Military

LifeSmarts welcomes Military students and teams from all branches to participate in the program! Please contact Cheryl Varnadoe (cherylv@nclnet.org) for additional information.

Welcome to LifeSmarts! Here you’ll learn about consumer issues that impact your everyday life – everything from managing your finances, making smart consumer choices, understanding emerging technology, preparing for the workforce, staying healthy and safe, and helping the environment – all with the goal of putting you in charge and making your future LifeSmart!

Coaches are invited to register (or log back in if you registered in the 2023 or 2024 season), create new teams and/or update existing teams. Students may register and take practice quizzes as well as compete online. Coaches have access to many free lesson plans and other educational resources to help make LifeSmarts a great classroom activity. Click on the Resources tab to view them.

New(er) to LifeSmarts? Be sure to download our Coach’s Guide.

Students, we hope that you’ll check out the resources you find here.

Here are some hints to help you prepare for LifeSmarts competition:

1. Test your knowledge with the daily quiz!
2. Take the new practice quizzes! Log into your account, click QUIZZES on the left side of your screen, then select the folder(s) labeled as practice quizzes.
3. Use our Vocabulary and Question of the Day Calendars
4. Compete with your team in the monthly TeamSmarts challenge!
5. Explore the lessons at LifeSmarts U!
6. Use our LifeSmarts StudySmart Guides, Question -of -the Day Calendars, and Weekly Vocabulary and compete online.

Contact the LifeSmarts staff with any questions. LifeSmarts@nclnet.org

To join the state Varsity and JV competitions, please complete the following before the closing date for your specific grade division.

VARSITY DETAILS (Grades 9-12): Varsity Teams are made up of students in grades 9-12. All students are eligible to compete in LifeSmarts Varsity competitions including those in our partner organizations (4-H, BPA, FBLA, FCCLA, 4-H, SkillsUSA, etc.). The State champion Varsity team earns the opportunity to compete in the National LifeSmarts Championship in Chicago, Illinois, April 24-27, 2025.

BPA, FBLA, FCCLA, and SkillsUSA chapter/teams have their own special LifeSmarts competitions but are also eligible to compete in our state varsityand junior varsity competitions. 4-H teams compete in LifeSmarts as 4-H Varsity or 4-H Junior Varsity teams and have a special 4-H summer challenge.

Students are eligible to be on one state varsity or junior varsity team and also on two other organization teams. Team coaches should download the specific club/chapter instructions from the Coaches Page.

Varsity Teams should study as much as possible then complete the final online competition quizzes between December 1, 2024 – January 20, 2025. Qualifying teams will be invited to complete the online State LifeSmarts Championship Quiz January 27, 2025 – February 7, 2025 to determine the State Varsity Champion team.

Junior Varsity teams should study as much as possible, then complete the final online competition quizzes between December 1, 2024 – March 1, 2025. Qualifying teams will be invited to complete the online State LifeSmarts Junior Varsity Championship Quiz March 4 – March 14, 2025 to determine the State Junior Varsity Champion team. The top-scoring Junior Varsity team in our state will receive an invitation to compete in the 2nd Annual Virtual Junior Varsity National LifeSmarts Championship May 14-15, 2025.

VARSITY DATES:
Varsity qualifying competition opens December 1, 2024
Varsity qualifying competition closes January 20, 2025
The online State LifeSmarts Championship Quiz will be 1/27/2025– 2/07/2025
National LifeSmarts Championship: April 24-27, 2025, Chicago, IL

JUNIOR VARSITY DATES
Junior Varsity competition opens December 1, 2024
Junior Varsity competition closes March 1, 2025
The online State LifeSmarts Championship Quiz will be 3/4/2025– 3/14/2025
Virtual National LifeSmarts Junior Varsity Championship – May 14-15, 2025 for state winning JV team

Steps for Coaches
Step 1: Coaches should register as a coach ASAP so that we can communicate next steps with you. Our site opens officially opens yearly on August 1. Teams can be created or updated after that date.
Step 2: Students register or log back in and take the pre-test as soon as possible (20 multiple-choice questions) – required before you can access step 5
Step 3: Coaches create teams, or update teams to be certain students are on the appropriate team (Teams are 4-5 students and you must select a team captain)
Step 4: Study, study, study using practice quizzes, the resources section and any other resources you have accessible. Monthly TeamSmarts competitions are also a great option.
Step 5: Opening October 16th: Students must take the five individual topic quizzes (20 multiple-choice questions each topic) – required before you can access step 6.
Step 6: Students must complete the final Capstone quiz (20 multiple-choice questions) prior to the closing date for your specific grade division.

Good luck! Please contact me (Cherylv@nclnet.org) with any questions! Additional information for coaches is also available here.