Teen Maze

What is a Teen Maze?

Envision a life-size game board and you'll get a good idea. A Teen Maze is designed to "bring to life" the potential effects of life's choices. Teens navigate their way through the Maze by drawing scenario cards or spinning a wheel that indicates a "choice" for them. After receiving this choice, the teens follow the Maze path to discover some of the realities that choice may bring. The Maze paths are staffed by various individuals who have a certain "role" to play and present the appropriate information for that path. The Maze is creative, interactive and delivers powerful information to teens about the consequences of their choices. No judgment is made on any of the paths, just the possible consequences of what their choices may bring. Here's what some of the teens said about last year's Teen Maze:

When is it?

April 22-24, 2009 - Prescott Activity Center

What is the admission charge?

Great news! There is no charge to attend the Teen Maze or dance.

Who should come?

The Teen Maze will target youth ages 13-18.

Will it be fun?

What about entertainment? Although the Maze covers a variety of important and serious subjects and scenarios, participants will have fun, too.

What topics will be covered at the Maze?

The Teen Maze has been designed to cover three primary areas: Career and Vocational Opportunities, Substance Abuse, Teen Pregnancy and related issues including sexually transmitted diseases and HIV/AIDS. 

Aren't some of these sensitive issues to present to teens?

Yes, they are. That's why there is an opportunity for parents to judge for themselves by coming to the Parent Preview the night before the Maze is presented. Parents are the best source of information for their children. However, the reality is today's teens are growing up in a world that is very different from that of their parents. Over one million teenage girls will become pregnant this year. Every day in Arizona, 39 teen girls become pregnant. Over three million teens are infected each year with sexually transmitted diseases (STDs), not including HIV. In fact, every 3 seconds an American teenager gets an STD.

Alcohol and drug abuse violations are the top two reasons young people enter the juvenile court system. Methamphetamine and heroin are the fastest growing drugs for teenage use. About 1.3 million teens between the ages of 12 and 17 smoked marijuana last year. Eight young people (ages 16-21) die in alcohol related crashes each day.

Our youth need to know the facts…and the consequences of their choices. While they have control over the choices they make, they do not always have control over the consequences. The goal of the Teen Maze is to provide the opportunity for teens to experience the consequences of appropriate and inappropriate life choices with the ultimate goal of creating healthy decision-makers. Good decisions are based on good information.

Can parents participate in the actual Teen Maze?

We encourage parents to view the Teen Maze as a learning tool that will assist them in dealing with their teen's questions about choices they face.

What happens after the youth go through the Teen Maze? After the youth travel through the Maze, exit counselors will be available to answer any additional questions they might have and to listen in case they just want to talk about their experience. All youth who complete the Maze will be admitted to the dance and treated to free refreshments. Area businesses have also donated prizes the teens can win.

What about security?

Security will be provided. Volunteers will be identified with badges denoting SECURITY. They will guarantee that all dance attendees have completed the Maze before entering the dance. Students will receive a wristband upon entering the Maze and will not be admitted to the dance without first going through the Maze. Once students leave the Maze and/or dance, they will not be readmitted. Alcohol and drugs are strictly prohibited.

Who is sponsoring the Teen Maze?