Last Wednesday, February 19, 2014, the Bottlecappers of Middletown North went on their final trip of the year to the elementary schools throughout the Middletown School District. The students spoke to classrooms about the dangers of drugs and alcohol and taught hundreds of kid’s new and important things regarding pure pressure, illegal drugs, and smoking.

The 72 North Bottlecappers went to five schools in total, including Fairview, Bayview, New Monmouth, Port Monmouth, and Ocean Ave. Before departing, the students gathered in the auditorium around 8:15 A.M. and were given a quick review as to what they were supposed to talk about with the children by Mr. George Obermeier, one of the founders of the program. Following this, they quickly loaded the buses and were on their way to affect some young lives.

The students arrived at the elementary schools between 9 A.M. and 9:15 A.M. quickly and efficiently, they made their way to their designated classrooms and begun their lessons.

The third graders were tasked with asking somebody who smoked why they did so. Many completed this assignment and were eager to share their answers with their classmates and the high schools students standing in the front of the room. Following this, the students worked on a work sheet regarding smoking and went over the answers with the Bottlecappers.

Following this, the fourth grade lesson regarded a broader spectrum as to what drugs were and how they affected the body. The Bottlecappers answered questions students had previously written on flashcards in the lesson prior.

When everyone was finished, the high school students jumped back onto the bus and went back to Middletown North around 11 A.M.

Mrs. Krol, the assistant director for the Bottlecappers program at North, had this to say regarding the program this year, “I always think that the program goes well, especially this year. Overall we got plenty of compliments and heard a lot of nice things from the elementary schools staff and students”.

The Bottlecapper program will begin their training secessions later this year to prepare for the upcoming 2014-2015 school year.