Middle school students launch project

Four students in the Boundary County Middle School Leadership Class have taken it on themselves to reduce tobacco and nicotine use at the Fairgrounds and surrounding playground.

Earlier in the year, the four eight graders applied for the Support Teens Against Nicotine Dependence (STAND) grant. After their application was accepted, Kelsey English, 13, and Ben Tompkins 13, went down for training in Boise where the two learned about drug and alcohol use. As part of their grant, the teens also had to do a community service project.

"We had to make a policy to prohibit drugs or cigarettes," said Tompkins, "So we decided to go downtown to the Parks and Rec. and make the Fairgrounds try to go smoke-free and put signs up down there."

Their leadership teacher, Kelly Hinthorn, helped them fill out the application and has been supportive of her student's endeavors.

The group then had a meeting with the commissioners, who encouraged the students to start a petition and collect signatures. They also said the students would have to present their project to the Parks and Rec. Board and the Fair Board for approval.

"It was interesting because the commissioners had two different opinions," said Hinthorn, "One felt that he would rather see student signatures because it is about the youth and initiated by the youth. And the other one preferred adults because they're the taxpayers and the voters."

English said there was a very specific reason they chose the Fairgrounds.

"We're down at the Fairgrounds a lot and we see this happening a lot," said English, "I think if there are a lot of adults down there doing drugs or drinking alcohol, that the kids think that's a good thing to do since all the adults are doing it; since they see them as role models. I think the signs would help...putting them down there for most adults to stop doing it."

The teens also cited their personal experiences with drugs and alcohol, both in public and in their private family lives, which furthers their determination with their project .

They have, however, prepared themselves for some opposition.

"They're going to use the 'it's a free country', that they can drink alcohol where they want," said Michael Youngwirth,13, "...Well since it would be a policy, we would hope that there would be at least some Good Samaritans out there who will try to either turn them in or say that 'this is still happening' and keep an eye out. It's just for the kids' safety."

The students' main concern is that people will not react very well towards the signs.

Hinthorn wanted to emphasize, though, that their project is not attempting to be negative towards anyone.

"We are very well aware that it is legal and we're not trying to make people feel bad who do use tobacco and make those choices, just the fact that they are role models and this is a place where kids are playing and seeing adults do whatever they're going to do," said Hinthorn, "Maybe not do it there, maybe do it somewhere else, not right in the middle where they're playing their games or on the new equipment."

Their plan for the signs is the slogan "Healthy Lungs at Play" with images of kids playing different sports.

The teens are not above compromising as well.

"You could probably compromise and come up with a safe place where adults could smoke and drink without being in the presence of younger ones," said Youngwirth, "If people have asthma, that [smoke] could agitate them."

The teens also expressed their concern with the new trend of e-cigs and how they're heavily advertised to their age group.

"They're targeting all the teens," said Tompkins.

"Making them look cool with all the different designs that they have," added English.

E-cigs even have different flavors and some give off a perfume scent.

"It's not the middle-aged and older people that are going to be smoking the cotton candy e-cig," said Hinthorn.

E-cigs would not be permitted as well.

Along with the grant, the students received $750 to use for other projects. So far, they have organized an assembly using that money and a free dance where students had to pledge to be drug-free to get in. Abigail Gorton, 13, is preparing slides with facts about nicotine and its harmful effects that will be in the on the big TV in the cafeteria.

"We're still in that formulating, brainstorming, working out the kinks...figuring out what the signs will look like," said Hinthorn, "We have a pretty good idea. 

The challenges will come when people start questioning."

The students hope to have the signs up around April, if they receive approval from the Commissioners and Boards.