January 27, 2025
Welcome to SunAWARE™
Empowering Kids to Be Sun Safe, Every Day with SunAWARE!
What if teaching lifelong skin protection could be fun, engaging, and developmentally on point? That’s exactly what SunAWARE™ delivers. Created by public health educators and backed by melanoma survivors, advocates and dermatologists, this free K–5 curriculum brings sun safety to life through bright visuals, interactive activities, and age-appropriate lessons that kids enjoy. Whether you’re a teacher, parent, or coach or the like, SunAWARE™ helps your students build essential knowledge and habits to stay safe in the sun.
If you are interested in bringing sun safety education to your school or club, fill out the form below. Let’s raise a generation that’s not just sun smart — but SunAWARE™!
What is SunAWARE?
SunAWARE™ is a sun safety eLearning interactive educational program developed by the Melanoma Research Foundation. It is designed for children in grades K–5 to promote healthy habits that help to prevent melanoma, skin cancer and sun-related skin damage.
What does SunAWARE™ stand for?
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Avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight, seek shade, and never indoor tan.
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Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses year-round.
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Apply recommended amounts of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sunburn protection factor (SPF) ≥ 30 to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours, or as needed.
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Routinely examine your whole body for changes in your skin and report suspicious changes to a parent or healthcare provider.
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Educate your family and community about the need to be SunAWARE™.
Our Commitment
With deep appreciation for the visionary work of the Children’s Melanoma Prevention Foundation, the MRF is proud to carry forward the SunAWARE™ program. SunAWARE™ reflects the MRF’s unwavering dedication to prevention and education, equipping children with the knowledge and habits they need to protect themselves from melanoma, skin cancer, and sun-related skin damage. By starting early, we’re not just teaching lessons, we’re fostering lifelong awareness and empowering the next generation to make sun safety second nature.
SunAWARE™ is more than a curriculum — it’s a movement toward a healthier future. The MRF remains steadfast in its mission to advance melanoma prevention across all ages, and SunAWARE™ stands as a shining example of that commitment. From the imagery we share to the voices we elevate, every element is designed to create an inclusive, engaging, and empowering sun safety experience for every child and family we serve.
The SunAWARE™ Curriculum Empowers Students With Information On Sun Safety
Key Curriculum Features
- Skin protection basics: Shade, sunscreen, and protective clothing
- Sun safety & sunburns: Risks of UV exposure and how to prevent them
- Lessons from nature: How animals and humans protect themselves from the sun
- Skin types & UV impact: Understanding diversity and universal risks
- UV light & skin health: Effects of UV rays on aging and sunburn
- ABCDEs of melanoma: How to spot changes on your skin
- Myth-busting: Addressing media messages about tanning and skin safety and how to find credible sources
The program emphasizes that everyone, regardless of age or skin type, should protect themselves from harmful UV rays while appreciating and caring for their own unique skin.
“The SunAWARE curriculum and sun safety education in general has the potential to save lives and change the skin health of future generations.”
– Katie Labadia | Parent
Request Access to SunAWARE™
SunAWARE Request Form
If you are interested in bringing sun safety education to your school or club, please fill out the form below.