2025 CA Upper School Interim Catalog

Interim at Colorado Academy 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

Here are the practical details parents should know:

All Upper School Interims take place during the week of May 26, 2025. Most Interims run Tuesday through Friday, but several away trips go through Saturday. Please note the dates of each trip when selecting your preferences. Parent/guardian involvement in the Interim selection process is essential and requires approval.

REGISTRATION & TRIP ASSIGNMENT

After reviewing trip descriptions, students in Grades 9, 10, and 11 will register during advisory on March 12. Each student should put their choices in order from 1 to 28, and students will sign the bottom of the form to acknowledge that they have discussed the Interim options with their folks at home. The registration form is due March 18. 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. 

Seniors sign up for Interim in person on Monday, March 10, after school (2:50 p.m.) in Sadler. Seniors will be placed in one of three groups, based on how their previous Interim trip matched with their preferences (students who didn’t receive a highly-ranked choice in previous years 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.

IMPORTANT SPORTS NOTE

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 their arrival late or departure early from the trip. Thus, we ask students and families to pick trips wisely and with an eye to full participation.

Baseball may have championship games during the entire week of Interim, so Baseball students may need to be pulled off their Interim trips in order to compete; we ask that Grades 9-11 Baseball players sign up for a local trip, and Grade 12 Baseball players could choose to stay in their away Interim after a conversation with their coaches. 

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.

2025 CA Upper School Interim Opportunities:

Alpine Adventures Art in the Wild Chip Off the Ol' Block CSU Drone Week Exploring the Canyonlands Fastpacking Adventure Flavor Explosion Fly Fishing the Front Range Foodie Heaven Hitting the Trail Makers Market Mindful Motion Peeps Can Climb: Shelf Road Raft the Colorado

Reel to Real: Film Studies Ride the Wild: Horsepacking River Riders Rivers & Roads Sugar Rush: Baking Summer Camp Throwback Theaterpalooza Throwing Rocks at Houses: Curling Ukulele Building Up in the Air Week of Movement Wilderness First Aid Wonderful World of Glassblowing Woodworking & Modern Design

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Alpine Adventures

 

• Trip Leaders: Payton Ritchey & Eric Sheldrake
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Estes Park, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
• Vendor: Kent Mountain Adventure Center

Alpine Adventures—hosted at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park—is your ticket to a wide variety of outdoor recreation. Over the course of the week, students try their hands at rock climbing, high-alpine hiking, and bouldering, and they even test their mettle against one of the most exciting via ferratas in the United States!

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Art in the WILD

• Trip Leaders: Stashia Taylor & Karen Donald
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Great Sand Dunes National Park, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
• Vendor: None

Immerse yourself on an outdoor art adventure. We camp in Great Sand Dunes National Park to explore both painting and night photography. During the day, we hike into nature with our easels on our backs and find inspiration in rivers, mountains, and sand. In the center of an International Dark Sky Park, we use DSLR cameras to capture some of the best stargazing opportunities in the world, experimenting with LED light wands and dramatic costumes while recording the breathtaking landscape.

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Chip Off the Ol’ Block

• Trip Leaders: David Jones & Kim Greeley
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Marble, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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.

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CSU Drone Week

 

• Trip Leaders: Márcio Forléo & Kyle Gillette
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
• Vendor: Colorado State University 

Join us for an immersive, hands-on one-week drone training program led by experts from Colorado State University’s Drone Center. Designed for high school students interested in aviation, engineering, environmental science, and the applications of Unmanned Aerial Vehicles (UAVs), this program offers a unique opportunity to explore drone technology. Participants learn the fundamentals needed to prepare for the FAA Part 107 certification, gain hands-on flight training using state-of-the-art drones, and discover real-world applications in fields such as environmental research, search and rescue, filmmaking, and agriculture.

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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 28-Sunday, June 1
• 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 takes 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.

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Fastpacking Adventure

 

• Trip Leaders: Steven Langford, Michael Huntington, & Gretchen Weber
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
• Location: Grand Canyon, AZ
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Saturday, May 31
• Level: HIGH Intensity (High intensity; 10+ miles per day with weight)
• Vendor: 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? Then this may be your dream Interim.

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Flavor Explosion: From Basic Ingredients to Gourmet Creations

 

• Trip Leaders: Sandy Valerio & Valerie Maté-Hunt
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
• Vendor: Witherspoon Cooking Group

Ready to take your cooking skills to the next level? Join us for a hands-on culinary adventure that can transform you from a microwave master to a kitchen wizard! Led by the talented instructors at Witherspoon Cooking Group, this trip is all about exploring the art of cooking with simple ingredients, turning everyday staples into mouth-watering masterpieces.

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Fly Fishing the Front Range

• Trip Leaders: Stuart Mills & Jordon Mills
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Elevenmile Canyon, CO; The Dream Stream
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
• Vendor: None

“I am haunted by waters…” -Norman Maclean

We practice casting and tying on flies. We talk about river etiquette and the nuances of river current. We fish the South Platte River in majestic Elevenmile Canyon, angling for beautiful brown and rainbow trout. We also fish the “Dream Stream,” one of the most famous stretches of gold medal water in the American West.

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Foodie Heaven

• Trip Leaders: Camille James & Careen James Barnett
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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 learn to prepare gourmet meals and basic techniques for cooking that give you the edge in the kitchen. Our program teaches you how to prepare dishes from five continents.

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Hitting the Trail: Adventure Awaits in the Front Range

• Trip Leaders: Lisa Boes & Suzie Jekel
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
• Vendor: None

Embark on an unforgettable adventure as we explore the breathtaking beauty of the Front Range! Over the course of four exciting days, we tackle 5-10 miles of scenic trails each day, immersing ourselves in the stunning landscapes that Colorado is known for. As we hike, we take in panoramic views of majestic peaks, serene forests, and wildflower-filled meadows, all while enjoying the fresh mountain air and the camaraderie of fellow adventurers.

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Makers Market: Local Art & Creation

 

• Trip Leaders: Kait Kozak & Alecia Maher
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
• Vendors: Various

Step into the world of handmade artistry! During this immersive week, students explore the vibrant world of local makers, learning hands-on skills in glassblowing, ceramics, and jewelry making. Guided by expert artisans, they shape molten glass into stunning pieces, mold clay into functional ceramics, and design unique jewelry using professional techniques.

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Mindful Motion: A Week of Adventure & Yoga

• Trip Leaders: Jane Kelly & Stephanie Turner
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Medium Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day)
• Vendors: Various

Start each day with movement and mindfulness as we rotate through yoga, tai chi, and stand-up paddleboarding. Some mornings begin with the grounding movements of tai chi, focusing on balance, breath, and flow, while others start with energizing yoga sessions to build strength and flexibility. On paddleboarding days, students take to the water, practicing balance and core stability while gliding across the lake.

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Peeps Can Climb: Shelf Road

• Trip Leaders: Brian List & Corey Lans
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Cañon City, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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 vertical limestone walls. Come climb and be part of its vivid history. No climbing experience is necessary, and experienced climbers can push their limits with various single-pitch routes.

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Raft the Colorado

• Trip Leaders: Leo Procise, Abigail Smith, & Madison Slater
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Fruita, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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.

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Reel to Real: Film Studies

 

• Trip Leaders: Ross Holland & Elliot Chase
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
• Vendor: Alamo Cinema 

You may love going to the movies, but you probably don’t have a real vocabulary with which to talk about, analyze, or critique them. After introducing students to the language of film (shot types, camera movement, editing, etc.), we visit local cinemas to watch both classic and contemporary films.Back to Top

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Ride the Wild: Horsepacking 

• Trip Leaders: Ali Kittle & Abby Page
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
• Location: Pagosa Springs, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Saturday, May 31
• Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
• Vendor: Colorado Pack Company

Saddle up for an unforgettable five-day adventure in Pagosa Springs, Colorado, where students immerse themselves in the world of horses, mules, and backcountry travel.

Important Information:

To participate in this trip, students must be comfortable around horses and have completed at least one trail ride prior to the trip.

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River Riders

 

• Trip Leaders: Tim Hatlee & Sydney Finkbohner
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 5 days)
• Location: Gunnison, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Saturday, May 31
• Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
• Vendor: Centennial Canoe Outfitters

Get ready for an adventure of a lifetime as we head down to Gunnison, Colorado, for an unforgettable canoe trip in one of the most breathtaking regions of the state.

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Rivers & Roads: Beginner Fly Fishing & Front Range Hiking 

• Trip Leaders: Haley Helvey, Hilary Burke, & Katherine Snow
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Front Range, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Hybrid Intensity (Moderate activity up to 3 hours per day with some days of high exertion)
• Vendors: Various

Join us for a trip split between learning to fly fish and exploring the Front Range of Colorado on foot! 

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Sugar Rush: Baking

• Trip Leaders: Allie Bronston & David Colodny
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
• Vendors: 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 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. 

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Summer Camp Throwback!

 

• Trip Leaders: Jared Katzman, Melissa Zaremba, David Smith, & Octavia Betz
• Trip Type: Away (away from Denver for 4 days)
• Location: Granby, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion)
• Vendor: YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch

Get ready for four unforgettable days of adventure, challenge, and fun in the Colorado Rockies! Students stay in a cozy lodge-style bunkhouse at YMCA Snow Mountain Ranch, enjoying hearty meals in the dining hall before heading out for action-packed days.

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Theaterpalooza

• Trip Leaders: Maclain Looper & Kenneth Usongo
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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 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. 

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Throwing Rocks at Houses: Curling

• Trip Leaders: Michael McLaughlin, Liza Skipwith, & Amanda Zranchev
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Rock Creek Curling, Lafayette, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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.

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Ukulele Building

• Trip Leaders: Emily Pérez & Liang Chen
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates:Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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. 

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Up in the Air!

 

• Trip Leaders: Martha Smith & Alex Castro
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: High Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day with periods of intense exertion)
• Vendors: Various

Get ready for a week of high-flying excitement as we explore the many ways to get "Up in the Air" around Denver! This action-packed trip has you soaring, climbing, and leaping to new heights as we partner with some of the best local adventure experts to push your limits and have a blast.

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Week of Movement: Let’s Move!

• Trip Leaders: Sonia Arora & Venetia Sampson
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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!

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Wilderness First Aid

 

• Trip Leaders: Mike Stanitski, Liz Sarles, & Vincent Trinquesse
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Denver, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Hybrid Intensity (Active 5+ hours per day in the outdoors with periods of intense exertion and some days low intensity)
• Vendor: Desert Mountain Medicine

We spend the first three 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 learn how to respond to wilderness-specific medical situations and take care of yourself and others in the backcountry.

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Wonderful World of Glassblowing

• Trip Leaders: Andrea Eckler & Jonathan Scholl
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Lakewood, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• 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 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.

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Woodworking & Modern Design

• Trip Leader: Jonathan Ender
• Trip Type: Local (Denver-based all week)
• Location: Lakewood, CO
• Trip Dates: Tuesday, May 27-Friday, May 30
• Level: Low Intensity (Sitting, standing, light walking)
• Vendor: Woodwork Studio

During this hands-on and creative Interim, participants design and build their own cutting board, along with another project to take home at the end of the week.

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