Impact at a glance

Program reach

During the 2025-26 school year, Virginia Cooperative Extension youth financial literacy programs reached more than 2,000 students in Virginia Beach City Public Schools.

Longevity and partnerships

For more than a decade, Karen Munden, Virginia Cooperative Extension agent, has partnered with the Summer Youth Employment Program to provide hands-on financial education with support from volunteers and community partners.

Successes

A previous participant credited the program with the budgeting skills she used to save for, and eventually purchase, a car.

Each year, the Virginia Beach Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) matches youth job seekers with employment opportunities throughout the city. As part of their orientation, SYEP participants gathered at Landstown High School for a Reality Fair event hosted by Karen Munden, Virginia Cooperative Extension family and consumer sciences agent, along with Extension volunteers and community partners.

For more than a decade, Munden has partnered with the program to help young people build real-world money management skills through hands-on programs.

“For many participants, this is their first job,” Munden said. “We want them to build responsible money habits early so they finish the summer with savings and the skills to make informed financial decisions long after the program ends.”

Paper worksheets on table
Reality Fair participants visited stations where they were prompted to make financial choices, such as taking on a car payment or selecting a cellphone service. Photo by Christie Culliton for Virginia Cooperative Extension.

A hands-on lesson in budgeting

Participants begin with a fictional career and estimated income, then they step into a hands-on budgeting simulation. At stations staffed by volunteers, they make choices about major expenses such as housing, transportation, cellphone and internet service, and health insurance, along with additional costs like childcare, pets, and debt.

By the end of the Reality Fair, many participants are surprised to discover how quickly costs add up and how their financial decisions affect their ability to save for emergencies or put them on a path toward debt.

Woman sits at a table at an event.
Adult volunteers helped participants understand how their choices impact their financial future. Photo by Christie Culliton for Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Youth reflect on financial challenges and trade-offs
Participants described the experience as challenging, noting how quickly financial decisions become complex.

“It was an eye-opener. Without unexpected income, I wouldn’t have been able to make my budget work,” one participant shared, reflecting the difficulty of balancing expenses.

Others pointed to the importance of planning ahead and setting priorities. “Life can go in unexpected ways. It’s always important to prioritize savings before spending on entertainment,” said another.

For some, the exercise revealed how personal circumstances affect financial choices.

“You can’t always choose the cheapest option — it depends on who you’re responsible for,” a participant noted, while another added, “Childcare was the most expensive thing, more than housing or a car.”

These reflections underscore how Reality Fair events can help youth connect financial decisions to real-life responsibilities.

For some, the lessons extend beyond the simulation. Jenna Taylor, now in her third year participating in SYEP and the Reality Fair, has applied those lessons to her own life.

“I’ve actually applied what I learned in real life,” said Taylor. “During my first year, I set a goal to buy a car and saved 80% of each paycheck. While people often recommend saving 10%, I realized you can save more when you have a clear goal, and I did end up buying my car. That has made a real difference, giving me reliable transportation to work and other activities.”

Two women sit behind a table and talk to a teen
Participants learned about the challenges of maintaining a budget. Photo by Christie Culliton for Virginia Cooperative Extension.

Community partners highlight program impact

Community partners see the impact of financial literacy education in their work with participants.

“I place a high value on this component of SYEP,” said Angeleigh Mitchell, operations specialist for the Summer Youth Employment Program. “Each year, the kids come away with their eyes opened a little wider on the realities of work, life, wants, needs, and priorities. Out of the entire week of activities, trainings, and sessions, the Reality Fair is, in my opinion, the best part.”

The program continues to grow through partnerships, including Virginia Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union.

“We believe financial education is one of the greatest investments we can make in our community,” said Amy Mallinson, vice president of marketing.

In partnership with Beach Municipal Federal Credit Union, Reality Fair and Kids Marketplace programs reached more than 2,000 Virginia Beach City Public Schools students during the 2025-2026 school year. These programs give students a hands-on look at adult financial decision-making. By making these lessons engaging and relevant, partners hope to spark conversations that extend beyond the classroom and into the home.

Virginia Cooperative Extension programs like Reality Fair help build financial confidence early, equipping youth to make informed decisions about spending, saving, and planning for the future.

- Written by Christie Culliton, field marketing & communications coordinator

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