Steamboat Pilot & Today

Steamboat Springs — After their prom ends Saturday night at The Steamboat Grand, local high school students will have a safe but boisterous place to revel into the early hours of Sunday morning.

From midnight to 5:30 a.m. Sunday, Steamboat Springs High School is expected to host about 400 students who will eat, socialize and play games for free.

“It keeps the kids safe, and they have so much fun,” said Shannon Lukens, co-chairwoman of Steamboat’s After Prom event. “Some schools try to scare the heck out of the kids to try and keep them safe, but we don’t need to do that because they will have a safe place to go.”

Parents like Lukens have been working since the fall to plan the event. She said this year’s party will be funded by about $15,000 in donations from community members.

“It’s a huge community effort,” she said. “So many businesses and parents donate, and they help because this is how we keep kids safe on prom night.”

On Wednesday afternoon, a group of moms worked at the high school to make decorations that will transform the commons area of the campus into a room centered with a theme that won’t be revealed to students until they arrive. Last year, the theme was “Avatar.”

Suzy Lord, chairwoman of the After Prom decoration committee, said Wednesday that she has clocked about 150 hours preparing for Saturday’s event. She said her volunteer efforts will be well worth the 5 1/2 hours of fun offered to the students.

“I really do this because I love the kids at the school, and I want to make (this event) special and safe,” she said. “I think it really helps prevent kids doing something that might hurt them or they might regret.”

After Prom will feature, among other things, a hypnotist, 11 poker tables, photo booths, a dodgeball tournament, inflatables and a “chill lounge” with a dance cage, fog machines, lasers and an ice sculpture. Lukens said planners still could use volunteers to help set up at the high school starting at 4 p.m. Friday. The event is free and open to juniors and seniors — and their dates — at the high school, The Lowell Whiteman School and Heritage Christian School.

To reach Scott Franz, call 970-871-4210 or email scottfranz@SteamboatToday.com