Interim provides opportunities to get out of the classroom to learn by doing, and each trip is dedicated to building new connections through a wide range of experiences. Interim trips span the gamut from artistic pursuits to community engagement and wilderness expeditions. Immersion in a unifying trip concept broadens students’ skills, knowledge, and awareness, and creates community outside of students’ typical social circles.
Interim Goals:
- To practice physical and emotional resilience
- To cultivate student agency through trip planning and leadership
- To practice community values and service to others
- To learn via exploration and personal initiative
- To collaborate and problem-solve
Practical Details For Parents:
All Upper School Interims will take place during the week of May 20, 2024. Most Interims run Monday through Friday, but there are several away trips that begin on Wednesday and end on Sunday, and one trip that leaves on May 19. Please note the date of each trip when selecting your preferences. Parent/guardian involvement in the Interim selection process is essential and requires approval.
REGISTRATION AND TRIP ASSIGNMENT
After reviewing trip descriptions, students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 will register during advisory on March 18. Each student should put their choices in order from 1 to 27, and students will sign the bottom of the form to acknowledge that they have discussed the Interim options with their parents at home. The registration form is due March 20. Trip assignments will be announced following Spring Break and are determined by factors including the student’s ranking of each trip, a balance of genders, sports conflicts, and age. Parent waiver is due by April 9.
Seniors sign up for Interim in person on Monday, March 11, after school (2:50 p.m.) in Sadler. Seniors will be placed in one of three groups, based on how last year’s Interim trip matched with their preferences (students who didn’t receive a highly-ranked choice in the previous year will be in the first group).
At this time, we do not need any of the trip-specific waivers signed. We will collect those after Interim placements have been completed.
INTERIM WAIVER
Parents/guardians need to complete this waiver before the first Interim meeting on April 9. Students will acknowledge on their registration that they have reviewed the Interim options with their parents/guardians.
IMPORTANT SPORTS NOTE
Due to scheduling conflicts with CHSAA’s postseason calendar, we have added three trips that will run on a Wednesday-Sunday schedule to allow students to participate in an away Interim or high-intensity outdoor Interim if they desire. Those Interims are:
- Duckie the Upper Colorado
- Exploring the Canyonlands
- Yoga Retreat: The Ultimate Self-Care
Boys Lacrosse potentially has a championship game on May 20, Girls Soccer may have a game on May 21, and Girls Golf may need to play on May 20-21. Baseball players should sign up for any Interim trip as they will either be playing in championship games all week or be free for the whole week. Any athlete can sign up for a local Interim and participate on the days they’re not playing.
We acknowledge that students may have conflicting commitments such as club sports, athletic competitions, or family events when considering participation in school trips. However, due to logistical and organizational considerations, we are unable to accommodate individual students’ special arrangements or personalized travel plans that deviate from the group itinerary. Therefore, students are not permitted to create individualized itineraries that would result in a late arrival or early departure from the trip. Therefore, we ask students and families to pick trips wisely and with an eye to full participation.
Additional Information:
- Interim attendance is mandatory; please do not schedule appointments during Interim week.
- Interim registration is final, and changes are only made for medical emergencies.
- Parents should review all Interim materials and discuss options with their students.
- Students should consider their general health and the physical requirements of the Interim (e.g., the ability to swim) when making a selection.
- The cost of Interim is included with tuition; some gear rentals may not be included
- Students cannot repeat a past Interim.
- Siblings are not permitted on the same Interim.
In order to participate in overnight trips, where the daily structure, student resources, and supervision are more limited than the on-campus school day, any student who meets the following criteria will need to have their travel plans supported by their care team and the school:
- receiving short-term accommodations for mental health support
- has been recently hospitalized
- is engaged in school-required therapeutic support
- is otherwise engaged in a modified program
Similarly, there are times that a student’s previous behavioral choices or the school’s concerns about how they might comport themselves on an overnight trip might preclude them from participating in an overnight experience. In both cases, the school will decide whether a student may participate in overnight programs.
Thank you for reviewing all these materials and discussing possible options with your child. If you have any questions that I can be helpful with, please do not hesitate to email me at abby.page@coloradoacademy.org.
2024 Upper School Interim Trips:
Adventure Loops
- Trip Leaders: Group One: Lisa Boes & Suzie Jekel; Group Two: Taja McKinney & Hilary Burke; Group Three: Allison Gordon & Ian Marzonie
- Trip Type: Hybrid (1-night overnight)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24 (overnight: May 22-23)
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendors: Various
Enjoy everything Denver has to offer with this buffet-style Interim! With three groups of outdoor-themed day trips, each group will have its own itinerary from rafting to high ropes to orienteering to hiking. All three groups will converge on Wednesday morning through Thursday morning for hiking, survival skills, and camping in Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Choose this Interim and truly try it all!
AquaQuest: SCUBA Certification Week
- Trip Leaders: Melissa Zaremba & Sara Purviance
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendors: One World Dive and Travel
Dive into an incredible underwater adventure with our week-long SCUBA certification course! Get ready to explore underwater and learn the ins and outs of SCUBA diving. Experienced instructors at One World Dive and Travel will guide you through the basics, from safety procedures to mastering the art of underwater navigation. Each day brings exciting new challenges and discoveries, and by the end of the week, you’ll emerge with one additional classroom time to be a certified SCUBA level 1 diver! Join us for a week of fun, learning, and unforgettable underwater experiences that will open up a whole new world beneath the waves.
***Students will need to complete open-water dives in order to finish the last piece of their certification. One World offers dives throughout the summer.
Art in the WILD
- Trip Leaders: Stashia Taylor, Karen Donald, & Octavia Betz
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Dinosaur National Monument, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendor: None
Immerse yourself on an outdoor art adventure. We will camp in Dinosaur National Monument to explore both painting and night photography. During the day, we will hike into nature with our easels on our backs and find inspiration in rivers, mountains, and fossils. In the open air, you can play with paints to capture the colors and textures of the Uinta Mountains. In the center of an International Dark Sky Park we will capture some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world, working with our DSLR cameras. Experiment with LED light wands and dramatic costumes while recording the breathtaking landscape. This trip will challenge our bodies and our minds, working together to make a creative experience in the outdoors. Back to Top
Bears Ears Base Camp
- Trip Leaders: Abby Page & Pat Moore
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Bears Ears National Monument, UT
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendors: Kent Mountain Adventure Center
“To walk in nature is to witness a thousand miracles.” – Marie Davis
Established by President Obama in 2016, Bears Ears National Monument is a stunning landscape of cliffs, red rocks, and blue skies. Come spend five days in the backcountry and experience the life-changing power of being immersed in nature. This is a base-camping Interim, so we will be at a single campsite accessible by car and will do day hikes from camp; no backpacking required, only a love of wild, beautiful places! Back to Top
Chip Off the Ol’ Block
- Trip Leaders: Cathy Nabbefeld & David Jones
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Marble, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendors: Beaver Lake Lodge and Cabins, Greg Tonozzi, Marble Sculptor
The tiny town of Marble, Colorado, located at the southern end of the Crystal River Valley that runs north to Carbondale, was once a bustling marble-mining community whose quarries produced much of the marble that was used in government buildings in Washington, D.C., the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier, and statues all over the world. More recently, Marble has become an active artists’ colony, with several marble sculptors designing works of art from the marble quarry. Under the instruction of a local sculptor (who has been described to us as “an eccentric mountain gnome”), we will learn the art of marble sculpture. During our four days in Marble, all participants will create their own marble sculpture to bring home. There will also be some strolling/hiking opportunities in this gorgeous valley, some “play-time” with canoes and paddleboards on the town lake in the afternoons after sculpting, and relaxing time around the lodge bonfire at night with s’mores. The group will cook meals each night in the lodge kitchen/family room, with one night “out on the town” at a local restaurant—keep in mind, town population = 134 and restaurant options = 1. Back to Top
Duckie the Upper Colorado
- Trip Leaders: Wes Kirk & Katy Wood Hills
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Kremmling to Glenwood Canyon, CO
- Trip Dates: Wednesday, May 22-Sunday, May 26
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendor: TBD
Spend a week camping on the Colorado River between Kremmling and Gypsum. With our guides from Colorado River School, we will travel in two-person inflatable duckies down 76 miles of the Upper Colorado River. We will work as a team navigating the rapids, setting up and taking down camp every day, and exploring through various day hikes.
Once the river flows past Kremmling, it drops into Gore Canyon, cutting through the Precambrian gneiss and schist of the Gore Range. This section of river, which drops at 68 feet per mile for three miles, is considered the most challenging commercially rafted stretch of river in Colorado—and possibly the United States! Once the pounding river gushes out of Gore Canyon, the river calmly continues its journey through Lower Gore/Hartman Canyon and Red Gorge Canyon, past Bull Gulch Wilderness Study Area, and into Glenwood Canyon.
All students are welcome to register for this program; no kayak or whitewater experience is necessary; students should be able to swim. Be mindful that we will be outside in the elements 24 hours a day, and there will be regular rigorous physical activity. Therefore, the success of this Interim will be 90% dependent upon the positive attitude of the entire group. No single participant is successful unless the entire group is successful. Students who are gung-ho adrenaline junkies will make this trip spectacular!
Enviro Explorers
- Trip Leaders: Autumn Amici-Lester, David Smith, & Lisa Dean
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendors: Denver Audubon Society and more
Embark on a cool eco-adventure around Denver and local mountain areas! Learn about the environment in a fun way—try bird banding to understand bird life, and visit a friendly animal sanctuary to get up close with wildlife. This trip mixes adventure and learning, making it super enjoyable to discover how we can take care of our planet. Come join us on this journey through Colorado’s beautiful landscapes and have a blast while discovering how to help the environment!
Exploring the Canyonlands
- Trip Leaders: Mike Davis & alumni
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: San Rafael Swell, UT
- Trip Dates: Wednesday, May 22-Sunday, May 26
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendor: Mike Davis Adventures!
This is a physically demanding Interim experience that will take you into the heart of wilderness in southeastern Utah. This involves scrambling and climbing over difficult terrain, as well as rappelling off cliff faces. While Canyonlands and Moab are popular spots for exploring the Utah desert, far fewer hikers venture to the San Rafael Swell, home of slot canyons and rock art.
Just west of Green, Utah, the San Rafael is a dramatic rock formation. Students will learn important technical skills when traveling in canyon country, including navigation and survival skills. We will camp in the remote backcountry. This is a unique trip that is as inspiring as it is challenging. Back to Top
Fastpacking Adventure
- Trip Leaders: Steven Langford, Michael Huntington, & Gretchen Weber
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 6 days)
- Location: Grand Canyon, AZ
- Trip Dates: Sunday, May 19-Friday, May 24
- Level: HIGH Intensity (High intensity; 10+ miles per day with weight)
- Vendors: None
***This is a high-intensity Interim for students who have backpacked before and desire to push themselves physically and mentally.
Do you daydream about desert sunsets and wide open spaces? Do you have experience carrying a backpack and want a new destination with a new challenge? Have you heard of this little place called the GRAND CANYON? Then this may be your dream Interim.
During our 6-day trip we will drive through southern Colorado and northern New Mexico as we trek down to the high desert of Arizona. We will settle in for a quick night’s sleep on the rim, before loading up our backpacks for 4.5 days of backpacking along the famed Tonto Trail in the Grand Canyon. Our bags will be light-ish compared to traditional overnights as we seek a pace of “light and fast,” opting for quick, easy meals and shelters while experiencing some of the most beautiful scenery in the U.S. Our days will be long, while the early summer heat comes on around mid-May, and we travel over the rugged, arid landscape of high desert.
When choosing this Interim, we ask that you take on pre-trip physical preparation and are capable of carrying 40-lb. packs for long distances. This time of year can fluctuate from intense desert heat to potential desert thunderstorms, so we will be keeping a keen eye on weather forecasts. This trail promises some of the best sunrises you’ll ever see and lots of opportunities for small group exploration. Bring your sunwear, bring your hats, and get ready for a trip to remember. We are so excited to see one of the most sought-after outdoor destinations in the Continental U.S. Back to Top
Fly Fishing the Front Range
- Trip Leaders: Stuart Mills & Jordon Mills
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Elevenmile Canyon, CO; The Dream Stream
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendor: None
“I am haunted by waters…” -Norman Maclean
Do you like to commune with nature? Do you like the sound of a river flowing past you? Do you like to find yourself alone with just your thoughts in the solitude of the Rockies? Or maybe you just want to look like Brad Pitt landing the huge trout in A River Runs Through It. If any of these things appeal to you, then this is the ideal Interim for you.
We’ll practice casting and tying on flies. We’ll talk about river etiquette and the nuances of river current. We’ll fish the South Platte River in majestic Elevenmile Canyon, angling for beautiful brown and rainbow trout. We’ll also fish the “Dream Stream,” one of the most famous stretches of gold medal water in the American West.
We’ll set up camp on the South Platte River in Elevenmile Canyon. There are deer and elk aplenty in this area of Colorado, so we should be able to see much more than the fish we catch (and release!). Come and you too will be “haunted by waters…” Back to Top
Foodie Heaven
- Trip Leaders: Julie Wei, Camille James, & Valerie Maté-Hunt
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
- Vendor: Create Kitchen
Indulge in a delicious culinary experience, develop lifelong skills and experience the joy of cooking, and eating a wide variety of impressive wholesome meals. You will learn to prepare gourmet meals and basic techniques for cooking that will give you the edge in the kitchen. Our program will teach you how to prepare dishes from five continents. You will receive a copy of all the recipes, so you can impress your friends and family in your own kitchen, recreating all the yummy dishes you learned to prepare during the week. Back to Top
Jr REDI Lab
- Trip Leaders: Tom Thorpe, Martha Smith, Amanda Zranchev, & Sean Gallop
- Trip Type: local & away
- Location: Cheley Colorado Camps, Estes Park, CO; Denver, CO REDI Lab
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Low and Medium Intensity (student chooses!)
- Vendors: Cheley Colorado Camps & REDI Lab
Trimester 3 Junior REDI Lab students will have the time and space to enjoy the community they have built as a cohort over the trimester and go deeper into their work. For the first half of the week, the group will be based at Cheley Colorado Camps, set in picturesque Rocky Mountain National Park, working through activities and challenges, such as a sunrise hike and the KMAC Via Ferrata. The week will end back at the Coleman Center polishing presentations that conclude the REDI Lab experience. Back to Top
Mountain Travel Course
- Trip Leaders: Payton Ritchey & Jared Katzman
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Estes Park, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendors: Kent Mountain Adventure Center
Get ready for an epic mountain adventure in Estes Park, Colorado! Our mountain travel course is your ticket to trying it all—rock climbing, high-alpine hiking, bouldering, and more. Imagine waking up in the heart of the Rockies, surrounded by nature, and spending your days exploring breathtaking landscapes. The YMCA of the Rockies is your home base, offering comfy bunkhouses to crash in each night after a day packed with thrilling activities. Whether you’re a seasoned explorer or just getting started, this course is designed for everyone to experience the diverse wonders of mountain travel. Join us for an unforgettable journey, where every day brings a new mountain challenge and a chance to make memories that will last a lifetime! Back to Top
Peeps Can Climb: Shelf Road
- Trip Leaders: Brian List & Corey Lans
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Cañon City, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendor: Kent Mountain Adventure Center
Get ready to persevere up some peaks via rocky crags. Prepare your plate for some gourmet campfire cooking—pasta and peach cobbler, anyone? Established as one of the very first sport climbing spots in the USA in the 1980s, Shelf Road is famous for its vertical limestone walls. Come climb and be part of its vivid history. No climbing experience is necessary; experienced climbers can push their limits with various single-pitch routes. Hope to see you there! Back to Top
Raft the Colorado
- Trip Leaders: Gabe Bernstein, Leo Procise, & Story Wolf-Tinsman
- Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
- Location: Fruita, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 22-Friday, May 26
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendor: Rimrock Adventures
Don’t miss out on this iconic rafting trip on the Colorado River, winding through the Ruby and Horsethief Canyon sections, beginning in Fruita, Colorado and ending across the border in Utah. This river float experience will offer the group the opportunity to relax and engage, as we explore stunning sandstone canyon walls, sandy beaches, and embark on short day hikes in the backcountry. If water levels permit, we will have stand-up paddle boards and two-person duckies for students to explore the river alongside our main rafts. We will be camping each night along the river, with a layover day strategically placed in the middle of the week at the famous Black Rock campsites. Food and rafting education will be provided by our Rimrock Adventures guides.
All students will be expected to assist with meal preparation and breakdown, along with general campsite and trail maintenance. Participants must be able to swim and should be comfortable in the water (lifejackets are mandatory while on the water). No prior rafting experience is necessary to sign up. Back to Top
Rivers & Roads: Beginner Fly Fishing & Front Range Hiking
- Trip Leaders: Haley Helvey, Márcio Forléo, & Katherine Snow
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Front Range, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Hybrid Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day with some days of high exertion)
- Vendors: Various
Join us for a week split between learning to fly fish and exploring the Front Range of Colorado on foot! We have partnered with local fly-fishing guides who will provide gear and instruction for three days– taking us through the basics of casting and reading the water and providing support as we learn. To break up the days of getting our feet wet fly fishing (literally!), we’ll also spend two of days hiking alongside rivers, enjoying the rushing water from a different vantage point. Join us for a memorable week! Back to Top
River Riders
- Trip Leaders: Madison Slater, Jonathan Scholl, Vincent Trinquesse, & Katie Schneider Assaf
- Trip Type: Hybrid (2-night overnight)
- Location: Gunnison, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendors: Centennial Canoe Outfitters
Paddle up a storm with this brand-new Interim! Begin the week with local water sports and outdoor adventure day trips before heading down to Gunnison in the middle of the week for a three-day, two-night overnight canoe trip in one of the most beautiful places in Colorado. Prepare for lots of physical activity, sunshine, and fun! Back to Top
Sugar Rush: Baking
- Trip Leaders: Allie Bronston, Sandy Valerio, & David Colodny
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
- Vendor: Uncorked Kitchen & local bakeries
Are you a Great British Bake Off fanatic? Have you ever wanted to bake your own bread or make delicious confectionary creations? We will spend the mornings enjoying tours of local bakeries, including Rebel Bread and Rosenberg’s Bagels, and learning about the Denver bakery industry behind the scenes. After lunch each day, we’ll be in the kitchen with a pastry chef at Uncorked Kitchen who will teach the skills that you will need to bake incredible treats, including cookies, pies, cream puffs, custard, and bread. You’ll head back to campus many days with treats to share at home! Join us for a wonderful week of learning and tasting! Back to Top
Theatrepalooza
- Trip Leaders: Maclain Looper & Jon Vogels
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendor: Denver Center for the Performing Arts
Have you ever wanted to get behind the scenes and explore every facet of theater—from the writing side all the way to set construction and lighting design? In one week we will give you a taste of as many components of the total experience as we can fit into the days, including writing your own play, designing a set, choreographing a dance or fight scene, and collaborating with other creative people. Visits to the Denver Center for the Performing Arts and other local theaters are part of the plan. This Interim is ideal for those students who have an interest in theater but for whatever reason have not been able to pursue that interest to the full extent. We also welcome theater veterans; your previous experience will help the group, and we guarantee there will be new and unique opportunities for you as well. All the world’s a stage! Back to Top
Throwing Rocks at Houses: Curling
- Trip Leaders: Randall Martinez, Michael McLaughlin, & Kyle Gillette
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Rock Creek, Boulder, Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendor: Rock Creek Curling
Miss the magic of the Winter Olympics? Learn about the Manitoba tuck, throw some rocks at houses, and compete in the growing sport of Curling. With roots dating back to 16th century Scotland, this Winter Olympics Sport is sweeping the world by storm. Go from complete novice to tournament-ready in a week-long program of skill development and teamwork on ice. Join the ranks of legends John Schuster & Colleen Jones and compete in teams of four, being careful to avoid burning stones along the way to podium glory. Back to Top
Ukulele Building
- Trip Leaders: Emily Perez & Nicholas Aranda
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
- Vendor: Orthwest Studios
The mighty ukulele is one of the most versatile, portable, and fun instruments around. Whether or not you know how to play a ukulele (or any stringed instrument) this is your chance to hone your woodworking skills and learn more about how instruments work by building a ukulele to call your own. We will work with an expert luthier (stringed instrument builder) on campus to complete a playable, concert-sized ukulele from raw materials and some parts prepared in advance. Back to Top
Week of Movement: Let’s Move!
- Trip Leaders: Sonia Arora, Abigail Smith, & Venetia Sampson
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day with periods of intense exertion)
- Vendors: Various
Jump into a week of non-stop movement and excitement as we explore the world of physical expression! Join us on a journey where each day is a new adventure, visiting local studios that specialize in everything from dance and circus skills, parkour and martial arts, to ropes courses and escape rooms! Whether you’re grooving, defying gravity, climbing, or working together to flee an escape room, there’s something for everyone. Our expert instructors and passionate guides will lead you through a week of discovery, helping you unleash your inner mover, roller skater, and shaker. Come ready to jump, spin, reach, and balance your way through a week that promises lasting memories. Back to Top
Wilderness First Aid
- Trip Leaders: Mike Stanitski & Liz Sarles
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Hybrid Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion and some days low intensity)
- Vendors: Desert Mountain Medicine
We’ll spend the first two days of the week with Desert Mountain Medicine, earning Wilderness First Aid certification and gaining essential skills to handle injuries, illnesses, and other emergencies in the outdoors. With certified instructors from DMM, you’ll learn how to respond to wilderness-specific medical situations and take care of yourself and others in the backcountry. We’ll spend the remaining days hiking on trails in the Front Range and the greater Denver area, enjoying the outdoors and hopefully not needing to use any of your newly acquired WFA skills. Back to Top
What is Art?
- Trip Leaders: Ross Holland & Elliot Chase
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Denver, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendor: None
What is the purpose of art? Does it serve a public good? What is “good” art? Is it all subjective? And what does beauty have to do with it? On this Interim we will engage with these questions through a variety of local art experiences. Daily trips may include guided visits to The Denver Art Museum, Museo de las Americas, Meow Wolf, Skyspace, the Santa Fe Arts District, and street art of the RiNo neighborhood. No artistic skills or background required. Back to Top
Wonderful World of Glassblowing
- Trip Leaders: Andrea Eckler & Kait Kozak
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Lakewood, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
- Vendor: The Furnace: A Glassworks
The art of glassblowing is a fun and challenging adventure in which students can shape objects to their desire, exploring various shapes and vibrant colors to make their visions come to life. Students will work 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. Glass blowing has been practiced for centuries by many cultures, from ancient Romans to modern times. Glass can take many forms, from functional objects like drinking glasses to complex sculptural pieces. Join us and add your artistic twist to history. Back to Top
Woodworking & Modern Design
- Trip Leader: Jonathan Ender
- Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
- Location: Lakewood, CO
- Trip Dates: Monday, May 20-Friday, May 24
- Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
- Vendor: Woodwork Studio
During this hands-on and creative Interim, participants will design and build their own cutting board, along with another project to take home at the end of the week. Through the design process, participants learn how to use a variety of tools and techniques used in woodworking that they can apply to their own projects. You will also take a trip to the lumber yard to select wood for your projects and learn about various aspects of lumber and what the selection process entails. Back to Top
Yoga Retreat: The Ultimate Self-Care
- Trip Leaders: Jane Kelly, Kim Greeley, & Ben Hoffman
- Trip Type: Hybrid (Denver-based for 1 night; away for 3 nights)
- Location: Denver and Rollinsville, CO
- Trip Dates: Wednesday, May 24-Sunday, May 26
- Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
- Vendor: Shambhavananda Yoga Shoshoni
Spend a week exploring the ultimate in self-care: yoga and meditation. The Interim begins with one day on campus, learning basic poses and meditation techniques. The next stop will be a rustic mountain retreat for three days and nights, where you will take two yoga classes per day from dedicated yoga practitioners. You will be able to foster your creative side through art and improve your culinary skills by learning to make delicious vegetarian food in the community kitchen. Students will have the opportunity to connect with nature by doing service in the garden and hiking in the mountains. Come experience the week you deserve after a long school year! Back to Top