FUNancial Literacy Can’t Escape It

Players University of Idaho Extension - Ada County Andrew Bingham FCS Financial Management Educator Allen Taggart 4-H Youth Development Educator Garden City Public Library Amanda Berardanelli Youth Services and Outreach Coordinator Meridian Library District John Thill Public Services Manager Dani Elizabeth Public Services - Program Specialist Andrew

Origin Story BOSS: I need you to fill in for me at a meeting. ME: Ok. What is it? BOSS: Planning a financial escape room. ME: Dani/Andrew

Goals Increase program attendance Initiate finance dialogue at home Make finance fun Hide the finance Initiate finance dialogue at home Teach financial principles Insurance Budgeting Investing Andrew Circulate escape room Libraries Schools Everywhere

Analyze Design Develop Implement Evaluate Dani

Analyze Idaho Socioeconomics Population: 1,754,20 12.8% Poverty 40% ALICE ~700,000 Andrew Nationally, 40% can’t handle a $400 emergency expense ~Federal Reserve Report, 2019

Design Theme: Ready Player One Audience: Families Duration: 45 min Layout: Flexible Budget: $3,750 Andrew

How to develop a team with tasks Dani Skills Interest Availability

Development Dani Image curtesy of Awkward Yeti Author, Nick Seluk “Heart and Brain.”

Game Play Hi Team. It's me Parzival. I will help you along the way to find the keys and beat the IOI. You first objective: buy a car from the bank and win the race. Dani/Andrew

Game Play Andrew

Game Play W R I T E N BY A O B Dani

But What About Budget? Source: University of Idaho Innovative Award Planned Budget Design $250 Development $1,500 Implementation $2,000 Evaluation $0 Total $3,750 Actual Budget Design $350 Development $3,400 Implementation $0 Evaluation Total $3,750 Andrew Spending money is fun… Spending money is hard Read reviews Hope you’re right Escape Room Cost /Kit: ~$1,000

Implementation: Proof is in the... Dani/Andrew “Good job, buddy. You did so good.”

#BRAG Dani

Evaluation: What We Learned Participant debrief Debrief brochures Encouraged families Evaluations Finances CAN be fun Escape rooms are HARD Kids cannot outnumber adults Ongoing evaluation is a necessity *Many other lessons were learned outside of evaluations Andrew

Next Steps Prepare Kits for Dissemination 3. Find Interstate Partners Make adjustments (ongoing) Finalize manual (compile and organize notes) 2. Circulate Throughout Idaho Work with libraries to host escape rooms Facilitate escape room trainings Targeting lower socioeconomic populace 3. Find Interstate Partners Matching extension with libraries Talk to us! Dani Work with Idaho Commission for Libraries

Questions & Comments

Contact Information Dani Dani Elizabeth dani@mld.org 208-888-4451 ext 1221 Andrew Bingham abingham@uidaho.edu 208-287-5900