April is National Financial Literacy Month, and Michigan State University Extension 4-H is celebrating with an interactive challenge designed to make learning about money fun, engaging, and rewarding.

As part of a statewide competition, Macomb County youth ages 13-19 (as of Jan. 1, 2026) are invited to participate in the Smart Money Missions GooseChase Game - an exciting, app-based competition where players complete creative financial challenges for a chance to win prizes. Thanks to the generous sponsorship of the Michigan Credit Union Foundation, top scorers will win a $50 Amazon e-gift card.

Youth have until April 21, 2026, to register and complete the missions that comprise the game. Registration is now open. There is no cost to participate.

"We are hoping that the Smart Money Missions GooseChase game offers a unique channel to connect financial literacy with the youth of Macomb County," said Kathy Jamieson, Extension Educator at MSU Extension. "By delivering the content in fun and engaging modules, we can make financial education much less intimidating than traditional educational channels."

The Smart Money Missions game transforms financial literacy into a dynamic scavenger hunt. Participants earn points by completing 50+ challenges that include creative missions, trivia, and puzzles that take anywhere from less than a minute to 10 minutes to complete. Some examples of the types of challenges included in the missions include:

• Solving budgeting challenges
• Answering financial trivia
• Exploring entrepreneurship concepts
• Learning about credit and interest
• Submitting creative photo responses

The game encourages participants to build practical money management skills while engaging in friendly competition with peers across the state.

Past participants shared how the experience strengthened their financial knowledge:

• "I have learned approximate auto costs for a year, strengthened my budgeting skills, and learned about the different types of interest."
• "I learned about different types of credit, what each score means, how high your credit score can go, and what makes you have good credit."
• "I have learned a lot about money management and economic skills that can help me later in life with my future career."
• "I learned that it can be fun to look forward to a savings goal. I am using my savings jar now to save for the future."

Building financial skills at a young age empowers teens to make informed decisions about spending, saving, borrowing, and investing. Programs like Smart Money Missions help youth gain confidence, develop critical thinking skills, and prepare for real-world financial responsibilities - all in a format that feels more like a game than a lesson.

To learn more

• Download the Smart Money Missions Flyer
• Register for the Smart Money Missions Contest
• MSU Extension

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Michigan State University Extension programs and materials are open to all without regard to race, color, national origin, gender identity, religion, age, height, weight, disability, political beliefs, sexual orientation, marital status, family status or veteran status. Persons with disabilities may request accommodation by calling 586-469-6093 by April 1, 2023, to ensure sufficient time to make arrangements. Requests received after this date will be met when possible.

Scott Turske

[email protected]