Health Happenings is a biweekly column published in Alamogordo Daily News as a way to provide the latest in health and wellness information, services and events. Articles for this column are submitted by Health Council partners, but do not necessarily reflect the views or policies of the Otero County Community Health Council.
The Lincoln County Community Health Council is pleased to announce the Maze of Life. This activity will be presented for the first time in April to all Lincoln County and Mescalero eighth graders. Otero County Health Council is working closely with this project with plans to present it in Alamogordo next school year. The experiential maze is an interactive life-size game designed to help teens better understand the consequences of decisions they are presently making and others they will face in the future. The game will be set up in a maze format, and participants will make their way thru the maze based on decisions and games of chance at different booths. The interactive game provides information to students on a variety of topics which could include: education, finances, legal matters, tobacco, alcohol, parenting, gambling, and career choices. Lincoln County and Mescalero schools will schedule a time to go through the maze. There will also be times set aside for parents and community members to participate in the activity.
The objectives of this exercise include providing teens with accurate information about teen issues in a positive forum, encouraging discussion between teens and parents on current teen issues, and reinforcing the life skills needed to handle potential life situations. The booths will all be based around realistic scenarios that could arise in each student’s life. No judgment is made on the life paths presented in the maze as the goal is to help students see the possible choices, consequences, and resources available in our community associated with some of the milestones they possibly will face.
Parents and community members from both Lincoln and Otero counties are invited to preview the Maze of Life on Tuesday, April 20 from 5 – 7pm at the Horton Complex (previously Ruidoso Middle School). Attendees will experience the Maze in the same manner the students will on Wednesday or Thursday. This will acquaint parents with the topics and hopefully, allow for open discussion after the students complete the activity too. This is a community event and if you would like to volunteer or have questions, contact Nancy LaPointe (575 973-1829) coordinator of the Lincoln County Community Health Council.