Paulding County 2014 D.A.R.E. Camp Graduates 47 Students

Paulding County Sheriff’s Office press release

Drug Abuse Resistance Education (D.A.R.E.) Deputies from the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office took 47 Paulding County fifth grade D.A.R.E. students to D.A.R.E. Camp the week of June 9-13, 2014.

This year, D.A.R.E. Camp was held at the Georgia Sheriffs’ Association Camp Pineland in LaGrange, Georgia. D.A.R.E. campers spent the week sleeping in cabins at night and during the day enjoyed multiple activities, including canoeing, swimming, fishing, arts and crafts, nature walks, field day events, indoor gym games, and a talent show.

Campers also had a shaved ice truck come out one evening, which was a big hit amongst the kids.

But it wasn’t all fun and games, each day the D.A.R.E. staff taught leadership lessons twice a day to the campers.

The lessons included cyber safety, the effects of drug and alcohol impairment (even on the simplest of tasks), the dangers of over the counter (OTC) and prescription drugs, how to improve your self esteem, dealing with peer pressure, how to be a young lady/young gentleman, the effects of meth on the brain, and Georgia law and the middle school student.

Partial funding for the D.A.R.E. Camp was provided by the Drug Education Fund of the Paulding County Superior Court. These are funds that have been paid as restitution by a drug offender who gets convicted in the Paulding County Superior Court.

Sheriff Gary Gulledge noted, “It is gratifying to see young people learn about the dangers of drugs and alcohol prior to entering middle school because this is such a critical time in a young person’s life.”

Sheriff Gulledge further explained, “…the partnership with D.A.R.E., the Paulding County Sheriff’s Office, and the Paulding County School District helps educate and make our young people aware of the dangers that they may face in today’s world.”

The following individuals attended the 2014 D.A.R.E. Camp:

Emmanuel Alerte Jr, Jack Bowman, Christopher Burch , Donovan Flemister, Michael Franklin, Jeremiah Franklyn, Ethan Freeman, Jeremy Hannon, Kolby Hay, Noah Hicks, Connor Hobbs, Walker Hoffman, Alex LaFave, Zachary Meyer, Austin Moyer, Antonio Patton, Marco Plascencia, Chandler Prater, Gabe Richman, Blake Voyles, El-Adonis Williams, Christopher Young, Lani Black, Dakota Blackmon, Mackenzie Brown, Mackenzie Chamblin, Sierra Campbell, Kendal Cantrell, Victoria Coldren, Bailey Cook, Mary De La Torre, Gracie Groom, Olivia Haynes, Allie Henry, Samantha (Sam) Johnson, Reagan Kirk, Bayley Knight, Alexis McDonald, Gillian Myers, Skylar O’Laughlin, Natalie Parker, Nikki Pettway, Brooklyn Thompson-Marinelli, Rukiyat Thompson, Ireland Tushim, Emmalee Watkins, Not pictured: Michael Messersmith