International Towne

International towne is a program put together by Young Americans Center for Financial Education. It introduces kids (generally 12 and older) to the financial realities of the global market and allows them to run a "world" of 16 foreign countries.
Concepts that are tought through a 29 lesson curriculum (purchased seperatley, its a huge 3-ring binder) are

-Respect for foreign cultures

-Export and import activity

-Global carrer opportunities

-Foreign currencies & exchange

-Free trade in global markets

-Global customs and laws

This is the discription from one of our handouts given by Young Americans Center for Financial Education.

The boys had a terrific time. Austin made bird houses and goofed off mostly and of course made plenty of friends. Conner filled out paperwork, I have proof in pictures(snicker). His country had the radio station and they played adds for other countries and songs over the radio to be heard by all countries. Colin enjoyed having power over others and while he did well it was a learning lesson for me. He really seemed to enjoy being able to boss his "Country" people around. I think he was the youngest and he had two teenage girls and he would tell them they were late or they needed to do this or that, let's just say I wonder if it didn't all go to his head. His country was in charge of Passport pictures, which everyone had to purchase. He also made it on the front page of the newspaper.

The kids got various brakes and were able to purchase several items like soft big prezels, slushies and drinks, keychains, birdhouses, chocolate pyramids, bracelets, chinese fans. they were also some crafty things they could do like dot art, mask making and oragami wallets. They got paid for whatever job they had in money from that region. If they were in EurRussia they got paid in EurRussian money. If they wanted to purchase something from a different region they needed to go to Singapore (site of the world bank) and exchange their money. Exchange rates where based similarly to the real thing and they got more money for some regions and less for others.

Kathy and her boys Brenden and Alex came as well and really seemed to enjoy their jobs and have a good time. Kathy and I went across the way to see AmeriTowne. Same concept except its a town not countries and you run buisnesses. It was really cute, I'd post the pics but I already have so many up I don't want to add too many. Kathy's boys did AmeriTowne and she told me about it. It sounds so neat that I would like to do that with the boys too sometime. The group that did InternationalTowne is doing AmeriTowne in February, so that is probably when we will do it.

As always whenever I head into Denver it is a 12-hour tour from start to finish. We did go back to the Colorado Mills Mall where the Lego store is and Colin loaded up. Kathy and her boys came too, more like showed us the way(lol). We toured the Putt putt golf, we definetly need to do that sometime when we go there again. We also toured the indoor skateboard place and the boys really liked it . It would be a good thing to do on a rainy day.

Conner is Germany's Finance Minister
Austin is Finland's Carpenter.
Colin is Egypt's President. (Pharoah??)
The countries line up to tell their greeting, life expectancy and what their coutnry makes
The countries pin their flag on a World map and put their flag on this table during the opening ceremony.

Conner's doing Germany's paperwork. There is lots of paperwork the Finance Minister is in charge of.Austin makes plenty of new friends.

Colin buys the newspaper from the paperboy. They made it that day and Colin made the Front page.

Austin makes some bird houses as a thank you gift to the people who helped put International towne together.

My Friend Kathy helps out with the Newspaper. She was so helpful to the kids the newspaper turned out great.

Here are the different regions. YOu can see the Countries flag's . Egypt is in the back where colin is. Conner is up front there and is going to purchase some items.

All the South American Countries.

Asian and the Pacific Countries.

Erope and russia. Conner and Austin are there in front and across from each other.

At the end of the day Colin and Conner hang out with their new friends Brenden and Alex, Kathy's boys.

Vanessa