Summary

Participants can show their creativity and paint a mural on a canvas to demonstrate tobacco use, cigarette litter, and secondhand smoke on the planet.

Goals and outcomes

• To educated people on how tobacco use, cigarette litter, and secondhand smoke not only to for individual health but also others and our planet.
• Participants will be able to have fun and use their creativity while creating a mural with an important message.
• Participants will also be able to take smoke-free pledges.

Cost

$0 to $50 for art supplies

Materials

• A large canvas that can be painted on
• Art supplies (paints, brushes, etc.)
• Smoke-free home pledges
• Smoke-free car pledges
• Pledges to not litter with cigarette butts
• Information on secondhand smoke and quitting (SD QuitLine—free form the DOH resource list at SD Department of Health: Educational Materials Catalog).

Description

Since a clean and healthy planet is the focus of Earth Day, this is a great time to focus on clearing the air of secondhand smoke. Environmental organizations and other community groups frequently have Earth Day events, and this activity can be an important part of a community event. Give Earth Day Festival participants a chance to show their creativity and paint a mural on canvas to demonstrate the impact of tobacco use, cigarette litter, and secondhand smoke on the planet. This activity can be done in conjunction with a school group or other youth group.

Timeline

Earth Day is celebrated annually on April 22nd.

Two to three months before the event

• Contact local environmental organizations to see if they are planning an Earth Day Festival. Community college or college campuses frequently have such events. Register to have a table at the event.

Three weeks before the event

• Confirm arraignments for table. Schedule volunteers to work the event.
• Purchase or locate art supplies and canvas. Canvas will need to be free-standing or stretched between two study poles.
• Order materials for the event (QuitLine materials, smoke-free home and car pledges, etc.)

One week before event

• Confirm volunteers will be in attendance.
• Check out location to make sure the canvas will work onsite.

Day of the event

• Arrive to set up the table at least one hour early to secure the canvas in a sturdy location.

How to modify

This event could be modified to be done in a school or community organization setting in common areas. You could also do individual canvas or paint on window or paper. Paint could also be replaced with markers, crayons, etc.