 | The Fountain Valley School of Colorado's Interim Program began during the 1972-1973 school year. Initially known as the “Raushenbush Plan,” the Interim Program was put under the supervision of FVS faculty Marshall Severance. In that first year, the offerings included local interims on chess, computer training, woodworking, bridge, astronomy, skiing and glassblowing, as well as trips to New Mexico, the Sangre de Cristos, England and Honduras.
Since then, the program has kept its emphasis on experiential education and continues to be a vital part of the School’s curriculum. FVS participates in interim based on the philosophy that it provides students with the opportunity to expand their intellectual, cultural and social horizons beyond the classroom. Interim Week affords the members of our community, students and faculty alike, the chance to get to know one another in a new environment.
The experiences gained and the friendships developed are often a highlight of a student’s year. During the 2011-12 school year, this mandatory curricular requirement offers 15 interims (plus Freshman Interim), March 12-18 (some interim programs may extend beyond this period).
Interim Program Director:
Dr. Robert Gilbert, History Department
|
2012 Interim Program Offerings | Art Outside the Curriculum ARTS OUTSIDE THE CURRICULUM
Utilizing the expertise of professional artists and educators outside the FVS community, this interim is designed to explore a selected number of avenues for artistic expression that are not currently available within the FVS visual arts curriculum. At this time, these avenues will include stained and fused glass, blacksmithing and metalwork, and site-specific sculpture. All activities will be held locally in Pueblo and on the FVS campus.
Like any other art course that is taught at FVS, the interim will provide opportunities for students to learn and explore specific artistic mediums while producing work that reflects their own personal creative standards and interests. The interim will be very intensive, with studio time taking up nearly eight hours per day over the six days of the interim. Students will be required to work positively together as they create, organize and prepare meals, and depend on each other for support and feedback throughout the week.
Sponsors: Mr. Dillon and Mrs. Purinton
|
|
BroadwayBROADWAY
Have you ever been thrilled by the first notes of an overture to a musical? Have you ever imagined yourself up on the stage acting, singing, and dancing? Or playing in the orchestra, or running the lights, or designing the set? Have you ever wondered how this indigenous American art form ever became so popular?
Meet and talk with a Broadway performer about his/her journey, participate in two theatre master classes, and have a Q and A with the cast down by the footlights...ON BROADWAY! We will be greeted by a welcome dinner at Bubba Gump’s on Times Square, attend five current Broadway productions, visit the Empire State Building, the Museum of Modern Art (MoMA), the Museum of the Moving Image and experience a behind-the-scenes tour of Radio City Music Hall. New York City will be the backdrop for your experience. Everything is included: all meals, airline tickets, hotel, transportation, tips, taxes and gratuities. If you are passionate about the dramatic and musical arts, this is the interim for you!
Sponsores: Mr. Parra and Mrs. Parra |
|
| Diversity and Community in France DIVERSITY AND COMMUNITY IN FRANCE
Students who are interested in learning first-hand about French culture and history while perfecting their French-speaking skills are encouraged to participate in this Interim. In Paris for the first four days, we will learn about French painters in the Montmartre district, discuss French education during a visit to the renowned Sorbonne University, and explore the history of France’s ethnic diversity through the Institute of the Arab World and the Museum of Immigration.
A ride on the French high-speed train (TGV) will then take us to Strasbourg, where we will spend the second half of this Interim. The seat of several European Institutions, including the Council of Europe and the European Parliament, Strasbourg will be the perfect place to learn about past and current issues in the European Union. Its location in the Alsace region and on the border of Germany also makes it the home of kouglof, flammekueche and choucroute, some of the local specialties we will not only get to taste but also learn how to cook. Join us to discover France from a regional, national and international perspective!
Sponsors: Mrs. Kimlicko and Mr. Payne
Requirements: Students must be currently enrolled in a French course or otherwise demonstrate proficiency in French. Students will also need a valid passport.
Note: This Interim does not return until Monday, March 19, 2012.
|
|
| Florida Keys Scuba Diving FLORIDA KEYS SCUBA DIVING
Imagine stepping from your room directly aboard a boat bound for reefs and wrecks surrounding Key Largo, America’s No. 1 underwater paradise! Come to the beautiful Florida Keys for a wonderful four-day scuba diving adventure. It all starts with two days of scuba certification in Colorado Springs and an overnight trip for open water diving in New Mexico.
Once certified, we travel to Key Largo, Fla., for a scuba vacation in paradise. You will explore the underwater world and ecology at a new level. Great visibility, warm water and abundant sea life make the ocean your playground. Plus you will have some afternoons free for hanging around a pool, sunbathing, kayaking and viewing beautiful sunsets.
Sponsors: Mr. Manning and Mr. Jones
Requirements: Intermediate swimming level
Note: Participants must go on a diving certification trip to New Mexico on the weekend of Feb. 25-26.
|
|
| Grits, Blues and New Orleans GRITS, BLUES AND NEW ORLEANS
Immerse yourself in southern culture on this road trip from New Orleans to the Mississippi Delta and Memphis. This feast for your senses will begin with creole fixins, a jazz concert and a day of community service in the heart of New Orleans. From there we will head north to the plantation culture of ‘Ole Dixie’ and then to the Mississippi Delta where we will stay in former tenant farmer shacks and attend a rhythm and blues concert near the “Crossroads,” the birthplace of the blues. The group will spend a day in Oxford, Mississippi—the home of William Faulkner and the focus of a major civil rights battle in the early 60s—before heading to Memphis where grits, blues and Elvis Presley all converge.
Sponsors: Mr. Emery and Ms. Buckley
|
|
| Hut-to-Hut Skiing HUT-TO-HUT SKIING
The Hut-to-Hut Skiing Interim skis along the famous Tenth Mountain Division Hut System (www.huts.aspen.co.us), which encircles the Holy Cross Wilderness region, linking the towns of Aspen, Leadville and Vail. Named in honor of the soldiers on skis who fought in World War II, the hut system utilizes 16 backcountry huts that have wood stoves, propane burners, bunk beds and photovoltaic (solar-powered) lighting.
They provide a deserved respite after a long day of skiing.
This year, we will begin near Tennessee pass and Ski Cooper, where we will ski into Vance’s (at 11,000 feet). From there, we will ascend nearby Chicago Ridge and explore the area. We will then meet a professional guide who will help us to ski to the Tenth Mountain Hut. From there, we will explore nearby powder bowls, exposed ridges and woodsy valleys. Two environmental biologists will meet us for a day of alpine ecology.
Besides carrying heavy backpacks, students will learn backcountry ski techniques and teamwork skills, and each student will present information on a research topic (ranging from animal tracks to winter survival to Leadville history). Students will also read poetry and write in their journals.
Sponsors: Mr. Reynolds and Dr. Carrese
Prerequisites: Intermediate alpine (downhill) skills; solid physical health; one Saturday practice day.
Note: This interim will not be offered in March 2013
|
|
| Journey in the Anasazi World: Slickhorn Canyon JOURNEY IN THE ANASAZI WORLD: Slickhorn Canyon
Walking into Slickhorn Canyon is like entering a living museum. Inside are Anasazi ruins more than 750 years old, and excavations and charcoaled names of cowboys more than 100 years old. The place exudes history and forces more questions than it answers. This backpacking trip will include five days of examining the history and ecology of Slickhorn Canyon that cuts through Cedar Mesa in southeastern Utah. We will take day hikes out of two separate base camps, exploring canyons filled with cliff dwellings, petroglyphs and pictographs. This year we are fortunate to have Vaughn Hadenfeldt along as a guide and interpreter. An outfitter in Bluff, Utah, Vaughn knows the canyons of Cedar Mesa as well as anyone alive. When National Geographic or Smithsonian staff writers need a guide for an article or television special, they hire Vaughn!
Sponsors: Dr. Gilbert Mr. Muciño
|
|
| March Madness MARCH MADNESS
So you think March Madness is just about basketball? Think again! From mathematics and statistics to economics, this crazy American pastime generates millions of revenue for cities across the nation. For some cities, it is more than just the play calling and upsets that gets them excited. Their city benefits from the huge economic profit.
After spending three days in the classroom and on the basketball court, we will travel to Albuquerque, N.M. to watch the first round of the tournament. We will interview fans and businesses who are benefitting from the influx of players; and families and fans who spend money in their city. Also, learn how D-I basketball players are recruited, how they benefit, how they are taken advantage of by schools and corporations, and how schools may cheat in order to get top players. We will also have our own pool for prizes. You might have been a passive observer in the past, but this season, get involved! Experience the Madness!
Sponsors: Mr. Lemieux and Mrs. Prantl |
|
| Mitad del Mundo: Biodiversity, Ecotourism and Cultural Immersion in Ecuador MITAL DEL MUNDO: BIODIVERSITY, ECOTOURISM AND CULTURAL IMMERSION IN ECUADOR
Ecuador reveals itself primarily through its incredible ecological and ethnic diversity. It contains three dramatically different ecosystems within an area just larger than the state of Colorado: the Amazon rainforest, the Andes Mountains and the Pacific coast. It also boasts a cultural diversity typical of South America, including Hispanic, Mestizo and indigenous populations.
We will land in Quito, the capital, and then visit a high mountain cloud forest to learn about the phenomenal flora and fauna that thrive there. While there, students will stay with members of a local women’s co-op that makes and sells woven textiles. While speaking Spanish is not a requirement for this trip, there will be ample opportunity to practice the language, whether with a family that does not speak English, or simply bargaining in the market of Otavalo. Students will also have the opportunity to hike on the world’s highest active volcano, Cotopaxi.
Sponsors: Mr. Lilley and Ms. Schmidt
Requirements: Moderate physical condition; some Spanish recommended.
Prerequisite: Valid passport
Note: This interim does not return until Tuesday, March 20, 2012. |
|
| Mountains, Music and More! MOUNTAINS, MUSIC AND MORE!
Come live the "good life" in stunning Boulder, Colorado! Bring your guitar, keyboard, harmonica, fiddle or instrument of choice and join us for a week of music, culture, food, and hiking in Boulder. We will stay at the picturesque and historic Chautauqua Mission House, tucked up against the foothills just beneath the Flatirons. An inspiring location to play, critique or write music, Chautauqua provides lodging, hiking and a quaint village-like setting in which to allow your creativity to flow.
Each day will find you studying music both individually and in small groups. You will have opportunities to receive music instruction, listen to and discuss your favorite musicians, work on and play your best songs, and to perform in coffee-house settings and on famous Pearl Street. We are currently working on access to a bona fide recording studio, so that we can record our own music. In addition, we will attend concerts, musicals, radio broadcasts and street shows. This musical and cultural immersion is an experience that will stay with you for a lifetime. Designed for those with a love for music in any form.
Sponsors: Mr. Devine and Dr. Waldbaum |
|
| Outreach 360—Dominican Republic OUTREACH 360—DOMINICAN REPUBLIC
“You make a living by what you get; you make a life by what you give.” – Winston Churchill
Our FVS group will travel to the Dominican Republic to volunteer with Outreach360. Formerly known as Orphanage Outreach, Outreach360 is a grass-roots volunteer organization that currently operates in both Nicaragua and the Dominican Republic. It has adopted three disadvantaged neighborhoods in the northwest of the Dominican Republic and has staffed a neighborhood center in each community. Their primary focus is on education with an emphasis on English as a Second Language, Spanish literacy and public health.
Disadvantaged children are far too commonplace in our neighboring countries to the south; in astounding numbers, children reach adulthood without the education or vocational skills necessary to become gainfully employed in some capacity. They turn to crime and prostitution as the only way to get by. Our volunteer efforts during this interim will help to try to break this vicious, dead-end cycle. We may be teaching English or literacy in a local grade school, tutoring children, or working on environmental sustainability projects, and there will be special cultural events planned for each evening.
On the last day of our volunteer portion of the trip we will go on a cultural excursion to local markets and eateries. For the last two days, we will travel to the beach town of Cabarete on the north shore of the Dominican Republic where we will have the opportunity to rest and relax on the beach, go hiking, take a dance lesson and shop.
Sponsors: Ms. Alley and Language Department Faculty
Note: This Interim returns on Tuesday, March 20, 2012.
Prerequisites: Valid passport; enrollment in at least Spanish II |
|
| Paddling the Okefenokee Swamp and the Suwannee River, Florida PADDLING THE OKEFENOKEE SWAMP AND THE SUWANNEE RIVER, FLORIDA
The historic Suwannee River originates in the Okefenokee Swamp, a vast wetland wilderness in southeast Georgia and northeast Florida. From there it travels southward, snaking approximately 245 miles to the Gulf of Mexico. Its massive flow is fed by more than197 pristine fresh water springs and unnumbered creeks and tributaries. The upper Suwannee is narrow and slowly winds its way through forested tall bluffs and sun-bleached fossilized coral cliffs. The white sugar sand riverbanks are in sharp contrast to the dark, tannic “blackwater” of the river. The miles of unbridled beauty make this river so enjoyable to paddle.
We will begin our adventure in the Okefenokee Swamp, paddling downstream into the upper Suwannee River. We will spend each day surrounded by an abundance of wildlife. River otter, deer, wild boar, turtles, Piliated woodpeckers, raptors, and, of course, alligators, all make their home in the swamp and on the Suwannee. Blooming tupelos, twisted cypress, peeling river birch and stoic live oaks draped with Spanish moss will shade our path as we twist and turn our way downstream.
As we paddle downstream, approximately 10 miles each day, we’ll have ample opportunities to swim, take a rope swing or two, fish, shoot some white water, and check out historic towns and springs along the way. We will camp among the cypress and tupelo on white sand beaches. Nights will be spent hiking on the Florida Trail, exploring the swamps, cooking our meals and swapping stories around the campfire.
Sponsors: Mr. Rubenstein and Mr. Doyon
Note: No canoeing or kayaking experience necessary; however, you must be able to swim. Camping will be primitive (no showers or modern conveniences for a week). |
|
| Rafting the San Juan River RAFTING THE SAN JUAN RIVER
Take a journey into the desert southwest as you raft down the San Juan River in southeastern Utah. Your “flotilla” will include large rubber team rafts as well as individually-powered, bright-yellow, inflatable kayaks–the beloved duckies. Your days will be spent rafting the river and taking day hikes to view and study remote Anasazi ruins and pictographs, spectacular canyons, and the rich desert biology and geology. As the sun sets, you will pitch your tent on the banks of the river and help prepare a sumptuous meal. Sitting around the campfire at night, you will read and discuss the literature of rivers and the experiences of the day as well as hear and share stories with our knowledgeable guides.
Sponsors: Mr. Racine and Mr. Segesdy
Note: Students must be able to swim; no other previous rafting or camping experience required. |
|
| Spice and Rice or Spice and Easy SPICE AND RICE OR SPICE AND EASY
This local interim will explore the raw materials, techniques and regional styles of global cuisine. Working in teams to complete tasks, students will explore basic cooking skills and techniques and create dishes from all over the world. After mastery of basic skills, students will challenge themselves with more complicated processes to combine and create new flavors such as the hot, sour, salty and sweet taste distinctive of Southeast Asian cuisine and many others. Students will compare regional uses of cooking techniques and ingredients to note the effect of diverse ecologies, cultures and trade patterns on regional cuisine.
Sponsors: Mr. Schubach and Ms. Lin |
|
| Tall Ship Expedition TALL SHIP EXPEDITION: Sailing to the Channel Islands Aboard the Tole More
Ahoy, maties! Participants on the Tall Ship interim will become sailing students aboard the SSV Tole More, a 150-foot long triple-masted schooner, while exploring Southern California’s Channel Islands. Students will learn about the marine ecology of the Channel Islands by snorkeling, conducting oceanographic research, and exploring various Channel Islands while sailing, hiking and kayaking.
Expedition members will learn about maritime history, live aboard as crew, and run the largest sailing vessel on the West Coast of the U.S. as we cruise to Santa Catalina Island, San Clemente and Santa Barbara Island during a four-day long cruise.
We will spend an additional two days exploring Santa Catalina Island from a terrestrial base camp. In the process, we hope students will learn about the cultural history of this area which served as the setting for both of the classics Island of the Blue Dolphins and Richard Henry Dana’s Two Years Before the Mast.
Warning to parents: students may have a life-changing experience and return to landlubberville talking like pirates. AARRGGHHH!
Sponsors: Mr. Baraty, Ms. Steenhuis and Mrs. Basney
Requirements: Willingness to endure life on the high seas in search of adventure. Must be physically able to hike, kayak, get wet and work aboard a maritime vessel. |
|
| Freshman Interim San Luis Valley, Native American Heritage, Pioneer Heritage, and Ranching Heritage. The focus is on the heritage of Colorado.
|
|
| | | |