 | 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 2009-10 school year, this mandatory curricular requirement offers 16 interims (plus Freshman Interim), March 11-17 (some interim programs may extend beyond this period).
Interim Program Director:
Dr. Robert Gilbert, History Department
Freshman Interim Director:
Jennifer Joseph, Athletic Department
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Interim Program Offerings | The Broadway Musical THE BROADWAY MUSICAL: American Theater History in Song and Dance
Meeting two Broadway performers and participating in two theater master classes await you…ON BROADWAY! On this Interim, you will examine the American musical as it has reflected and reinforced American culture. You will be in the audience for five current Broadway productions. Visits to the Empire State Building, the Museum of Modern Art and a behind the scenes tour of Radio City Music Hall will expand your appreciation of this unique art form. New York City will be the backdrop for your experience. If you are passionate about the dramatic and musical arts, this is the Interim for you! Sponsors: Mr. Parra & Mrs. Parra |
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| Citius, Altius, Fortius CITIUS, ALTIUS, FORTIUS: The Olympic Spirit in Lake Placid, N.Y.
Home of the 1932 and 1980 Winter Olympic Games, Lake Placid has a rich history in Olympic spirit. The 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games will just have wrapped up, and this will be the perfect time for students to learn what it is like to be an Olympian. Students will take part in luge, cross country skiing, alpine skiing, speedskating and more on some of the courses on which Olympic champions have competed. Students will visit the Herb Brooks Arena, where the 1980 Miracle on Ice occurred, and will learn why this was such an important event in sport history. Citius, Altius, Fortius (swifter, higher, stronger) is the motto of the modern Games. Baron Pierre de Coubertin had a vision when founding the modern Olympic Games. Has this vision been achieved? Study Olympic history, meet Olympic athletes, speak to U.S. Anti-Doping officers and sport psychologists to find the answer to this question.
Sponsors: Mr. Payne & Ms. Payne |
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| Cuzco, The Inca Trail, Machu Picchu, and the Sacred Valley CUZCO, THE INCA TRAIL, MACHU PICCHU, AND THE SACRED VALLEY
This 11-day Interim is offered to the adventurous student who wants to experience the best of what Peru has to offer in history, culture, ecosystems, archeology, trekking and scenic beauty. This Interim requires a student who is in good physical condition and enjoys the outdoors. The first two days will be spent in Cuzco, the oldest continuously inhabited city on the South American continent, where students will have the opportunity to acclimatize to the altitude of nearly 12,000 feet while exploring the many archeological sites and museums. Nearly half of the Interim will be devoted to hiking the 43km section of the Inca Trail leading to Machu Picchu, the lost city of the Incas, and one of the most breathtaking and enigmatic sites in the world. The last two days will be spent exploring the Sacred Valley of the Incas, which includes numerous archeological sites, world-renowned markets, and a homestay and community service project in the mountain village of Amaru. Spanish language experience is recommended, but not required.
Sponsors: Mr. Dillon & Mr. Kerchner
Requirements: Valid passport
Note: This Interim returns Sunday, March 21. |
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| Grand Canyon Arts On this Interim, we will fly to Flagstaff, Arizona, and journey to the Grand Canyon’s south rim, staying at a lodge just steps away from the edge of this massive chasm. Our emphasis will be to make our own art and photography by exploring the media of watercolor, charcoal and pencil sketching, and digital photography. Our stay will feature visits to the studio of the Grand Canyon's official artist-in-residence, the historic Kolb photography studios, and to a professional photographer who has photographed the canyon for more than 30 years. We will visit a painter who lived in the canyon and see the great landscape art at the Museum of Northern Arizona in Flagstaff. Guides from the Grand Canyon Field Institute will lead us on foot and by van to remote areas not usually open to the public, helping us absorb the amazing geology and history of the Grand Canyon, one of the most spectacular places on Earth.
Sponsors: Mr. Brown & Mrs. Porter-Brown |
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| 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. Brown
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| ¡Guanajuato!: Language, Culture and Outdoor Exploration ¡GUANAJUATO! LANGUAGE, CULTURE AND OUTDOOR EXPLORATION
Make your Spanish language skills come alive in the beautiful colonial city of Guanajuato, México, where you will be immersed in the Spanish language and Mexican culture. Study one-on-one with a local Spanish teacher in intensive daily classes designed to meet your specific interests and goals – at your pace. Learn more about local customs and form close relationships with a Mexican host family. Get to know the social, political and economic reality of Mexico through a wide range of activities and excursions. Hike the hills around the city of Guanajuato, visit the mummy museum, attend an array of cultural events, participate in a community service project, and much, much more. Enrich your own language skills, outdoor appreciation, and cultural awareness!
Sponsors: Mr. Muciño & Ms. Prantl
Prerequisites: Grades 10-12. Must be enrolled in a Spanish class, level II or above, with an average of “C” or higher), and must be prepared to engage in total Spanish immersion. Good physical condition.
Requirements: Valid passport
Note: This Interim returns Thursday, March 18. |
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| Joshua Tree Rock Climbing JOSHUA TREE ROCK CLIMBING: Perfect Granite in Southern California
We will travel to Joshua Tree National Park in sunny southern California, one of the premier rock-climbing and bouldering areas of the Southwest. Participants will learn about climbing in all its aspects, including movement and balance, specific granite foot and hand techniques, belaying, knot-tying, and even advanced anchor and rescue techniques. We will camp and live in the desert wilderness for the entire week. Athletic requirements: should be comfortable hiking for a few miles in the sun.
Sponsors: Mr. Nickerson & Ms. Nickerson |
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| 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: Mr. Schubach & Ms. McAdams |
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| Kayaking Everglades National Park, Florida KAYAKING EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK, FLORIDA
At the southernmost corner of the eastern United States lives a rare natural marvel: the Everglades. This incredible land boasts endless horizons, glittering water, waving grasses, and myriad life-forms spanning this sub-tropical wilderness found nowhere else in the world. Alligators, saltwater crocodiles, bears, snakes, panthers, sharks and manatees are just a few of the wildlife we may encounter. Each day we will make our way into the glades or out into the bays for exploration. Paddling into the glades we will experience mangrove tunnels and see an abundance of unique wildlife. Keeping our distance, time will be spent identifying birds, reptiles, and mammals, swimming and playing on the beach. Making our way into Florida Bay and the Gulf of Mexico, we will observe the coastal make-up of Florida’s sub-tropical beaches. This offers us yet another unique environment with its own separate flora and fauna. We will paddle approximately 10-15 miles each day. Each night we will return to our base camp or camp along the beach, cooking our own meals and spending the evening around a campfire.
Sponsors: Mr. Rubenstein & Mr. Reynolds |
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| Mountain Biking the Colorado Plateau MOUNTAIN BIKING THE COLORADO PLATEAU
Journey to the fabled redrock country of the Colorado plateau to explore some of the world's classic mountain bike trails. We'll visit Moab, Utah, and Fruita, Colo., among other areas to "find the mythic ride." Expect to work on your technical skills as well as aerobic fitness while tackling a variety of rides in an incredibly picturesque setting. We'll car-camp along the way and cook most of our own meals. Although we’ll spend a lot of time in the saddle, we'll also explore the conflicting visions of development in this harsh landscape, including the recreation industry as well as oil and gas drilling and ranching. What impacts does each industry have on the fragile desert environment? How can a sustainable course for this region be charted? We will also look at the history of Utah and the Church of Latter Day Saints. Be ready to work hard on your bike as well as part of a group.
Sponsors: Mr. Button & Mr. Manning
Intermediate mountain biking skills recommended. Bike rental available. |
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| The Oldest Living Things on Earth THE OLDEST LIVING THINGS ON EARTH: California’s Bristlecone Pine Ancient Forest
In the White Mountains of California, just east of Bishop, between 10,000 and 11,500 feet, are a few remaining stands of bristlecone pines, among which are the oldest nonclonal living things on Earth. Methuselah, in the Schulman Grove, is 4,700 years old. In the winter, the road to the Bristlecone Pine Ancient Forest is buried under snow, necessitating the use of skis or snowshoes to gain access to the trees. It will take two days to reach the area, as it is about 15 miles from the plowed highway. We will carry everything we need in our packs and camp in tents. After exploring and photographing the groves, we will make an attempt, weather permitting, to climb White Mountain (14,246 feet), which will take another two days—with an additional two days to ski/snowshoe out. This will be quite an adventure: a good deal of winter mountaineering, combined with a chance to explore some of the living wonders of the world, all at a time of year when we will have the trees and the mountain virtually to ourselves.
Sponsors: Dr. Gilbert & Mr. Gustke
Requirements: Good physical condition.
Note: This Interim returns Thursday, March 18. |
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| Paris, Provence, and the French Riviera PARIS, PROVENCE, AND THE FRENCH RIVIERA
This Interim will provide students who are or have been in French classes at FVS with an opportunity to explore first-hand the various aspects of French culture they’ve only learned about through books, pictures and videos. We will start with four days in the capital of France to visit such famous places as the Eiffel Tower, the Louvre, the Arc de Triomphe and the prestigious Sorbonne University, among others. Students who have been in French IV Honors will also appreciate walking through the sites of Montmartre featured in the movie Amélie. A ride on the French high-speed train (TGV) will then take us to the south of France, where we will visit Nîmes, Avignon, Monaco and Nice and discover the scenery that has inspired painters and poets–and the fragrances and flavors that have shaped southern French culture.
Sponsors: Mrs. Kimlicko and Ms. Czop
Prerequisites: Must be enrolled in French II or above or have completed French III.
Requirements: Valid passport.
Note: This Interim returns on Friday, March 19. |
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| 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.
*Must be able to swim; no other previous rafting or camping experience required.
Cost: $955 + cost of backcountry camping equipment
Sponsors: Ms. Buckley and Mr. Maher |
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| Rustic Woodworking RUSTIC WOODWORKING
Experience the soulful feel of the mountains through the craft of woodworking. On this Interim, students and teachers will work together to build functional and beautiful furniture, including Adirondack chairs, rustic tables and small decorative items. We will do the majority of the work at the FVS Mountain Campus, where we will be visited by accomplished woodworkers who will share their skills with us. In addition to creating chairs and tables, we will be taking advantage of some of the other activities nearby to the Mountain Campus, including skiing and soaking in hot springs.
Sponsors: Mr. Curran & Mr. Devine |
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| Story and Place: Asian Immigrants in Seattle STORY AND PLACE: Asian Immigrants in Seattle
Our Interim follows the model of Francis Froelicher’s belief that students should “write their own history.” You will learn about the Asian immigrants of the Pacific Northwest who did just that: established a place and culture for themselves in a new land. In a place that we hope is new for you as well, we will take guided tours of several Asian museums, a Japanese garden, and the International District of Seattle, all in order to gain perspective on a group of people who, though different from us in many ways, share many of the same values and beliefs. You will also work on your own story of your experience after reading and hearing about others. We hope to develop a renewed understanding for people in transition, whether to a new school, a new country or a new way of life.
Sponsors: Mr. Harvey and Mrs. Harvey
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| Three Cultures of New Mexico THREE CULTURES OF NEW MEXICO
New Mexico serves as our living laboratory as we explore the question “Can people from three different cultures with an intertwined history really get along?” We travel to Taos where we explore the Native American, Hispanic and Anglo peoples who live and work there today. From the first peoples who still live at Taos Pueblo to the Spanish way of life demonstrated at the Martínez Hacienda to the Anglo contribution (a hippie commune, fancy shops and high-priced art), we will see it all. On the High Road we stop to talk to weavers in action and visit the holiest Catholic site in all of the American Southwest as we make our way to Santa Fe. From the art of Georgia O’Keeffe to miraculous staircases to delicious burritos, the capital of New Mexico always surprises travelers who arrive at the center of the Hispanic Southwest—the Plaza. Petroglyphs are around the corner as we wonder what the Native American ancestors recorded in them. Finally, we spend two nights at Laguna Pueblo with Native American families who will host us and share their cooking and view of life with us. Acoma, the “sky city” helps us go back in time to the mesa dwellers. Can very different people get along peacefully? Through food, history, art and new friends, we will attempt to answer that question.
Sponsors: Ms. Kule & Mr. Hamilton |
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| Freshman Interim San Luis Valley, Native American Heritage, Pioneer Heritage, and Ranching Heritage. The focus is on the heritage of Colorado.
Sponsors: Mrs. Alley, Mr. Baraty, Mr. Lilley, Mrs. Carrese, Mr. Jones, Mr. Williams, Mr. Handford, Mrs. Handford
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