More than 130 students from 17 Stanislaus County junior high schools, including Turlock Junior High and Dutcher Middle School, participated in the Fifth Annual PHAST Boot Tobacco Camp Tuesday at the Martin Peterson Event Center in Modesto.

The Stanislaus County Office of Education, in partnership with Stanislaus County Health Services Agency, California Youth Advocacy Network and Stanislaus County’s Tobacco Control Program, hosted the event.

Students learned about the dangers of tobacco use, the negative effects of new emerging tobacco products such as electronic nicotine delivery systems, tobacco in the retail environment, cigarette litter, public speaking skills and youth engagement.

Keynote speaker Johan Khalilian, a nationally known speaker, motivated and inspired students to not only dream big dreams, but to also foster the courage to live them out.