TABLE OF CONTENTS:
About Red Ribbon Month
50 Creative Ideas for Red Ribbon Month
Actual Dates for "Red Ribbon WEEK" this year!
Suggested Day by Day Red Ribbon "Week" Schedule
Unique Red Ribbon Speaker -- ideal for K-12 students and the entire community!
Each year, October, Red Ribbon Month provides us with an opportunity to renew our commitment to a healthy and drug-free lifestyle and show our dedication to education and prevention efforts in our schools and communities.
About Red Ribbon Month
The Red Ribbons we wear during this celebration are a symbol of unity against the illegal use of drugs. This public display came about in response to the tragic 1985 murder of Federal Drug Enforcement Administration Agent Enrique Camarena while he was investigating Mexican drug traffickers. At that time, angry parent groups and others began wearing red ribbons to take a public stand against the illegal use of alcohol, tobacco and other drugs and to show their support for drug-free youth.
Originally known as "Red Ribbon Week" it was usually the last full week of October. Many communities and schools found it hard to effectively conduct the campaign in seven days so it soon was celebrated throughout the last half of October. Although some still recognize it as "Red Ribbon Week" it is now considered my most to be a national Monthly celebration, Red Ribbon Month allows educators, parents, community groups, students and others to focus on the work being done to stop the spread of drugs and to draw attention to the growing millions who have pledged to live drug-free.
Make This Red Ribbon Month The Most Powerful One Yet!
To help you make this red ribbon month the most effective and memorable one yet, here are 50 creative, involving, fun ideas to use in planning your next Red Ribbon program.
 | 1. Launch your program with the release of red balloons � as many as possible. |
| 2. Plan a parade -- down the main street of your town, in front of your school, or anywhere else where students and community supporters can get involved. |
| 3. Schedule a "Band Against Drugs" musical assembly. |
| 4. Hold an Essay Contest with prizes for the best prevention essays. |
| 5. Involve the whole family in your Red Ribbon celebration with a Family Fun Night, complete with games, booths, and other activities. |
| 6. Request that participants donate one can of food each for your "We Can All Say No To Drugs!" program. Then give the cans to a local agency that serves families in need. |
| 7. Serve as many red foods as you can think of on a special Red Ribbon Day, for example, red popsicles, apples, watermelon, pizza, tomato soup, tomato juice, and so on. |
| 8. Plan a "Walk Out On Drugs" walkathon and give the money you raise to your favorite prevention organization. |
| 9. "Kick Off" Red Ribbon Month (or Week) in conjunction with Homecoming, an important home football game or another popular community event. |
| 10. "Say Boo To Drugs" with a special Halloween Prevention Party. |
| 11. Hold a "Red Ribbon Run For Fun" marathon to reinforce your commitment to healthy living. |
| 12. Decorate bags with red ribbons and prevention messages for use in local stores during Red Ribbon Month. |
| 13. Decorate every door in your school with messages that promote a drug-free lifestyle. |
| 14. Distribute Pledge Cards that invite each participant to make a personal pledge to be drug-free. |
| 15. Invite everyone to wear red for the day. |
| 16. Ask students to participate in "Give Drugs The Slip Day" with everyone wearing slippers. |
| 17. Hold a "Sock It To Drugs Day" and ask everyone to wear the craziest socks they can find. |
| 18. Announce a "Be Vested Against Drugs Day" and have everyone wear vests. |
| 19. Make a "Boot Out Drugs Day" with everyone wearing boots. |
| 20. Use student baby pictures for a giant collage entitled, "Born To Be Drug Free." |
| 21. Use the theme, "Drugs Are Unbearable!" and give out teddy bears. |
| 22. Hold a "Slam Dunk -- Drugs Are Junk," basketball game during Red Ribbon Month. |
| 23. Have your own B.Y.O.B. Banana Split party. Ask students to bring their own bananas. |
| 24.Put on skits that portray the message, "Users Are Losers." |
| 25. Let each student write their own reasons for being drug free on a red ribbon. |
| 26. Create posters to put up in the classroom and around the school that state the negative effects of drugs. |
| 27. Involve local businesses. Ask them to offer a special give-away for any customer wearing a Red Ribbon that day -- a can of soda, a special discount, etc. |
| 28. Decorate against drugs. Decorate your school or a special area with red ribbons, banners, posters and other items that display drug prevention messages. |
| 29. Hold "Hugs Not Drugs Day," by inviting younger students to bring in their favorite stuffed animal. |
| 30. Invite students to wear headbands or bandannas for a "Band Against Drugs" theme. |
| 31. Ask students to wear the craziest ties they can find for a "Tie One On Against Drugs" event. |
| 32. Wear clothing inside out for a "Don't Let Drugs Turn You" Day. |
| 33. Tie a Red Ribbon onto every car in your parking lot or neighborhood. |
| 34. Hold a Poster Contest, awarding a prize to the creator of the best drug prevention message poster. |
| 35. Party at a "Red Ribbon Sock Hop" at which everyone must wear red socks. |
| 36. Invite Michael Scott Karpovich or other prominent drug prevention experts to come speak at your school or organization. [CLICK HERE For more information on Michael] |
| 37. Allow students to write and then sign their own personal pledges to live drug free. |
| 38.Design Red Ribbon Celebration Banners to hang in front of your school or in a prominent place inside. |
| 39. Go national. Invite all students to sign their names on red ribbons and send them to Washington as a symbol of unity and concern for others. |
| 40. Have a "Living Drug-Free Is No Sweat" day with everyone wearing sweat clothes to school. |
| 41. Ask everyone to wear sneakers for "Don't Let Drugs Sneak Up On You" day. |
| 42.Wear clothes backwards for "Turn Your Back On Drugs" day. |
| 43. On "Shade Out Drugs Day," suggest that everyone wear sunglasses. |
| 44. Write a theme song with drug prevention messages to use in your Red Ribbon Celebration. |
| 45. Use your school mascot or choose a special Red Ribbon Campaign mascot to dress up and spread your Drug Free and Proud message throughout the school. |
| 46. Ask each student to write a poem on a Red Ribbon Celebration theme. Post poems in the classroom and around the school. |
| 47. Hold a Red Ribbon Program for parents with skits, songs and other student performances. |
| 48. Plan a school or community prevention mural to be created during your Red Ribbon Celebration. Offer a prize for the best prevention theme or idea to be used for the mural. |
| 49. For younger students, have a Coloring Contest where they paint or color in a picture with a prevention theme. For older students, have them design and complete their own prevention painting. |
| 50. Have a contest for the best drug prevention slogan to use
for your group's Red Ribbon Month Celebration. |
A Unique Speaker Ideal for your Red Ribbon Campaign:
For over thirty years schools have invited Certified Speaking Professional, Michael Scott Karpovich in to speak to students and communities about the decision of being drug free!
Long before Red Ribbon started while still in high school in the late 70's Michael started speaking to children, telling stories to kids on the bus, speaking at 4-H clubs and encouraging children to reach for their dreams! For some reason he had an amazing rapport with young children. He quickly realized that he had a gift communicating to teens and young kids.
After attending the University of Michigan, in the early 80's with a degree in Child Psychology, Michael got his first professional job as the Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator for the State of Michigan. He was put in charge of the five counties of the Thumb of Michigan. This role had him traveling hundreds of miles between schools and communities. He was apparently in the right place at the right time; in 1985 and 1986 Michael was part of the very first Red Ribbon Campaigns.
"PREVENTION" was a new concept in the late 70's and early 80's and Michael was privileged to be a pioneer in prevention. He became involved in starting grass root prevention groups, youth programs, parenting programming and other healthy educational ventures.
Although it was not officially part of the job, Michael was often asked to speak to schools and communities. The reviews from one school quickly spread to another and then another until most of his work consisted of speaking to middle schools, high schools, parent groups and teachers throughout the state of Michigan!
Soon the speaking requests increased so dramatically that Michael feels that he can't both conduct "primary prevention" in the schools through his speeches, and also do an appropriate job as a more "administrative" Substance Abuse Prevention Coordinator. So Michael left his position in favor of a more flexible college instructor. This gave Michael more time to speak for schools and communities.
Soon Michael is requested to speak for programs across the United States. However as his message is well received -- the demand continues to increase. Finally in 1986 Michael realized that he could make a powerful impact on kids if he made it into a full-time youth focused profession!
Since then Michael speaks to an average of 300,000 high school students and over 100,000 middle school students each year!
Michael's youth message is titled "BECOMING THE BEST GENERATION" and focuses on discovering RESILIENCY regardless on what you face. This program is tailored for the individual age of the audience!
Since the beginning of his exciting speaking career, Michael has been invited to speak in 43 states, three Canadian providences, New Zealand, and Australia!
Often Michael is invited to keynote national substance abuse prevention programs like the original "Just Say No" campaign and PRIDE, and statewide prevention programs like I.D.E.A. (Illinois Drug Education Alliance), and Virginia's Y.D.A.P.P. (Youth Alcohol and Drug Abuse Prevention Project). Often individual schools invite him to speak at their Project Prom & Project Graduation. He is a regular guest speaker at regional and statewide Teen Institutes, Snowballs, & Snowflakes!
Unlike many of the accomplished youth speakers out there, Michael guarantees his work. If you bring him in to speak to your school and are disappointed you are not responsible for any fee whatsoever!
Check any of these links to discover how Michael Scott Karpovich can make your "RED RIBBON CAMPAIGN" a big success. Call soon October is often the first month to book on his calendar!
