This is a good time of year to review sun safety with scouts of all ages. Damage to the skin from sunburn can have lasting effects. It doesn’t take long to get a serious sunburn, so it is important that everyone understands how to protect themselves from the radiation of the sun.
You can just go through a list of sun safety tips with them, but they will remember your advice better if you make it an interactive activity. Just the simple act of drawing will help scouts remember all of the things they should do to protect their skin.
Sun Safety Activity
First, go over some sun safety tips with your group:
- Use a sunscreen with SPF 15 or higher
- Put the sunscreen on 30 minutes before you go out In the sun
- Reapply sunscreen every 2 hours
- If you go swimming, reapply the sunscreen after you get out, even if it is waterproof
- Wear sunglasses to protect your eyes
- A wide brimmed hat, long sleeved shirt, and long pants will also help protect your skin
- Seek the shade, especially between 10AM and 3PM
- Wear lip balm which provides sun protection
Next, make it interactive so they remember:
Materials:
- Dry erase board and dry erase markers OR large poster board and markers
Instructions:
- Draw a person on the board. It doesn’t have to be a masterpiece – even a stick figure will work.
- Have each member of the den or patrol take turns drawing something on or near the person which will help protect him from the sun.
- If the person who is drawing can’t come up with any ideas, have the other members of the group give him an idea
Here are some things they can draw:
- bottle of sunscreen
- sunglasses
- hat
- long sleeved shirt
- long pants
- a watch or clock (to remember to stay out of the sun during midday)
- lip balm
- things for shade – tree, umbrella, tent, etc.
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