When did "beach week" start?

[Anonymous]

I moved here from another part of the country, where there isn't any post-high school graduation tradition like beach week. Students just graduated, there was an after-party, and that was it. Most of my friends started summer jobs right away, before heading off to college. My mom is from this area, and it wasn't a thing when she was in HS. When did "beach week" become a thing?

[Anonymous]

I am 50 and grew up here, and beach week was definitely a thing when I was in high school

[Anonymous]

I am from here and went to beach week in 1994. 10 girls in a 3 bedroom dump in Myrtle Beach.

[Anonymous]

We did it in the late ‘70’s.

[Anonymous]

I graduated in the 90's and it was a big thing. I don't think it was new, but have no idea when it started.

It is people not from this area that seem to be so against it. Those of us who went, realize what a special and fun experience it is and want our children to carry with them some of the same amazing memories.

My daughter went last year and had the best time. Was there drinking, yes. Were they blindly drunk, NO! Were people hooking up, yes. Were they having multiple partners a day and orgies, NO! Did she or her friends spend a fantastic week together, yes. There was none of the out-of-control craziness that is sometimes described. Nobody got arrested, pregnant, or any other lifelong problem. Nobody even had cars. Parents were close by and checked in at least 1x daily.

It's really not as big a deal as parents think it is. They are 18. Far from the babies some of the parents still think they are.

[Anonymous]

https://www.vox.com/policy-and-politics/2018/9/26/17906426/beach-week-brett-kavanaugh-calendar

[Anonymous]

I graduated from MCPS in 80s and there was beach week.

[Anonymous]

92 HS grad from MCPS and we had a blast at beach week in Ocean City

[Anonymous]

2002 hs grad and it was a Senior event. I didn’t go, not interested in pushing a variety of limits. None of my friends went so I wasn’t even invited, had no opportunity. Parents + more popular groups were the ones setting this up.

Then it continued for some of these same friends for college spring break. I moved to the Rocky Mountains so this wasn’t part of my life.

As other posters said, it’s older than this.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I am 50 and grew up here, and beach week was definitely a thing when I was in high school

I'm in my late 60's and Beach Week was a thing when I graduated. Grew up in DC metro area.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I graduated in the 90's and it was a big thing. I don't think it was new, but have no idea when it started.

It is people not from this area that seem to be so against it. Those of us who went, realize what a special and fun experience it is and want our children to carry with them some of the same amazing memories.

My daughter went last year and had the best time. Was there drinking, yes. Were they blindly drunk, NO! Were people hooking up, yes. Were they having multiple partners a day and orgies, NO! Did she or her friends spend a fantastic week together, yes. There was none of the out-of-control craziness that is sometimes described. Nobody got arrested, pregnant, or any other lifelong problem. Nobody even had cars. Parents were close by and checked in at least 1x daily.

It's really not as big a deal as parents think it is. They are 18. Far from the babies some of the parents still think they are.

How do you know how drunk anyone was or how many hook ups they had? A full debrief and sobriety checkpoint during the 1x a day checkin?

I think it’s insane to gaslight people that all these kids are having a beer or two and maybe kissing their boyfriend. I’m not crazy opposed to beach week. But please.

[Anonymous]

My mom graduated in the early 60s around here. Beach week wasn't a thing at that time. So I guess it started sometime in the 1970s?

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:My mom graduated in the early 60s around here. Beach week wasn't a thing at that time. So I guess it started sometime in the 1970s?

OP here - my mom graduated around that time as well. I figured it might have started in the 1970s.

[Anonymous]

Graduated in 1994 and beach week was a thing.

[Anonymous]

I’m another poster not from here and yes, completely opposed. My oldest won’t be going. We’ve told my younger one and will continue to tell her she won’t either. I’m usually one of the more relaxed parents. This is a hard no.