Preparedness Project Competitions for Kids

Our local NPM Event sponsoring organization is wanting to host a couple of county wide, age or school grade specific competitions with preparedness themes to help promote our NPM event and better involve youth in preparedness activities leading up to the event. A couple of ideas that we have considered are "Themed Poster Competition" and an "Exhibit / Display" Competition. Does anyone know if resources or previously done examples for these types of competitions are available somewhere? If your group or organization has done one, what kind of competition did you hold and what worked and didn't work? Any ideas and suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

Thank you,

Bobby Parker Jr. OCEM, Leflore County LEPC    

Bobbie,

In 2006-2008 I worked a program coordinator in the Neighborhood Watch Unit of the Boston Police Department. Each year, as a component to National Night Out, we ran a poster contest - wich was a lot of work and a lot of fun. 

I dug through my old files and found this impact statement we submitted as part of after event report. Hope it's helpful and let me know what other questions you might have.  

Poster Contest/Awards Luncheon and Ceremony

BEGIN:

The National Night Out Poster Contest commenced in February 2007, when over thousands of entry forms and emails were sent to teachers and after school coordinators throughout the city of Boston. 

As a special incentive, each teacher who submitted posters was entered into a raffle to win a $1,000 worth of gift certificates to be used for art supplies and books. Two teams and Target volunteers came in for four-hour shifts and called all teachers and coordinators in the city to ensure they were aware of and participated in the contest. The result was an amazing 563 poster entries.

The prizes were as follows: First - $200 Bond; Second - $100 Bond; Third - $50; Merit - Art Kit. For each category, K-2, 3-5, 6-8, and 9-12 there will be one, First, Second, and Third place winner. All winners will get a $25 gift card to Target. Winners were honored at the National Night Out Poster Contest Luncheon and Awards Ceremony held on Friday, July 28, in the Oval Room at the Fairmont Copley Plaza Hotel.  Poster Contest winners and their families enjoyed a delicious lunch catered by the hotel, and the presentation of their awards by the City of Boston’s Mayor, Thomas M. Menino and Police Commissioner Ed Davis.

Neptune Hose Company # 1 of Dryden, Inc. wishes to extend an invitation to Dryden community members for participation in our annual open house. Your attendance in viewing our program will assist our efforts in educating and informing the general public on the services that are available for the citizens that visit our service area.

We are seeking input from Dryden citizens in attaining support of an "Awareness Club at Dryden Central School." When established, the club is designed to teach all-hazards awareness to 15 students each year at the school. Our 4 year target group is 60 students.

Initial groundwork has been performed for the pilot club with efforts of Graduates of our Jr. Fire Academy (now over the age limits '10-14'). They have requested extension of program through the resources shown at; http://centexcitizencorps.org/tips-for-successful-youth-preparedness-programs. Our core 4 year program includes 5 groups (M1-M5). Readiness programs must be allocated per group being: M1=ages1-3; M2=ages 4-7, M3=ages 8-11; M4=ages 12-14 and M5=ages 15-18 "This is a total wrap program that ends with international correspondence (I=earn.org example.).

In a special presentation, we will also be hosting a review of a major car and bicycle accident involving one of our members this past June. Review of this event dramatizes being prepared for a bike ride, protective gear, training in first aid, rules of the road, and being physically fit. These points can make the critical difference in a bike accident.

Additionally, a demonstration of sprinkler operation and the difference they have on the initial stages of a fire will be continuously run throughout the day. We encourage all schools, citizens, businesses and faith based institutions to visit our annual open house.

Literature on basic preparedness will be available for all visitors. We also emphasize the need to know the basics (installation of smoke, carbon monoxide, detectors; practice escape plans “2 ways” out of each room; stay low ‘under the smoke’ when escaping; have your family establish a meeting place) and above all, to NEVER go back into a burning building.

Note that seed funding has been received from Dryden Youth Opportunity Fund (http://dyof.org/) and additional assistance from the Department of Homeland Security’s Fire Prevention and Safety Program which is described in EMW-2011-FP-01401 at http:// FEMA.gov/firegrants.  

Again, we are looking forward for your support with this informative effort. Please contact the Dryden Firedepartment. 

Sincerely,

Mark Bell-Chief of Dryden Fire Department; Frank Palmer - Open House Committee Dryden or Tom Dorman- Dryden Ambulance