Aspen is a place for leaders to lift their sights above the possessions which possess them. To confront their own nature as human beings, to regain control over their own humanity by becoming more self-aware, more self-correcting, and hence more self-fulfilling.

Walter P. Paepcke, Aspen Institute Co-Founder

Aspen Institute Launches Play It Cool, a National Cross-Sector Campaign to Help Keep Young Athletes Safe in the Heat

Leaders across sports, health, media, business, and entertainment join forces to build a new culture of youth heat safety, debuting the campaign with a social media PSA featuring Dr. Seuss’s The Lorax alongside elite athletes Robin Arzón and Napheesa Collier.

Washington, DC, July 23 – As extreme heat increasingly disrupts youth sports and outdoor play, the Aspen Institute today announced the launch of Play It Cool, a campaign bringing together leaders across sports, health, media, business, philanthropy, and entertainment to help families keep kids safely in the games they love.

Built around the simple message Speak Up. Sit Out. Cool Down., the campaign aims to make youth heat safety as familiar as “Stop, Drop, and Roll” or “Click it or ticket.” Founding partners include Dr. Seuss Enterprises, Moms Clean Air Force, love.fútbol, 160over90, Known, and Home of Football, with additional organizations joining in the months ahead.

The campaign launches at a moment when extreme heat is increasingly affecting the sports, play, and outdoor activities that are central to childhood. Millions of children spend their summers practicing, competing, and playing outdoors, yet many parents and coaches remain unaware of the early warning signs of heat illness or the simple actions that can prevent it.

To introduce the campaign, Play It Cool is premiering a series of social media public service announcements created in partnership with Dr. Seuss Enterprises, featuring the Lorax alongside athlete, Peloton instructor, and bestselling author Robin Arzón, and Minnesota Lynx star Napheesa Collier. The PSA uses the power of storytelling to help children and families remember three simple actions that can keep young athletes safer in the heat: Speak up. Sit out. Cool down.

“Stories only matter if they inspire kids to act,” said Susan Brandt, President and CEO of Dr. Seuss Enterprises. “The Lorax has always been about speaking up when something matters. Now we’re putting that message to work through original YouTube content, giving families practical ways to keep kids safe while they’re outside. That’s the goal, not just a good message, but real change for the next generation.”

For Arzón, the campaign reflects the belief that every child deserves the opportunity to stay active safely. “Being active helps build confidence, joy, and resilience,” said Arzón. “If we can support families in recognizing heat risks early and know when to speak up, sit out, and cool down, we can keep more kids healthy and in the sports they love.”

Arzón and the Lorax explain here.

“Every great athlete knows in order to compete at your best you have to listen to your body, especially in the heat,” said Collier. “Play It Cool educates young players that speaking up, taking a break, and cooling down are all part of staying strong, healthy, and in the game.”

Play It Cool is designed as more than a public awareness campaign. Over the coming year, the coalition will work with sports organizations, health experts, children’s media, brands, athletes, and community leaders to normalize youth heat safety through storytelling, practical resources, and trusted messengers.

“Our changing climate is reshaping childhood, but it doesn’t have to keep kids on the sidelines,” said Laura Schifter, Senior Fellow at the Aspen Institute. “When sports, media, health, business, and entertainment come together around a simple message, we have an opportunity to make youth heat safety a new social norm.”

###

About Play It Cool

Play It Cool is an initiative of the Aspen Institute that harnesses the power of sports, storytelling, and trusted messengers to help families keep children safe as extreme heat increasingly affects youth sports and outdoor play. Through the simple message Speak Up. Sit Out. Cool Down., the campaign seeks to make youth heat safety as familiar as wearing a helmet or “Stop, Drop, and Roll.” For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org/playitcool.

About the Aspen Institute

The Aspen Institute is a global nonprofit organization whose purpose is to ignite human potential to build understanding and create new possibilities for a better world. Founded in 1949, the Institute drives change through dialogue, leadership, and action to help solve society’s greatest challenges. It is headquartered in Washington, DC and has a campus in Aspen, Colorado, as well as an international network of partners. For more information, visit www.aspeninstitute.org.

About Dr. Seuss Enterprises

Founded in 1993, Dr. Seuss Enterprises is a global entertainment company. Our mission is to educate and entertain generations around the world by  promoting and protecting the literary and artistic works of Dr. Seuss. We provide world-class content that drives joyful learning and creates hopeful futures.  All Dr. Seuss Enterprises’ profits benefit charitable organizations that focus on causes such as education, science, health, animal conservation, and the arts. For more information, subscribe to our YouTube channel, visit DrSeussEnterprises.com, or follow us on Instagram. 

Contact: Eric Baker
Senior Media Relations Manager
[email protected]