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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?

  • Avoid unprotected exposure to sunlight, seek shade and never indoor tan.

  • Wear sun protective clothing, including a long-sleeved shirt, pants, a wide-brimmed hat, and sunglasses year-round.

  • Apply recommended amount of broad-spectrum sunscreen with a sun protection factor (SPF) ≥ 30 to all exposed skin and reapply every two hours or more as needed.

  • Routinely examine your whole body for changes in your skin and report suspicious changes to a parent or healthcare provider.

  • 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.

Volunteer with the SunAWARE™ Ambassador Program

The SunAWARE™ Ambassador Program mobilizes passionate advocates to bring sun safety education into schools, classrooms, and communities nationwide. Ambassadors spread awareness and encourage engagement with the SunAWARE™ program so that kids and communities can be Sun Safe, Every Day.

Who Can Be an Ambassador?

  • Medical, Nursing & Public Health Students – Bring prevention into healthcare and academic settings
  • Melanoma Survivors – Share personal stories that inspire action
  • Parents & Community Members – Share resources and promote SunAWARE™ through PTOs, after-school programs, camps, sports and local organizations
  • Teachers & Faculty – Integrate SunAWARE into classrooms and afterschool programs
  • Others! If you aren’t listed here, please still apply to be a SunAWARE™ Ambassador!

What Do Ambassadors Do?

  • Share SunAWARE™ educational materials in schools, classrooms, and community groups
  • Lead short presentations for K–5 classrooms, assemblies, or health fairs
  • Partner with teachers as classroom allies – ambassadors are welcome to come directly into classrooms to present and explain sun safety concepts alongside educators
  • Advocate through local partnerships (PTOs, health fairs, community events)
  • Use ready-to-post social graphics to amplify awareness
  • Inspire others with personal stories and advocacy

What You’ll Gain

  • Training & ongoing support from SunAWARE™ staff
  • Free outreach resources (toolkits, templates, graphics, PowerPoints)
  • Recognition & incentives – certificates, spotlights, and community support
  • Leadership & networking opportunities with real community impact

Tools & Support

  • Training on SunAWARE™’s mission and outreach best practices
  • Customizable presentation kits, brochures, and videos
  • Social media toolkit with seasonal content
  • Dropbox access to all training videos and ambassador check-in recordings – review materials anytime, at your own pace
  • Ongoing updates and continued support from the SunAWARE™ team

How It Works

The SunAWARE™ Ambassador Program welcomes new advocates on a rolling basis – no cohort schedule required.

Join when you’re ready and get started right away.

  • Sign up and receive your ambassador toolkit
  • Complete onboarding training (recording available via Dropbox)
  • Host at least one outreach activity in your school or community
  • Continue at your own pace with ongoing access to all resources and support

Get Involved

Passionate about sun safety and preventing skin cancer? Fill out our interest form to join us and help spread the message.

 

Empowering Kids to Be Sun Safe, Every Day with SunAWARE™!

“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.

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We are so excited about your interest in SunAWARE, a free educational tool. Before accessing the SunAWARE K-5 eLearning, please fill out this short form and tell us how you learned about SunAWARE and how you plan to use it.
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Are you interested in learning more about making a financial contribution towards the development of SunAWARE? If yes, a member of the development team will reach out to you directly.(Required)

SunAWARE™ is Sponsored By:

In Honor of Susan C. Cox

Funded by the TashaStrong Foundation