MEXICO — Dozens of children from Rumford and Meroby elementary schools learned about the dangers of smoking Wednesday afternoon at the Mexico Recreation Center.

The program was sponsored by the Western Foothills Kids Association, with support from the River Valley Healthy Communities Coalition and a $500 grant from the National Kick Butts Day. It offered a variety of activities, including meeting Sammy, the smelly skunk, learning myths about smoking, shooting items into an open “mouth” and “Bowling for Butts.” Prizes were awarded.

Barbara Radmore, head of the after-school program, said more than a dozen stations were set up for children to visit. One of them, staffed by Mountain Valley High School peer helper Abbey Pinkham, showed damaged lungs, discolored teeth and other physical changes that can occur in people who smoke.

“It’s gross,” Pinkham said.

Upstairs, University of Maine at Farmington community health student Sarah Higgins, who is an intern with the RVHCC, was helping youngsters toss darts at a series of statements about smoking.

One read: “smoking does not cause heart attacks.”

Fourth-grader Alexis Therrien, knew that was wrong. It does cause heart attacks, she said.

Other displays asked students to take a pledge not to smoke or chew tobacco, showed the effects of secondhand smoke or offered a chance to play “smoking roulette.” Children played “Bowling for Butts,” ate healthy snacks such as popcorn, fruit and oatmeal cookies, and visited with Sammy Skunk, played by high school peer helper MacKenzie McInnis.

First-grader Ava St. Laurent, while studying Sammy, said all the events were really fun.

“I like everything,” she said.