Jaycees Against Youth Smoking

Research indicates that the highest percentage of first cigarette usage is in the sixth and seventh grades and that peak ages for initiation of cigarette smoking is between the ages of 10 and 12.  Thus, the Jaycees Against Youth Smoking (JAYS) program targets students around their 5^th or 6^th grade year.

Created in 1998, the U. S. Junior Chamber’s JAYS program has four objectives for students: Identifying the health risks of smoking; Learning the facts about environmental tobacco smoke; Describing ways to deal with peer pressure to smoke; and Learning methods to quit smoking or help others quit.

This FREE, informative, user friendly, and interactive program is available to both elementary and middle schools as well as other youth organizations. The program is made up of five 45 to 60 minute sessions that include an interesting curriculum and hands-on activities geared for teachers to bring right into their classrooms.

Daily activities include a science experiment, designing an anti-smoking ad campaign, math story problems that detail how expensive cigarette smoking can be and an experiment that shows the effect of smoking on athletic ability.  The final day of the program is a review in the form of a game show called the “JAYS challenge”. 

Course Outline

Day 1:

Identify the health risks of smoking

Learn how to quit smoking

“The students were impressed, especially the “gross pictures” shown with the lessons and the “jar of butts”. As a teacher, I feel that this is an extremely worthwhile program. The lesson plans were easily followed and implemented. Students need to be made aware of the negative effects of tobacco so that they may make healthy decisions in the future.”

-    Judy Coffman

Poca Middle School, WV

“I believe the program is well worth the time and effort it takes to present it. Letting the students know the facts and encouraging them to make their own decision about smoking works well. The variety of instructors lessens the work-load and gives students additional opportunities to hear information and discuss issues with people from different backgrounds and experiences with smoking. I commend the Jaycees for making the program available to the school.”

-     Rick Hoffman, Principal

Altenburg School, MO

“I liked the JAYS program because it teaches us things like the physical effects of smoking, and what chemicals are in cigarettes. Through the program I learned that if you smoke you could get lung cancer, I also learned that if you smoke you can’t breath as well.”