Adventure
Learning beyond the classroom
RMSEL's Adventure Program OverviewLearning beyond the classroom
RMSEL's Adventure Program Overview
Learning beyond the classroom
At Rocky Mountain School for Expeditionary Learning (RMSEL), adventure is not an extracurricular activity; it is an essential part of how we learn. Rooted in Outward Bound principles and Expeditionary Learning's belief that we are crew, not passengers, our Adventure Program challenges students to discover their strengths, build meaningful relationships, and apply their learning in authentic contexts.
Through crew trips and fieldwork, students experience active, purposeful learning connected to the world around them. Whether hiking a mountain peak, collecting scientific data in the field, engaging with community partners, or studying history where it happened, RMSEL students learn that growth occurs when we step beyond our comfort zones and into meaningful experiences.
spring and fall crew trips
What is a Crew Trip? spring and fall crew trips
What is a Crew Trip?
spring and fall crew trips
Every RMSEL student participates in two crew trips each year: one in the fall and one in the spring. Crew trips are a core component of our educational model and are required for all students.
Fall Crew Trips: Building Crew
Fall crew trips focus on building relationships, trust, and community. Students learn what it means to be part of a crew by supporting one another, solving problems together, and developing the habits of character that define our school culture.
Spring Crew Trips: Learning Through Adventure
Spring crew trips connect directly to the classroom curriculum and expeditionary learning. Students deepen their understanding of academic content by engaging with places, experts, communities, and environments that bring their studies to life.
What Happens on a Crew Trip?
While every trip is unique, most crew trips include:
- Camping and outdoor living
- Student-led meal preparation
- Team-building and leadership development
- Leave No Trace practices
- Reflection and solitude experiences
- Service learning
- Level II challenge activities that encourage students to stretch beyond their comfort zones
Students may participate in activities such as the following:
- Hiking and summit attempts on Colorado fourteeners
- Backpacking
- River rafting
- Rock climbing
- Mountain biking
- Ecological field studies
- Historical and cultural immersion experiences
A high school Civil Rights crew trip, for example, allows students to examine difficult chapters of American history through place-based learning, including studies of the Sand Creek Massacre and the Tulsa Black Wall Street.
Click HERE to learn more about crew trips.
Fieldwork
Learning in Authentic ContextsFieldwork
Learning in Authentic Contexts
Fieldwork
At RMSEL, we don't take field trips; we engage in fieldwork.
Fieldwork is an extension of classroom learning into authentic settings where students apply their knowledge, conduct research, engage with experts, provide service, and experience the world firsthand. Our fleet of eight 15-passenger minibuses allows crews to access learning opportunities throughout Colorado and beyond regularly.
Fieldwork may involve:
- Learning from scientists, researchers, and professionals
- Conducting real-world investigations
- Gathering and analyzing data
- Providing meaningful community service
- Exploring natural environments
- Participating in outdoor recreation and adventure
Examples of RMSEL fieldwork experiences include:
- Studying ice cores with glaciologists at Colorado School of Mines
- Stargazing and learning from astronomers at CU Boulder
- Exploring civic processes at the Colorado State Capitol
- Conducting statistical surveys at Cherry Creek Mall
- Volunteering with Food Bank of the Rockies to support local communities
- Birdwatching, hiking, and environmental observation throughout Colorado
Fieldwork transforms learning from something students read about into something they experience, investigate, and contribute to.
