Today marks the annual celebration of Kick Butt's Day. Schools nationwide have planned all types of different events as a way to get the word out.

The Kick Butt's campaign has been going on all over the United States and British Columbia for the past 15 years. Many activities are planned to raise awareness and children as young as junior high participate.

High-schoolers at one school are using art to help get the word out. Most drawings are centered around the harmful effects of the cigarettes. Sara Mabley, SAP Counselor, said, "It's a variety of things I mean just looking at how tobacco influences or impacts their lives as young people and part of it is around how tobacco um advertising affects you know influences students or young people."

Every project that is done is student initiated; students just want to let people know that in Vermont cigarettes claim the lives of 800 people each year. Not only do students want to get the word out to adults but also to their fellow peers. Mabley also said, "I mean having the young people talk to each other is you know they just want to hear from each other, they hear from adults all the time saying this is bad, but trying to have young people put it in their own words in their own form is just listened to more."

Students believe that when the message is delivered by young people they have more of a chance of getting heard and being respected.

If you are looking to get your school involved next year then you can visit Kick Butts Day.