On Wednesday March 21st, the Dover Police Department’s Youth to Youth program will celebrate Kick Butts Day. Kick Butts is a national anti-tobacco awareness program, conducted this time of year, where thousands of teens across the country take part in various drug free activities to celebrate being tobacco free.
The main Youth to Youth event will be held on Wednesday evening March 21st in the McConnell Center cafeteria. On this night, students from Youth to Youth will be holding the Kick Butts Bash and Gear Exchange from 4:30 – 6:30 pm. The evening will feature student artwork, an ice cream buffet, and a chance to participate in the Gear Exchange.
About the Gear Exchange
The Gear Exchange is an opportunity to turn in any clothing, athletic gear, or similar gear that advertises alcohol or tobacco products, or promotes the use of other drugs. This would include such things as: a Budweiser T-Shirt, a Marlboro hat, or clothing with a marijuana leaf design. Attendees may also turn in clothing or gear that promotes marijuana use, drug use or alcohol-themed gear.
These items can be brought to the Gear Exchange and turned in for clothing, CD cases, water bottles, sports equipment, and other gear with positive messages. The ice cream sundae and smoothie buffet is $3.00 per person. However, there is no charge for Drug Free ID cardholders. The buffet is also free to anyone that exchanges anything in the Gear Exchange.
To attend this event, enter the McConnell Center through door #7 (St. Thomas Street side of building) and follow the signs to the event in the McConnell Center cafeteria.
The Gear Exchange and other activities will be in an open house format where people can come and go any time between 4:30 – 6:30 pm.
Logo Lampoon Contest in the Schools for Kick Butts Week
Dover Youth to Youth, in cooperation with the DARE Program and the Dover Middle School Athletics staff, is also conducting a tobacco themed artwork competition called the Logo Lampoon Contest.
Several hundred students in 5th grade have created satirical mock ups of a tobacco company product or logo. In the artwork the students attempt to remake their chosen ad or logo in a way that would make it “tell the truth” about what these substances can do to those who use it, particularly youthful users.
Seventh grade students are also submitting Logo lampoon artwork, which will be displayed at the event.
The top 30 finalists in each grade will receive a prize and will be invited to the awards ceremony to take place at the Gear Exchange and Ice Cream Buffet on Wednesday March 21st. The overall winners for the 5th grade will be announced at 5:15 pm and the 7th grade winners will be announced at 6:00 pm. Overall winners will receive prizes of gift certificates or cash.
More Information
Dover Youth to Youth is an anti-drug community volunteer group of students in grades 6-12. It is coordinated by the Dover Police Department’s Community Outreach Bureau.
Kick Butts Week is done in conjunction with the national program conducted by the Washington, D.C.-based Campaign for Tobacco-Free Kids, the largest non-governmental education and advocacy effort ever undertaken to decrease youth tobacco use in the United States. The Dover Kick Butts Week Event is was supported by New Hampshire Department of Health and Human Services Tobacco Prevention and Cessation Program as part of their cooperative agreement (15-1509) from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC).
For more information about the Kick Butts Week events, contact Dover Youth to Youth at 603-516-3274. For information on the national initiative, visit the Kick Butts Day Web site at www.kickbuttsday.org .
