Rocky Mountain semester

Rocky Mountain Semester

Head of School	Molly Barnes
Established	1998
School type	Private, by semester
Location	Leadville, CO, USA
Enrollment	~38 students per semester
Campus	Mountain
School colors	Grey, White

The Rocky Mountain Semester welcomed its first class in 1998 with Molly and Christopher Barnes as its first directors. Since its inception, the RMS has served as an unique opportunity for talented high school juniors to spend a semester living, traveling, and studying in the mountains of central Colorado and the canyons of southeastern Utah. Today, 38 students from schools all over the United States send students to the RMS. Students spend five weeks over the semester on three wilderness expeditions that focus on leadership and community-building and 12 weeks on campus completing a standard junior year curriculum. Admission is competitive.

The school offer an honors and AP-level curriculum to prepare students for their senior year and college. Courses are designed to match the content and rigor of sending schools. Class offerings include English, Natural Science, French, Spanish, United States History, AP United States History, Algebra 2, pre-calculus, and Calculus.

During the wilderness program, students travel to the canyons of Utah and the mountains of Colorado. They practice a high-level wilderness curriculum taught by their academic teachers, who are also experienced outdoor educators. In addition to camping skills, the RMS uses expeditions to teach leadership concepts and build community.

On campus, students chop their own wood to heat wood stoves in rustic cabins. They complete all chores on campus, and students cook dinners for the entire community community once per week.

Graduates of the RMS go on to attend top colleges across the nation. The top three schools attended by RMS alumni are: Colorado College, Brown, and the University of Colorado.

In June 2008, the RMS held its 10-year reunion. Alumni from each semester returned to campus for a weekend of work projects and celebration.

In essence, the RMS combines some of the best qualities of an academic program at a rigorous boarding school with the adventure of a summer backpacking expedition.

External links

* [http://www.hminet.org/page.php?pname=rms Rocky Mountain Semester official website]
*Maine Coast Semester - a similar program in Maine
*The Mountain School - a similar program in Vermont