Class of 1969 Mountain Campus
Located just two hours from Fountain Valley’s 1,100-acre campus on the Prairie, the Class of 1969 Mountain Campus is a learning landscape and lodge that brings students and faculty together each academic year in a spectacular setting at the foot of the majestic Collegiate Peaks.
The Mountain Campus was inspired by Former Trustee and Associate Headmaster John C. Raushenbush P ’80, who began surveying the Arkansas River Valley in the early ’70s desiring to build a wilderness retreat for FVS alumni, students, and faculty. With help from Former Director of Admission Michael M. Cronk and from generous donors–the Class of 1969 included–the School eventually purchased a 40-acre plot near Buena Vista, Colo.
About a dozen students from the Classes of 1976 and 1977 worked weekends with faculty and a foreman one spring to assemble the cabin structure. Soon to follow would be an insulated basement, a rock flagpole base built by the Class of 1969 during their 10th reunion, and a deck, which was completed during Senior Seminar in the early ’90s using $5,000 in funds raised from a 115-mile run from FVS to the Mountain Campus in 1982. Another run was held in 1983, and a group of cyclists raised money in 1985 by making the trek on two wheels.
Today, the Mountain Campus is known for its role as a basecamp during outdoor adventures, Seminars, and class retreats. A place for learning, camaraderie, and fun, the Mountain Campus has enabled generations of students to forge lifelong bonds, and alumni have dedicated their time and resources to the renovation and upkeep of this treasure.
Freshman & Senior Retreats
Taking place at the start of each new school year, FVS’s freshmen and senior retreats promote team-building and goal-setting and create opportunities for mentorship among the School’s oldest and youngest learners.
Western Immersion Program
Formerly a component of the 10th-grade curriculum, the Western Immersion Program (WIP) is an interdisciplinary experience offered to freshmen today. The program both holds academic roots in the traditional FVS curriculum and lends itself to experiential learning.
Ski Weekend
The Mountain Campus serves as the base for FVS’s annual Ski Weekend, held each January. Students hit the slopes of nearby Colorado ski resorts during the day and relax in the cabin at night.
Senior Seminar
An annual tradition at FVS, the senior class precedes its year-end exercises with a week-long immersion in Senior Seminar on the Class of ’69 Mountain Campus. Senior Seminar concludes with a Candlelight Ceremony, signifying the close of students’ final chapter at FVS and the eternal relationships they’ve forged with others over the past four years.
Alumni Reunion Weekend
Each year, Alumni Reunion Weekend attendees may visit the Mountain Campus for two days prior to the main event. Together with their families, they participate in a variety of activities, including rafting, hiking, and soaking in the nearby hot springs!
