Twenty kids will learn about the dangers of drugs and alcohol this week courtesy of a joint effort between Wareham Police and the Wareham-New Bedford Lodge of Elks #73.

On Monday morning, Elks members watched as Wareham fifth and sixth grade students boarded a bus for the first day of the Plymouth County Drug & Alcohol Resistance (DARE) Education Summer Program.

Their participation in the program, which is a weeklong day camp, was funded with a $925 donation from the Elks.

Officer Karl Baptiste, the district’s School Resource Officer, selected students who were invited to participate. Baptiste is also the department’s DARE director.

The camp is held at Whitman-Hanson Regional High School in Hanson.

The office of Plymouth County District Attorney Timothy J. Cruz sponsors the program, which teaches leadership, team-building skills and encourages kids to avoid peer pressure when it comes to drugs and alcohol.

On hand for the send-off from the Elks were Donna Allen, Terri Scott and Ted Hatch.