Clear Lake Students Step Into the Real World Through Their First JA BizTown® Mobile Experience

Image caption: A Clear Lake student puts classroom learning into action while taking on a workplace role during the district’s first JA BizTown® Mobile experience.

For the first time, students from Clear Lake Community School District stepped into JA BizTown® Mobile, transforming their classroom learning into a hands-on experience with work, money, business, and community on September 24, 2026.

102 5^th grade students participated in the experience, taking on the roles of employees, business leaders, consumers, and citizens as they worked together to keep their simulated community running.

Before entering JA BizTown® Mobile, students completed classroom lessons that introduced concepts such as financial literacy, careers, business operations, and responsible money management. During the simulation, those lessons came to life as students earned paychecks, managed money, operated businesses, served customers, and made decisions as part of a working economy. Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa

For students, it was an opportunity to experience how the skills they are learning today connect to the responsibilities and opportunities they will encounter in the future.

For students, it was an opportunity to experience how the skills they are learning today connect to the responsibilities and opportunities they will encounter in the future.

Image caption: Clear Lake fifth-grade students work together to manage their JA BizTown® businesses, using technology and teamwork to complete their responsibilities.

“This experience was amazing for both our students and the volunteers. The buzz of excitement that filled the gym from our students as they interacted with the volunteers from our local businesses was amazing to watch and hear. Several of our volunteers asked if JA BizTown® Mobile was going to be something that we are going to do every year. ‘If so, sign me up!’ What a great way to bring our community together around a great learning experience!”
— Troy Lentell, Clear Creek Elementary Principal, Clear Lake Community School District

That excitement was also evident as students put weeks of classroom learning into practice during the simulation.

“JA BizTown® Mobile was such a fun experience for our students because it let them take what they had been learning in the classroom and apply it in a meaningful, real-world setting. It was incredible to see their confidence grow as they worked together, solved problems, managed responsibilities, and experienced firsthand what it takes to be part of a community and workplace.”
— Sarah Christian, 5th Grade Teacher, Clear Creek Elementary

Image caption: Students practice financial literacy and workplace skills as they complete transactions and manage day-to-day responsibilities in JA BizTown® Mobile.

JA BizTown® Mobile is designed to help students build skills in financial literacy, work and career readiness, entrepreneurship, teamwork, communication, and problem-solving. By bringing the experience directly to schools, the mobile format gives students the opportunity to participate in an immersive, real-world simulation right in their own community. 

The experience also supports Clear Lake Community School District’s vision that all students have the tools to build a productive future and reach their dreams. 

Learning Today. Preparing for Tomorrow.

The first JA BizTown® Mobile experience at Clear Lake represents more than a day of hands-on learning. It gives students an opportunity to practice making decisions, working with others, managing responsibilities, and seeing themselves as part of a larger community and economy.

Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa is proud to partner with Clear Lake Community School District to bring experiences like JA BizTown® Mobile to students and help prepare young people for what comes next.

Interested in bringing JA BizTown® Mobile to your school or getting involved as a volunteer or business partner? Learn more by contacting Junior Achievement of Eastern Iowa.