go through each session of Real Life Academy. They are mainly comprised of business and finance classes, but have expanded to include a larger variety of students, she said.
While most stations at the event are sponsored by the Chamber of Commerce, there are always some that need volunteers, Kiley said. University students volunteer each spring and fall to run a station. Kiley said the stations are easy to execute and students don't need to have any specific major.
Recruiting volunteers for this fall will begin in October. Students can contact Kiley to get involved.
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