Parke County’s Youth Development Committee revived the previous Reality Store Program for all of Parke County 8th grade and 10th grade students. The new program title is Fab Life Fun Ride. This program gives students the opportunity to consider their intended future careers, learn information about them, and then attend the Fab Life Fun Ride experience to put their adult financial planning skills to the test.
During the program, community volunteers are set up at booths within the Parke County 4H Building representing the realistic financial decisions that adults make in their everyday lives, such as purchasing housing, insurance and child care. A “Crystal Ball” booth was also a requirement for each participant to visit. At this booth they got to draw a fortune which had either a good fortune or a not so good fortune that had to be added or subtracted from their monthly financial record. Student attendees had the chance to win door prizes that were donated by ISU, Ivy Tech, Parke County 4-H, Farm Bureau and Casey’s.
This was a great real-life experience for these students and all seemed to gain some insight from it. The hope of the Youth Committee is that this activity will be offered to our Parke County youth again next year.
Shown in the cover photo is teacher Cortney Passmore and eighth grade student Chris Norton.