The Stanislaus County Office of Education, in partnership with Stanislaus County Health Services Agency’s Tobacco Prevention Program and Prevention Plus, will host the Annual PHASTjv Boot Tobacco Camp Training on Tuesday, September 20, 2022, from 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. in the Martin Petersen Event Center, 720 12th Street Modesto.

About 200 junior high and middle school students and their advisors from Stanislaus County will learn leadership skills, the dangers of vaping both nicotine and marijuana and how to use their youth voice to make positive changes in their community. According to TUPE Planning Coordinator Elizabeth Escalante, the students expand their friendships by meetings students from other schools. “Students are learning and making new friends while having fun,” said Escalante.  “This year’s keynote speaker is Ray Lozano, a Prevention Specialist speaker who helps motivate and inspire attendees to strive to be their personal best and reach their full potential.”   

The participating schools are John B. Allard School, Blaker-Kinser Junior High, Cardozo Middle School, Cesar Chavez Junior High, Creekside Middle School, Denair Middle School, Dutcher Middle School, Glick Middle School, Hanshaw Junior High, La Loma Junior High, Mae Hensley Junior High, Mark Twain Junior High, Open Valley Independent Study, Prescott Junior High, Riverbank Language Academy, Roosevelt Junior High, Salida Middle School, Spratling Middle School, Turlock Junior High, and Waterford Junior High.