Durango high schoolers attended one of the most anticipated events of the season last weekend: prom.
Although the event is chaperoned, what happens after the dance ends at 11 p.m. is harder to regulate – including where students go and what they do.
The solution: after prom, a safer alternative to other post-dance celebrations.
More than 300 students spent the latter part of their evening Saturday and then early Sunday at the Durango Community Recreation Center playing games, winning prizes and spending time with classmates, said Tamra Fenberg, co-lead organizer and Durango School District parent.
This year’s after prom went from about 11 p.m. to 2 a.m., and marked the 23rd year the community-led event has been put on.
Fenberg, who has gone through prom season with teenagers of her own, said having a safe and connective space for the district’s students – including her own children – has been comforting.
“(It) 100% (helps), just knowing that it’s a positive event – that they’re going to be in a safe environment where good things are happening,” she said.
According to the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, about one-third of teen traffic fatalities involve drinking. The fatalities tend to spike during peak prom season, the NHTSA reports. AAA reports 80% of teenagers think their peers are likely to drink and drive, and 21% report having ridden in a car with an impaired driver.
Though the event is intended to create a safe environment for students to cut loose after prom is over, it isn’t just about safety, Fenberg said; it’s also about providing a fun social space for those who need one.
“Originally, the goal was to keep kids off the streets – have somewhere safe where they’re not drinking and driving – and it’s definitely evolved over time,” she said. “It’s not just avoiding the bad; it’s also promoting connection and promoting coming together.”
This year’s after prom touted a range of activities, including a casino, bingo, ping pong, temporary tattoos, a magician, a blow-up obstacle course, video games and prize drawings, Fenberg said.
“The big push is to get them to stay through the whole night,” she said.
This year, students walked away with high-end prizes like a TV, Xbox, salon gift cards, cash, and tickets for river rafting trips and rides on the Durango & Silverton Narrow Gauge train.
The community’s support is integral in making the event happen each year, Fenberg said.
More than 100 people volunteered to help put on this year’s event, and the rec center donated the venue, as it has since the event’s inception.
“The community really financially steps up,” she said. “They donate thousands of dollars to make this possible for the kids.”
Fenberg and the rest of the Durango After Prom Association want to hear from parents and students about what’s working – and what isn’t – to make sure the event continues to serve its purpose, she said.
“Ultimately, the goal is belonging,” she said. “I think that’s crucial for this generation – knowing that they have somewhere to belong is important.”
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