JA Biztown

Audrey has been anxiously awaiting the blog post describing her best field trip ever (Well, until they go to Islands of Adventure on Thursday for the 5th grade class trip), so I better get after it!

Tuesday I was a chaperone/volunteer at the JA (Junior Achievement) Biztown.  Picture a small wing of a mall.  Each "store" is a company that the kids were assigned to run.  Here they are, outside their businesses, for the ♪♫♪ National Anthem ♪♫♪.  PLAY BALL! 

I was assigned to the University Community Hospital.  Every business has a CEO, a CFO and then various workers.  These kids were BUSY!  A third of them were out and about on break, visiting the other businesses and the 2/3 that were in their businesses, were WORKING!  The CFO cut payroll checks, the CEO signed them (ever so deliberately) after they were delivered from the printing company.  Payroll taxes were even deducted.  :(  The kids then took their checkbook and endorsed their checks and deposited it at Bank of America. 

Here's Casey and Julia, Audrey's best buds.  

Casey worked at TECO (Tampa Electric Company) and Julia was the receptionist at the hospital with me.  The TECO people went around and checked the meters and changed filters and did energy surveys. 

Audrey's was the Chamber of Commerce President.  Here she is with her friend Katherine.  They held elections and issued tax rebate checks that magically covered all of the business' expenses for the day.  Communists!  ;-)

Checking the machines to make sure there will be no hanging chads.  We are in Florida, you know.  

There were 85 kids and they came in so quietly that we, the volunteers, didn't even hear them.  I walked out of my training room and saw them sitting here.  They really took everything so seriously while having a great time.

Then at the opening business meeting, each CEO of each company and the Mayor of JA Biztown gave an opening speech. 

Here's my CEO, Evelyn.  

Audrey was on Break B and her first order of business was to get her check in the bank.  She was SO CUTE and came up to me and asked, "Mommy!  I need to endorse my check!  Does that mean for me to sign the back of my check or does the President need to sign the back too?"  I wanted to eat her up! 

Throughout the day, the kids would be about their tasks and I kept shooting away. 

Here's a boy from another company, calling on my CFO, asking for payment for a bill.  The kids dressed up more than usual.  Isn't he cute in his suit?

Here is Audrey, on her break, visiting the hospital and getting her health evaluation.  

There was even a local radio station where the kids could call in requests for music and a local television station that interviewed every CEO.  Look how cute my CEO is!  :)

We had lunch at McDonald's and the kids handed out a hamburger, salad or chicken nuggets (after deducting it from their check register) and the drinks. (Title:  Beverage Specialist)  I was able to take a break with Audrey and eat with her. 

Here she is with her friend, the Beverage Specialist, who is showing off some stuff she bought at Publix (the grocery store).  

It's a HUGE learning experience for the kids and they all seemed to love it and just soak it up.  Her teachers have been working with them the past month or two on the basics of life really....checking accounts, deposit slips, payroll, taxes.  They even filled out W-4 forms!  I seriously remember how overwhelming and confusing my first W-4 form was and I think this is just the neatest program that they are giving the kids a tiny taste of real life at 10/11 years old. 

Here's her teachers, Mrs. Tabor and Mr. Clark.  Thanks you two!

Audrey, at the end, gave awards to the Best Business and the Best Manager, which was decided from one of the surveys the Government did.  Audrey did a great job at presenting her awards.  She is really a good public speaker....she takes after her Daddy!

I had, of course, heard of Junior Achievement, but this was the first time I had any interaction with this awesome organization.  I believe all of the 5th grade classes in Hillsborough (HUGE) County go, so they are busy nearly every day.  Such a worthwhile activity.  Fun and learning!  Thank you!

I'll leave you with a picture of my whole staff at University Community Hospital.  Great job girls!!!!!!