Interim at Colorado Academy provides opportunities to get out of the classroom to learn by doing, through exposure to new ideas, experiences, and environments. Interim trips span the gamut from artistic pursuits and community engagement to wilderness expeditions. Immersion in a unifying trip concept broadens students’ skills, knowledge, and awareness.
Adventure Challenge
Students participated in a five-day program learning the skills needed to complete a multi-faceted orienteering adventure on the final day, including rappelling, belaying, and climbing in both the single-pitch and multi-pitch environments. View photos.
Art in the Wild
Participants were immersed in an outdoor art adventure. Camping in the Utah desert, students used the landscape as their art studio, exploring both ceramics and photography. View photos.
Backpacking: Bandelier National Monument
Students explored 33,000 acres of designated wilderness in Bandelier National Monument, a stunning landscape of mesas, canyons, and Ancestral Puebloan dwellings. View photos.
Bahamas Island School
Doing field and ocean research at one of the top facilities in the Caribbean, students were able to build on science coursework in environmental chemistry and climate change, as they explored topics such as ocean acidification and renewable energy. View photos.
Burn the Stage
Dancers learned bachata, Latin jazz, and salsa at the Colorado New Style Latin dance school. View photos.
A Chip Off the Block
Students traveled to Marble, Colorado, and under the instruction of a local sculptor (who has been described as “an eccentric mountain gnome”), learn the art of marble sculpture, along with the history of the valley and geology. View photos.
Colombia
Students explored the historic center of Medellin and completed homestays and service projects in the remote and picturesque village of Jardin de Antioquia. View photos.
Denver’s Changing Landscape
Participants traveled around the Denver area to examine Colorado history, artists, and food while also seeing areas affected by redlining and gentrification and what that means to the people who live there. View photos.
Duckie the Upper Colorado
Students spent a week camping on the Colorado River between Kremmling and Gypsum. They traveled with guides from Colorado River School in two-person inflatable duckies down 76 miles of the Upper Colorado River. View photos.
Earth and Fire
Students participated in a weeklong workshop with Robert Schroeder, an accomplished potter and kiln builder from Denver. View photos.
Exploring the Canyonlands
Participants traveled to the wilderness of the San Rafael Swell in southeastern Utah, scrambling and climbing over difficult terrain, as well as rappelling off of cliff faces. Photos coming soon.
Fly Fishing the Front Range
Visiting the South Platte River in majestic Elevenmile Canyon, students practiced casting and tying on flies while learning about river etiquette and the nuances of river current. They also fished the “Dream Stream,” one of the most famous stretches of gold medal water in the American West. View photos.
Foodie Heaven
Participants got to indulge in a delicious culinary experience and develop lifelong skills, while experiencing the joy of cooking and eating a wide variety of impressive, wholesome meals. View photos.
Go Climb a Tree
Students learned the art and science of tree climbing on this exhilarating and technical interim. View photos.
Learning to Fly
Participants in this circus Interim learned silks, Lyra, sling, trapeze, and aerial choreography, and spent time tumbling, doing yoga, and having a blast. Photos coming soon.
Make a Difference
For five days, students partnered with a variety of organizations in Denver: Casa De Paz, which reunites immigrant families that have been separated; the GrowHaus, which cultivates community-driven food justice through food access, youth education, and community outreach; and the Denver Rescue Mission, which helps restore the lives of people experiencing homelessness through community outreach, emergency services, and rehabilitation. View photos.
Peeps Can Climb: Climbing at Shelf Road
Climbers experienced Shelf Road, established as one of the very first sport climbing spots in the U.S. in the 1980s. Shelf Road is famous for its vertical limestone walls. View photos.
Raft the Colorado
Adventurers experienced a week of adventure on the border of Colorado and Utah on the river in the Ruby and Horsethief Canyon sections, with stunning sandstone canyon walls, sandy beaches, and opportunities for short day hikes. Photos coming soon.
REDI Lab
Ski Crafter’s Workshop
Students learned the entire ski-making process at Community Skis, including material prep, building the skis, and the finishing process. View photos.
Scientist’s Paradise: Denver Audubon Birds & Conservation
Participants traveled to Audubon Nature Center at Chatfield State Park, where they learned about bird banding, tracked bird migrations in Colorado, learned about watersheds, and explored the Greenwood Wildlife Rehab Center to learn just how critical birds are to our world. View photos.
Sugar Rush
Students spent each morning with a pastry chef at Uncorked Kitchen learning the skills needed to bake incredible treats including cookies, pies, cream puffs, custard, and bread. After lunch each day, they enjoyed tours of local bakeries including Rebel Bread, Rosenberg’s Bagels, and Dry Storage of Boulder. View photos.
Theatrepalooza
In one week, students got to experience many components of the theater, including writing their own play, designing a set, choreographing a dance or fight scene, and collaborating with other creative people. View photos.
Throwing Rocks at Houses: Curling
Participants learned about the growing sport of curling by developing skills and teamwork in ice. View photos.
Trails and Tales
Students explored the local trails of Denver and took some time to give back and improve the trail system. View photos.
Turf and Surf
Participants enjoyed five days of different physical activities and challenges on land and on water, in and around the Denver area, including orienteering, trail running, zip-lining, adventure tower climbing, ascending the Manitou Incline, whitewater rafting, open-water swimming, and stand-up paddle boarding. View photos.
Ukulele Building
Students learned how to build and play the ukulele by constructing their own instrument under the supervision of an expert luthier. View photos.
Week of Wellness
Participants challenged their mind and body with intense activity, including hiking and ninja courses, and used yoga and meditation to reach a state of calm. View photos.
What is Art?
Participants explored a variety of local art experiences, making trips to destinations such as the Denver Art Museum, Museo de las Americas, Meow Wolf, Skyspace, the Santa Fe Arts District, and street art of the RiNo neighborhood. View photos.
When in Doubt, Pedal it Out
Students spent three to four days on bikes near Fruita, Colorado, riding between red rock canyons, soaring desert mountains, and fun free-flowing mountain trails. View photos.
Wonderful World of Glassblowing
Students worked one-on-one with professional glass blowers to learn to heat and shape molten glass and to understand the intricacies that are involved in safely creating beautiful works of art. View photos.
Woodworking and Modern Design
During this hands-on and creative experience, participants designed and built their own cutting board, learning how to use a variety of tools and techniques and taking a trip to the lumber yard to select wood for their projects. View photos.
Yoga Retreat
Students spent a week exploring the ultimate in self-care: yoga and meditation. The Interim began with two days on campus, and concluded with a rustic mountain retreat for three days and nights. View photos.
