Program
Signature Programs

Trips & Experiences

Beyond the Classroom

Off campus adventures help students go further! Classroom learning is supported by opportunities for students to learn by going, doing and experiencing for themselves.

Overnight Trips

Overnight adventures begin in fifth grade. These trips allow for students to strengthen bonds with classmates and teachers all while encouraging independence and personal growth.

List of 4 items.

  • Developing Confidence at 7,231 Feet

    Fifth graders take their first overnight trip with Graland to the La Foret Conference and Retreat Center, located in the scenic Black Forest near Colorado Springs. Daily activities are designed to promote group interaction, cooperation and healthy relationships. Students are guided through the high and low rope courses to develop self-confidence and trust in their classmates.
  • Camping at Mesa Verde

    Of all Graland trips, many students would say their favorite is the spring Southwest Trip! Since 1971, sixth grade students have learned firsthand about ancient Puebloan culture in the Mesa Verde area. After archaeological digs, creating pottery, learning cultural dances, and exploring cliff dwellings, they spend time in nature reflecting on the lifestyle of early Coloradans.
  • Studying Democracy in D.C.

    The seventh grade trip to Washington, D.C., provides an opportunity to see American democracy and learn how it was established, how it works and how it has been tested. Through historic sites, monuments, museums and memorials, students gain a better understanding of our country’s unique experiences and key moments in its history, laying the foundation for the eighth grade focus on civil rights.
  • Experiencing Civil Rights in the American South

    To actualize their learning about the Civil Rights Movement, eighth grade students travel to historical locations in the South and experience the people, places and events of this unique period of American history. Journaling throughout the trip, they return to Graland and express their understanding with a meaningful project such as art, a podcast, or a poem. 

Showcasing Trip Learnings

Trip learning encompasses much more than the time away. Classroom lessons prepare students for more in-depth teaching on location; after their trip experiences, students are given time to process and express their reflections in meaningful, personal ways through creative projects.
The Southwest trip is one of my top five favorite experiences. Mrs. Priest inspired my lifelong love of history and archaeology. So happy to see the legacy continue.

Mark McIntyre
Alumnus

Enriched Experiences

Students in all grades benefit from enriched curricular lessons through on-campus visitors and off-campus day trips. Teachers carefully design these programs to expand their classroom walls and to take advantage of specialized programming available near our central location in Denver. 

Examples of Experiences

Guest Speakers

Each year Graland features a variety of musicians, artists, authors and guest speakers who broaden minds and expose students to local and global issues.

Graland Country Day School

Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.