This new 20,000-square-foot facility is designed to provide immersive, hands-on learning for more than 20,000 students annually, ranging from elementary to high school.
Key Features of the Discovery Center
The center will house two of Junior Achievement’s signature programs, which simulate real-world economic environments:
- Muma BizTown: Targeted at 5th graders, this “student-sized town” allows children to act as citizens, consumers, and employees. They learn to manage businesses, cash paychecks, and navigate the basics of a free enterprise system.
- JA Finance Park: Geared toward middle and high school students, this program focuses on personal financial planning. Students are assigned “adult” personas—complete with a career, salary, and family—and must navigate a budget that includes housing, transportation, and savings.
Project Details & Timeline
- Location: On the campus of Tenoroc High School in Lakeland (4905 Saddle Creek Road).
- Opening Date: Construction is expected to move quickly, with an anticipated opening in late fall 2026.
- Synergy: The center will complement the existing 3DE instructional model already in place at Tenoroc, which integrates business case studies into standard high school curriculum.
The project is a collaborative effort funded by philanthropic leaders—notably the Barnett family—and various corporate partners aimed at closing educational gaps in financial literacy and career readiness within the district.
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