At the University of Colorado Denver, one of America’s top accredited academic and health sciences institutions, international students are serious about their studies. And when it’s time to take a study break, students are also serious about their play—the beautiful Rocky Mountains are only a short drive away from campus.

Organized and sponsored by the International Colleges and Partnerships and International Student and Scholar Services departments in the Office of International Affairs (OIA), the annual ski and snowboarding trip took this year’s group of students to a world-class ski resort in scenic Keystone, Colorado.

An early morning snow was dusting the wintry slopes, making the landscape prime for the day’s activities. Upon arrival, every student was given skiing or snowboarding lessons. Each student was able to join a learning group that safely matched his or her skill level. Although many of the students were first-time skiers, they were all equally excited to take the lift to the top of the mountain and begin their “first-run” experience down the slopes.

“If you come to Colorado and you don’t ski, then you are really missing out,” said international student Ya Ping Chang. “The ski resorts in Colorado are very famous.”

The students spent the day improving their abilities and doing multiple runs (known as “carving up the mountain”).

One of the trips’ organizers, Joanne Wambeke, noted, “It was the absolutely perfect day with sunshine and mountain scenery. All of the students had fun, and there were no broken bones! I would call it a complete success.”

The Office of International Affairs conducts other programming throughout the academic year that allows international students to experience Colorado outside of the classroom. These include events such as the annual Wild West history and environment learning tour throughout one of Colorado’s most scenic parks and a traditional American Thanksgiving Feast celebration. International students enrolled in the CU Denver ESL Academy have opportunities to take educational field trips to learning locations such as the Denver Art Museum and the Denver Museum of Nature and Science.

To learn more about International Student and Scholar Services, visit online at: International.ucdenver.edu/ISSS.

For more information about International Colleges and Partnerships, visit:  www.ucdenver.edu/academics/InternationalPrograms/oia/InternationalCollegesPartners.

To learn more about the ESL Academy, University of Colorado Denver, visit online at: ESL.ucdenver.edu.