The gym at Clubhouse 14 was buzzing with energy on Friday evening as approximately 70 youth members from Boys & Girls Clubs of Greater Washington (BGCGW) gathered for an immersive learning experience: Reality Store: Adulting 101.

Representing all three BGCGW regional areas, teens from the Martin K. Alloy Club (Manassas, VA), Germantown Club, Jelleff Club (Washington, DC), and G. James Gholson Clubhouse (Maryland) participated in a hands-on simulation designed to teach real-world financial decision-making.

Throughout the event, students worked their way through 16 interactive stations. At the first stop, they selected a career path, received a starting salary, and were given a mock family profile. From there, they navigated financial choices—renting or buying a home, choosing transportation, budgeting for food, entertainment, and charitable giving—while encountering unexpected “life events” like job bonuses or flat tires, represented by event cards handed out by BGCGW staff.

If overwhelmed, youth could yell “I’m stressed!”—triggering guidance on how to balance their budget or even take on a second job.

“Watching our teens reflect on their choices and really take ownership of their financial futures was powerful,” said Cherie Cancio, Director of Impact and Innovation at BGCGW.