D.A.R.E. TO EFFECT CHANGE

Hot weather was the perfect excuse to hose down some Kern County sheriff's
deputies this week. At the first Kern County Sheriff's Department D.A.R.E.
summer camp session of the year, fourth-through seventh-graders exchanged
giggles while playing with water balloons and hoses in an effort to cool
off in the triple-digit weather.

Camp Okihi, owned by Kern County and located just across the river from
Hart Park, made room for the 40 to 50 high-strung students.

"Man, this is the coolest place on earth," said one youth, while taking a
break from free play Tuesday to get a drink of water.

Throughout the three-day session, various sheriff's units swooped in for
appearances, including the sheriff's Helicopter Unit, paramedics, canine
units and Search and Rescue.

D.A.R.E., an acronym for Drug Abuse Resistance Education, is set up to show
the dangers of tobacco, alcohol, marijuana and inhalants.

Camp coordinator Brenda Blanton said there's a need to teach these lessons
in Bakersfield.

"There's a drug problem here," she said.

Blanton said education is the key to helping young people avoid drugs and
alcohol. Drugs not only affect the user, but the user's family and home.

"This is one way to fight — through education," she said.

During some of the lessons, officers discussed the importance of
self-esteem, decisions and choices, violence, gangs, and aggressive behavior.

Blanton said the youth are very responsive to the lessons because they're
treated as young adults instead of children.

"This is a mature lesson," she said.

The students also had to be responsible for getting up early in the morning
to catch the sheriff's transportation bus at 7 a.m. at the Kern County Museum.

"The only thing that sucks is you have to wake up at 5 or 5:30 in the
morning to come out here," said Michael Alexander, 11.

But Alexander said it was well worth it when he saw the chopper drop in.

"It was cool," he said.

Most of the children even said the entree of hamburgers, chips and drinks
was good.

"I hate to say it, but it's kind of better than my mom's," said Andrew
Crimmings, 11.

In between play, a serious message was put forth.

"Hopefully when they get older they will be able to distinguish right from
wrong and be productive in society," said deputy Gilbert Valdez.

At the end of the day, students were still smiling knowing they would come
back for another day.

"I'll be back," said Brittnay Wood, 10.

Andrew said he was going home to take a nap.

Two additional D.A.R.E. camp sessions are set for this summer. Slots are
still open.

The sessions cost $25 for three days including lunch, water, soda and
snacks. The next sessions are scheduled for June 27-29 at Camp Okihi in
Bakersfield and July 25-27 at Brite Lake in Tehachapi. For more
information, call Brenda Blanton at 391-7645.