Special Events

Education Begins With Strong Roots
                --Theme for 2010 CRMS Scholarship Silent Auction

Special events at Colorado Rocky Mountain School allow students, faculty and staff, alumni, families, and friends to participate in the CRMS experience. The school puts on a variety of orientation, celebration, and fundraising events each year that are targeted to our various constituents. Look below to see what events you would like to participate in or volunteer for.

New-Parent Orientation & Parent Potluck Social
The purpose of New-Parent Orientation is to welcome new families and to help them make the transition to CRMS by informing them about the academic and active programs, as well as other aspects of student life. The orientation closes with a parent potluck dinner at the Head of School’s house with returning CRMS parents, faculty, and staff and is a great opportunity to network with other parents about any remaining questions.

Family Weekend
Colorado Rocky Mountain School Family Weekend is an event that highlights the CRMS experience. Each October, this annual event brings parents, grandparents, and siblings to campus for a weekend packed with opportunities to share in campus life. The weekend includes an all-school meeting and welcome from the Head of School. Families are encouraged to visit classes, meet with teachers and advisors, and participate in all aspects of school life.

In addition, the CRMS Parent Network offers several parent education opportunities, including speakers on parenting and college-counseling topics. The weekend activities peak on Saturday night during the Scholarship Silent Auction and Coffeehouse—our student talent show.

Gala Dinner, Scholarship Silent Auction & Coffeehouse
Saturday evening is the centerpiece of Family Weekend! It begins with a Gala Buffet Dinner at the Bar Fork and proceeds with a dessert and Silent Auction social. Luminaries light the pathway to the Barn. Awaiting you are hundreds of great items to bid on. Unique items such as student-blown glass bowls and fresh vegetables from the CRMS garden make this auction a unique scholarship fundraiser.

In conjunction with the Auction is the very fun and entertaining Coffeehouse show. This popular event, featuring the many talents of our CRMS community, includes performances of music, dance, poetry, and more by students and faculty and is a great way to end the CRMS Family Weekend experience.

Fall Musical
Each November, students in the CRMS Drama program perform a full musical production, under the direction of Jeff Schlepp.

Join Us for a Cup of Java Winter Event
Alumni and friends of the school visiting the valley in late December are invited to stop by our “coffee talk” event at the Lift Café in Carbondale, which takes place one evening during the last week of the year.
Alumni Reunion
CRMS welcomes alumni back to campus to reconnect with one another and the school. Reunion 2010 was be held February 12-14, in conjunction with Founders' Day and Telluride MountainFilm on Tour. Alumni who attended appreciated being able to experience the campus as it is when school is in session, and to connect with students and faculty as well as each other. Reunion dates for 2011 will be announced soon.

Telluride MountainFilm on Tour
Each Februrary, CRMS hosts the annual world-renowned environmental and adventure film festival—Telluride Mountainfilm on Tour. This popular community event features a selection of films that display themes of adventure, mountaineering, remarkable personalities, and important environmental and social messages. Screenings take place in the historic CRMS Barn, where attendees have the opportunity to view amazing and thought-provoking films and engage in meaningful conversations. Proceeds benefit CRMS’s distinctive programs.

Founders' Day
Each year, the entire CRMS community comes together to spend a day celebrating the legacy of the school’s founders, John and Anne Holden, while learning how the values they held remain relevant today. Founders' Day in 2010 was held on February 11 and 12.

Scholarship Work Day
Scholarship Work Day is an annual event that was initiated by students in 1965 to raise funds to help make a Colorado Rocky Mountain School education available to all students, regardless of their economic status. One day each spring, teams of CRMS students and faculty go to homes, ranches, and agencies around the community to do work. Scholarship Work Day exemplifies the CRMS core values of community service, respect, responsibility, and a strong work ethic while simultaneously raising funds for fellow students. Scholarship Work Day 2010 will take place in May.

Spring Concert
Each May, ensembles from CRMS music classes play classics in myriad genres, from jazz to rock to blues.

Spring Play
Students in the Drama Program perform a play each May in the CRMS barn. This year's play will be Brighton Beach Memoirs by Neil Simon.

Plant Sale
The Colorado Rocky Mountain School Garden Program holds its annual Plant Sale each May, offering a great selection of organic tomatoes, herbs, vegetables, and perennial and annual flowers.

Crystal River Races
This annual event held in May is the nation’s oldest high school kayak race, and it draws boaters from around the state.

Summer Sports Sale
Bikes, kayaks, and other summer equipment are sold at this on-campus gear sale.

Graduation
Usually held the first Saturday in June, this beautiful event celebrates the graduating seniors as they receive their traditional leather diplomas.

Friday Night of Mountain Fair Summer Event
Friday night of Mountain Fair (which takes place the last full weekend in July), CRMS hosts an appetizer and cash bar reception at a local Carbondale restaurant for alumni and friends of the school.

For more information about any of these events, please contact the Development Office at 970-963-2562.