Tuesday, May 15, 2012

Get Ahead This Summer


By Courtney Diener and Sheldon Jackson, BACCHUS Student Trustees


As warm weather and sunshine begins to grace our presence, you might be asking yourself the question, "What role does summer play for peer educators and advisors?"

The obvious answer is that summer is a great time for everyone to take time to relax. That means summer barbeques, getting some vitamin D from the sun (remember to wear sunblock) and maybe watching a game on television. But summer is also great time for your peer education groups to get ahead.

Summer is a great time to take inventory of your stock of peer education materials and to place orders for the supplies you will need in the fall. Summer is also a great time where your peer educators can work on recruitment of new peer educators for the fall. Some campuses host summer retreats where their peer educators can work on their presenting skills and building a solid team. Other campuses work on updating and improving scripts or programs. Even just familiarizing yourself with The BACCHUS Network websites and campaigns can prepare you to kick-start your peer education group into a great fall.

So this summer in between all the pool parties, walks in the park and outside fun, consider spending some time getting your peer education group ready for fall.

Check Out the BACCHUS Network Websites!


By Nelson Anderson (Area 4) and Katie Starry (Area 3)

            It all starts here! Everything you ever wanted to know about BACCHUS can be found on this site. You can see new and successful programs that campuses in our area have created.  You can also find resources to use on your own campuses and tap into BACCHUS’ four annual health promotion toolkits, such as Safe Spring Break!

            Find all the resources needed to prevent tobacco use, increase cessation and create policy change for tobacco-free campuses on this website!

            Need facts, program ideas, and resources to create effective sexual health programs?  This website provides information, resources and tips to assist peer educators to help students keep the romance but be responsible with their sexual health choices.

            Want to have a positive impact and reduce impaired driving at your school? Check out this website with information regarding the prevention of drinking and driving and ways to encourage friends to take care of friends.