[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 103 (Thursday, September 7, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1426-E1427]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 HONORING THE ``YES WEEK'' SUMMER CAMP FOR DETERRING YOUNG PEOPLE FROM 
                          DRUG AND ALCOHOL USE

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. GEORGE W. GEKAS

                            of pennsylvania

                    in the house of representatives

                      Thursday, September 7, 2000

  Mr. GEKAS. Mr. Speaker, today I honor and draw attention to the YES 
Week Summer Camp which was sponsored by High on Kids. High on Kids is a 
wonderful program started by the Lower Dauphin School District's 
community advisory committee on drug and alcohol abuse prevention.
  YES Week was held at Camp Sertoma in Linglestown and Memorial Lake in 
Lebanon. Almost forty children took part in this exciting program. The 
YES Week camp teaches young

[[Page E1427]]

people that life is worth living through adventurous activities without 
drugs and alcohol.
  The fine students who attended this camp climbed and rappelled walls, 
negotiated high-wires and canoed down the mighty Susquehanna River. 
They learned through team-building exercises that much can be 
accomplished if they work together. Our young people need to learn that 
life is full of amazing and exhilarating adventures. When they learn 
that there is so much to live for, drugs and alcohol lose their power.
  On Thursday, August 10, I had the pleasure of seeing this camp first 
hand and meeting with the young people who made a choice. They made a 
life-saving choice not to do drugs and to join with fellow students in 
something much greater. These young folks should be very proud of 
themselves for their determination to succeed and not to give into the 
temptations that lead to poisoned bodies and ruined lives.
  America needs more programs like this. Programs where adults 
demonstrate leadership by doing. This is a vivid example of how 
children can learn life-lessons by adults guiding them and shaping 
their lives. Many volunteers made this camp possible. Our thanks go out 
to them for their service to the community.
  I would like to recognize these young people for their determination 
to achieve success and to refuse drugs and alcohol. They are Juan 
Alejando, Jose Aleman, Thomas Barger, Jeremiah Bechtel, Kaleo Billet, 
Tyler Boehmer, Kaitlyn Brown, Eric Buck, Maggie Boyd, Lindsay Cale, 
Sara Cale, Brian Davis, Michael Day, Joseph Decembrino, Amanda 
Ebersole, Amanda Fahnestock, Laura Fahnestock, Dierra Fahnestock, Abby 
Fosnot, Jenna Gerhardt, Jamie Hall, Alex Hannold, Samuel Hansen, 
Matthew Hoerner, Lawrence Jack, Dominique Krow, Andrew Mattei, Matthew 
Mattei, Adam McClucas, Daniel Mullarkey, Ashley Oswald, Brian Pagano, 
Kelsey Roth, Adam Thomas, Joshua Thomas, Meredith Thomas, Nicholas 
Vickroy, Richie Vickroy, Jennifer Winters, and Bobbie Wreski.
  I am very proud of you all. I know the entire House of 
Representatives joins me in congratulating this outstanding group of 
young people from Harrisburg for saying no to drugs and YES to life.

                          ____________________