Here are a few ideas to make sure your participation statistics don’t melt in the summer sun.
1. Thrilling Grilling. Teach a class on safe/low-fat grilling that includes learning by doing. Give door prizes such as cooking utensils, low-fat grilling cookbooks, aprons, etc.
2. Skin Deep. Invite a local dermatologist to discuss skin cancer prevention. Give away sunscreen and award other sun protection products like hats and sunglasses.
3. Farmer’s Market. Host a fresh produce event in the parking lot, inviting growers to sell fruits and vegetables. Prepare related education materials on the health benefits of produce.
4. Wear Your Shades to Work Day. Sponsor an event where everyone who wears sunglasses to work receives a door prize or raffle ticket for beach merchandise. Prepare handouts on eye care and protection from the sun.
5. Walking Wednesdays. Post walking routes for summertime strolls near the worksite (go to www.MapWalk.com). On Wednesdays, offer refreshments and door prizes at a common gathering spot. Consider a different theme for each Wednesday, with awards for walkers showing the most creativity in capturing the spirit of the theme.

More ways to fan participation flames…
Summer is notoriously the driest period — in both precipitation and participation. To make sure your program doesn’t go down in flames, light a fire with these marketing ideas:

• Gather the driest tinder. Focus on individuals most likely to participate… those who have indicated they’re ready to make a change now. Don’t waste efforts on the hard-to-reach in summer, when they’re even harder to reach.
• Touch them with a match.  Give them a taste of your service, a short cut to understanding the value of a healthy lifestyle. Something simple like a sun safety handout with a sample of sunscreen is a nonthreatening, yet high-value intervention.
• Fan the flames. Give them tools to spread the message throughout their social network. Fill a kid’s plastic sand bucket with sunscreen samples and handouts, then ask participants to distribute in their work group.
• Save the coals. Keep a record of summertime participants and approach them again in the fall. Their positive experience is sure to make them a repeat participant.