Signature Programs
At Dawson, experiential learning is part of how students learn every day.
Students spend an average of 150 hours each year beyond the traditional classroom, applying what they learn through experiments, projects, fieldwork, and hands-on problem-solving.
To support that depth of learning and create even more opportunities beyond the classroom, Dawson offers Signature Programs designed for real growth and real stakes.
Fall Trips
Every fall, grades 7-12 travel across Colorado for an outdoor adventure, practicing lessons in respect, compassion, courage, and integrity, while building incredible bonds with their classmates.
Winterim
A week-long, annual experience that provides K-12 students with the opportunity to dive deeply into a special topic, culture, or activity. Winterim is an intentional exploration curated by expert faculty to inspire, educate, and teach durable skills. Winterim often includes local, domestic, or international travel.
Connections
Dawson’s internship program places Upper School students in real organizations across Colorado’s Aerospace & Defense, Smart Tech & AI, Renewable Energy, Healthcare & Biotech, New Media & Creative Arts, Tourism & Outdoor Recreation, and Civil Service industries. Students in grades 9–12 can participate in summer and after-school internships; juniors and seniors can participate in a for-credit, semester-long internship during the school day.
Distinctions
Some students want to go deeper, not just broader. Upper schoolers who complete advanced, rigorous coursework and a culminating experience (internship, capstone, portfolio, or performance) in Science, Civics, Business and Entrepreneurship, Art, or Innovation can earn a distinction at graduation. Distinctions are similar to college majors, and they signal to colleges significant investment and achievement in a discipline.
CU Boulder High School ACCESS
Through our CU Boulder High School ACCESS Partnership, academically eligible students in grades 10 - 12 can take real university courses and earn dual credit, both high school and college credit. This opportunity allows students to get a head start on their college degree while experiencing the challenge and independence of college-level academics. To participate, students must submit Dawson's CU Boulder agreement form to receive approval from Dawson School for dual credit. The form can be found in your student portal along with additional steps.