17th annual Anti-tobacco Challenge Bowl Wednesday

Five-member teams of sixth-graders are preparing to participate in the 17th Annual Anti-tobacco Challenge Bowl on Wednesday in Visalia.

The competition — hosted by the Tulare County Office of Education’s CHOICES Prevention Program — is designed to prevent tobacco and marijuana use in adolescence through education.

As of late last week, 18 schools had registered 23 teams to compete in the event, including Springville Union School, Kohn Elementary (Tulare), Palo Verde Union School (Tulare), Pixley Middle School, Woodlake Valley Middle School, Heritage Elementary (Tulare), Sunnyside Union School (Strathmore), Stone Corral School (Visalia), Cypress Elementary (Tulare), Mulcahy Middle School (Tulare), Los Tules Middle School (Tulare), Alpaugh Elementary, Wilson Elementary (Dinuba), Kings River Union School (Kingsburg), Roosevelt Elementary (Dinuba), Kennedy Elementary (Dinuba), Grandview Elementary (Dinuba) and Jefferson Elementary (Dinuba).

The Anti-tobacco Challenge Bowl is run in a game show-style format of quick call and response. Prior to the competition, schools had several weeks to prepare their fivemember teams utilizing tobacco and marijuana education curriculum.

“Students participating in the Challenge gain valuable information on the dangers of tobacco and marijuana use,” says Tulare County Superintendent of Schools Jim Vidak. “It’s particularly valuable at this point in their lives before the temptation to smoke is presented.”

The competition portion of the event lasts from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m., including a break for lunch and activities provided by the Tulare County Friday Night Live program.