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Consumer Jungle is a non-profit, 501 (c ) (3) organization dedicated to providing young adults with the life skills they need to become responsible, informed consumers.
Consumer Jungle was established in November 1999 as the result of a class action lawsuit brought by two of our current board members against the Sears Corporation. The settlement required Sears to establish a consumer education fund for young adults; and from it, we created a free comprehensive consumer education program for young adults nationwide.
Consumer Jungle is an interactive, web-based program that helps high school students become literate, savvy consumers. Consumer Jungle provides engaging and relevant consumer education curricula covering a variety of topics such as credit cards, transportation, living on your own, personal finances, telecommunications, health, and e-commerce fraud. Developed with input from teachers, students, and parents, Consumer Jungle delivers interactive games, activities, and relevant information directly to the home or classroom.
Consumer Jungle Dedicated to the Memory of Two Who Lost Their Lives
This web site and all that has gone into creating it is officially dedicated to the memories of the late Sean Moyer and the late Mitzi Ann Pool - two young people, each of whom took their own life when faced with what seemed an overwhelming burden of credit card debt.
"We try everyday to teach our children right from wrong, good from bad, and we try to set good standards for them, only [to have] them leave the nest and face the jungle of the real world," said Mitzi's mother, Trisha Johnson.
Today, though it pains her, Sean's mother, Janne O'Donnell, spends time each month sharing the story of her son's life and death with students at the nearby university. "After I talk about Sean, I'm upset for a couple of days. But still, somebody has got to say something. Something has got to be done, and it doesn't look like the credit card companies are doing it," she said.
At Consumer Jungle, we join in the belief that education is the key to helping young people just like Sean and Mitzi navigate the treacherous terrain of early adulthood. We strive to deliver information that will help them make the right financial decisions in those critical years when they are first venturing out on their own.
From their stories, the Consumer Jungle project was born. Our hopes echo those of Trisha Johnson: "If this site can save a child, let it be."
The Consumer Jungle Philosophy
The Consumer Jungle curriculum is based on a simple philosophy -- give students the basics of what they need to know in a simple, fun, format. We believe that learning is most effective when students have an opportunity to actively explore their world, gather information about it, and construct their own meaning from the experience.
In support of this philosophy, Consumer Jungle incorporates a variety of hands-on and problem-based activities. These activities are organized around problems and questions of special interest to today's students. For example, in the Independent Living unit, students assess their readiness to move out on their own. They then develop a personalized plan for obtaining this goal. Because each student's situation is unique, their areas of focus and eventual end products may be quite distinct from each other. However, such activities are often more relevant, engaging, and motivating to students because they are learner-focused and authentic, encourage critical thinking, and develop useful and long-lasting knowledge and skills.
Staff
ROBERT L. PARLETTE, Executive Director
Board of Directors
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RICHARD BLUE
Business Owner
Miller-Blue Outfitters
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MEL HENKLE
Certified Public Accountant
Mel Henkle, CPA
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SCOTT KANE
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MARK MADLAND
Executive Producer
Canyon Productions
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DENTON MEIER
Director, Networking / ISP
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BOB PARLETTE
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LARRY SCHRECK
Retired Social Studies Teacher
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