Saratoga News

Photograph by George Sakkestad

Rachel Havens and Jenelle Coidero make camp.

DARE grads share camp experience

Campers see law enforcement in different light

By Michelle Alaimo

Elementary schoolchildren from throughout Santa Clara County came together recently at DARE--Drug Awareness Resistance Education-- Camp to learn more about saying no to drugs and alcohol. The Santa Clara County Sheriff's Department held the third annual event the week of June 23. Two three-day camps were held at the Santa Clara County Peace Officers Camp located south of downtown Saratoga on Big Basin Way.

Campers, all graduates of the DARE program through their schools in Saratoga, Cupertino, Gilroy, San Jose and Los Gatos, were chosen at random from a field of 2,000 applicants.

"It's an opportunity for us to reinforce many of the ideas we have taught them in DARE," Sgt. Jerry Hall said. "It is also a chance for them to see law enforcement in a different role."

DARE is designed to help teach children methods of dealing with peer pressure and the consequences of drug and alcohol abuse. Children also learn where they can get help for drug and alcohol abuse problems.

Counselors from local high schools helped monitor children's activities and also stayed in the tents with the students. For some of the campers, it was their first time sleeping in the woods.

Campers had a variety of activities to choose from including volleyball, horseshoe pitching, frisbee, hiking, archery and crafts. The curriculum also included classes on anger management.

"I learned that if I want to do drugs, there is no one that can stop me, but at least I will know the consequences of doing drugs before I decide to do them," Nicholas, a 12-year-old from Saratoga, said.

The fourth- and fifth-graders said they were happy to interact with deputies on a positive level. Deputies were described as "really cool," "the bomb" and as a lot of fun by the students.

Those who attended earlier DARE camps said this camp was better because they had more freedom and there were fewer adults around.

"It is all kids here," George, 11, of Los Gatos said. "I have really been looking forward to coming up."

By the time camp was over, many of the children had made new friends, Deputy Janet Shannon said. "You will see them exchanging phone numbers and addresses as they get on the bus to go home. We like to think that they will stay in touch."

Natasha Collins contributed to this story.

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