Activities Ideas

Tobacco-Free Picnic

Objective: To prevent youth tobacco initiation, and to reduce the influence of the tobacco industry.

Materials: Paints, markers, paper for mural, cleanup supplies (dishpan or bucket of water and paper towels), food for picnic, games, activities, and prizes.

Instructions: Host a tobacco-free picnic with music and games! Hang posters and decorations celebrating being free from tobacco, and make sure there are plenty of fun and games to keep your picnic guests entertained. You can use some of the activities from StepUpNC.com such as the BB Activity, Short of Breath Relays, and Tobacco Stink Jars.

At the picnic, hang paper to make a large mural – use big pieces of paper (like a large newsprint pad), piecing together as many as you need to make the mural the size you want. Think about decorating the edges of the mural with paint or markers to make it more attractive. Ask the youth at the picnic to put their handprints on the mural using water-soluble paint (be sure to have cleanup supplies nearby such as a dishpan of water and rolls of paper towels). Have markers handy, and under their handprints, ask the youth to print their name and the reason they chose to be smoke-free. Invite the media to watch as the youth participate in this event. To handle questions from the media, prepare the youth beforehand with recent statistics regarding youth tobacco use rates in their state, and the amount the tobacco industry spends on advertising and marketing their products in their states. (Check out www.tobaccofreekids.org for great info on this topic.)

Some more ideas for things to do at the picnic:

Tobacco-Free Retailer

Work with a local tobacco retailer ahead of time to encourage the removal of tobacco advertising from their store. Conduct a news conference at the picnic where the retailer will receive an "Outstanding Community Member Award", and ask the retailer to challenge other retailers to do the same. Receiving this reward would be great free publicity for the retailer, and therefore would be a useful incentive to get the retailer to get rid of their tobacco ads!

Tobacco-Free Fair

Check to see if your County Fair accepts tobacco industry sponsorships. If it does, have the youth sign a petition at the picnic asking county officials not to accept this sponsorship. Conduct a news conference at the picnic asking officials to refuse tobacco sponsorship with the theme, "Say No To Big Tobacco. Our Kids Are Counting On Us."

"Roast" Big Tobacco

In addition to having music and fun at your picnic, hold a gear exchange. Set up a booth where youth can exchange their tobacco "gear" (like t-shirts, tobacco ads, and other promotional items) for something that is fun and health-related. Under the supervision of an adult (and only if you’ve obtained the necessary permits), start a bonfire, burning the tobacco merchandise, tobacco ads, and gear turned in. Roast marshmallows at the bonfire. Take pictures of youth "roasting" Big Tobacco (what a great photo opportunity for the local newspaper!).