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D.A.R.E to make a come back
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D.A.R.E to make a come back
Story and photo by Yvonne Johnson
APG News
Reprinted with permission of APG News
A popular program to deter youth from illegal drugs during
the 1980s and 90s, the D.A.R.E. program is about to make a
comeback in a big way on Aberdeen Proving Ground.
Community Policing Officer Mike "Big Mike" Farlow said that
the state of Maryland has revised the program and that APG
will be among the first communities to "get on board."
"It's definitely coming back," Farlow said. "They tried
other programs since then and none of them worked.
"The new D.A.R.E is more interactive. Drug prevention
remains the focus but it's also about good decision
making," he added.
We plan to implement it on post with our children, first at
Aberdeen in the spring and hopefully expand it to Edgewood
during the summer."
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Fourth and fifth graders in the Aberdeen Youth Center Before
and After School program listen as APG Community Police
Officer Mike "Big Mike" Farlow and his bulldog "Chopper The
Crime Stopper," tells them about the D.A.R.E. program that
will be revitalized at Aberdeen Proving Ground this spring.
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Farlow visited the Aberdeen Youth Center and Child
Development Center to introduce the program to fourth and
fifth graders and pre-schoolers who may be interested in
signing up.
He brought along his D.A.R.E. mascot and family pet,
"Chopper the crime stopper," a friendly bulldog dressed in
a black vest with the D.A.R.E. logo on it. The children
were charmed by Chopper and seemed interested in what
Farlow had to say.
"We just came to introduce the program and give them
something to look forward to," Farlow said. "Most of them
seemed very interested."
The D.A.R.E. program begins in January at the APG CDC and
in March at the APG Youth Center.
"Fourth, fifth and sixth graders who sign up will take the
class Thursday mornings from about 7:15 to 8:15," said
Katie Knoth, child and youth program assistant.
"The course is 10 weeks with the tenth week being
graduation," Farlow added.
"We plan to invite local officials and even the governor
because everyone realizes the importance of the D.A.R.E.
program," he said. "It's a big deal and it's coming back."
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Maryland D.A.R.E.
