Coming up next month, 1,600 10th-graders from five area school systems — Catoosa, Walker, Dade, Chattooga and Chickamauga — will gather at the Colonnade in Ringgold for the 11th annual Teen Maze.  It’s all part of a project coordinated by are Family Connection organizations, including Chattooga Family Connection and director Maisha Ludy.

The young people will hear a sobering talk by Chris Sandy who, at the age of 22, cost two people their lives while driving drunk one night. Sandy received a sentence of 30 years — 8½ in prison, five on parole and 17 on probation. In addition to taking the lives of two people, Sandy lost all four of his grandparents and his father while he sat in prison. Since his release, he’s been speaking to young people about his experience and urging them to make good choices in life.

“Stations” will be set up at Teen Maze inside the Colonnade and outside in the parking lot. The stations address issues like teen pregnancy, sexually-transmitted diseases, teen dating violence, suicide, bullying, peer pressure and internet safety. Each station will be run by adults who work in related fields, from police, fire fighters, EMTs, doctors and nurses to social workers, judges, coroners and funeral home directors.

Outside, students will see a car wreck setup — with real crashed cars, firetrucks and police cruisers on the scene, lights flashing, sirens, faux blood, screaming and crying, and some realistic-looking injuries. Also outside will be a driving course that students will navigate in a peddle cart while wearing goggles that help simulate drunk driving so they can experience the lack of control a person under the influence of alcohol or drugs has.

Students will learn about pregnancy, caring for a baby and living with a sexually-transmitted disease. Where possible, subjects are interactive, like changing diapers on a doll that cries. Social workers will be on hand to discuss issues like adoption and foster care. Nurses will explain birth control and pregnancy and present the benefits of abstinence.

All of this is planned and executed by the directors of four county Family Connections offices and about 100 volunteers.