Each year millions of school children benefit from Drug Abuse Resistance Education. For 56 St. Mary’s County fifth and sixth-grade children, the educational experience has proven to be one of the most important of their lives. During the week of July 7 to 11, they attended the first-ever Camp D.A.R.E, hosted by St. Mary’s County sheriffs, in cooperation with county schools, hosted at the Dr. James A. Forest Career & Technology Center.

DFC Angela Muller

According to blue team leader, DFC Angela Muller, children learned two D.A.R.E. lessons each day from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. “They have activities and exercise in between the classroom lessons, and we provide a free lunch.”

Team leader, Deputy First Class Carl Fisher, of the Calvert County Sheriff’s Office, said he was anxious to be a part of this first camp program. “We don’t have a program in Calvert, but are looking into beginning one there soon.”

During the eight-hour days, children learned about resisting peer pressure while building team skills. Part of the program introduced children to policing and the equipment used by police to arrest drub abusers.

DFC Carl Fischer

“They learned how to use handcuffs, take fingerprints and more,” said Muller.

“One of the most popular with the kids is the ‘Red Man’ drill,” Fisher said. He and Muller explained that a police officer gets into a red, fully padded body armor suit and the kids are allowed to attack the officer to understand violence and how it affects the body.

“The kids really enjoyed the session a lot,” said Fisher.

The children will graduate from camp with certificates this afternoon. They are members of the D.A.R.E. elementary class. According to Muller, children can take the D.A.R.E. high school program during the school year. They can be certified in the elementary, the high school or both programs.

The week-long program was funded mostly by contributions from area Optimists Clubs. According to Ted Bailey, Optimist Club organizer, “We collected money from each of the Optimist Clubs and the Moose Lodge in Mechanicsville to buy the food to feed the children each day.” Bailey went on to say that the effort would cost approximately $7,800. “Thankfully, Peter D’Arista, owner of Toyota Southern Maryland has agreed to cover any shortfall in funding.”

Camp D.A.R.E. kids get ready to go back to class
after a morning of fun team-building activities.

D.A.R.E. is an internationally acclaimed effort that gives kids the skills needed to avoid involvement in drugs, gangs and violence the program started in 1983 in Los Angeles. Success over the last 25 years has lead to D.A.R.E. being added to the curriculum in approximately 75 percent of public schools across the nation and in more than 43 countries.

D.A.R.E. programs are traditionally led by local police officers who introduce children to the perils of