High School Semester

A high school semester like no other.

The HMI Semester is a four-month study away program for high school juniors and seniors. Students spend a full academic semester on our campus and go on three wilderness expeditions in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado and canyons of Utah. They return home invigorated about education, connected to nature, and experienced in leadership.

4 Months in Colorado & Utah

3 Wilderness Expeditions

Rigorous Honors & AP Courses

High School Semester

HMI Semester students live on our campus in Leadville, Colorado, surrounded by curious and ambitious peers in sustainable, off-grid cabins. They complete a full course load of honors and AP classes in order to reintegrate smoothly into their home academic environments. Unique to HMI, students spend 4 weeks of the semester backpacking and skiing in the mountains of Colorado and canyons of Utah. In their remaining years of high school and beyond, our alumni consider their time at HMI as one of the most important and formative periods of their lives.

Who Should Apply?

High school sophomores and juniors interested in spending their Fall or Spring semester at HMI the following year.
If you are a current junior or senior looking to study away, please contact the admissions team.
Curious and engaged students interested in place-based education.
No previous outdoor experience is required. Students must be interested in spending extended periods (9-14 days) outdoors in wilderness settings.
About 40% of students receive need-based financial aid; top packages can include free outdoor gear rentals and cover flights to and from Colorado.

HMI students come from public and private schools across the country and abroad. What unites them is their desire to engage with education differently and challenge themselves.

We believe qualified students should have access to the unique educational opportunities at HMI. Learn about HMI’s financial aid here.

High School Semester

Fall Semester: August 19, 2026 - December 16, 2026
Spring Semester: January 20, 2027 - May 23, 2027

Age: High School Juniors & Seniors

Honors & AP courses: English, Math, Natural Science, US History, Spanish, Environmental Ethics, and an optional Independent Study
1 expedition in Colorado (9-14 days)
- Fall: Rocky Mountain backpacking
- Spring: Backcountry skiing
2 expeditions in Utah (9-14 days each)
Cabin living & residential life
Communal activities including cooking, chopping wood & chores
Wilderness First Aid (WFA) course

Fall Expedition

Spring Expedition

Fall & Spring Expeditions

An HMI Semester at a Glance

30-40

students

is the typical semester size. We partner with public and private schools to form each cohort.

40%

of students receive financial aid

HMI is proud to offer need-based financial aid. For more information about affording HMI, visit our Tuition & Affordability page.

8-12

students per class

Small class sizes mean students get the support they need from faculty.

6-8

cabin mates

Students live in single-gender cabins with their peers on campus.

20+

states represented

Semester students come from schools across the country, as well as from international schools.

80%

of alumni write their college application essay about HMI

Many students also solicit a recommendation from an HMI teacher.

An HMI Semester at a Glance

30-40

students

is the typical semester size. We partner with public and private schools, as well as host international students.

40%

of students receive financial aid

HMI is proud to offer need-based financial aid. For more information about affording HMI, visit our Tuition & Affordability page.

8-12

students per class

Small class sizes mean students get the support they need from faculty.

6-8

cabin mates

Students live in single-gender cabins with their peers on campus.

20

states represented

Semester students come from schools across the country.

80%

of alumni write their college application essay about HMI

Many students also solicit a recommendation from an HMI teacher.

Course Offerings

Practices & Principles: Ethics of the Natural World
Natural Science
Literature of the Natural World
United States History: Western Perspectives
Advanced Placement United States History
Mathematics (Algebra II, Precalculus, Advanced Placement Calculus)
Spanish (Intermediate, Intermediate-Advanced, Advanced)
Independent Study

For more information about courses at HMI, visit our Academics page or Curriculum Guide.

Academics at HMI

HMI offers a rigorous academic curriculum that prepares students for success in the remainder of high school and beyond. Our courses closely align with the honors and AP-level classes at our sending schools in order to facilitate smooth transitions for our graduates.

Fall Semester students can expect to return home ready to begin the second half of common year-long courses at their sending schools. Spring Semester classes start roughly at the midpoint of the academic year and prepare students to reenter their home school in the fall.

Academics do not pause when students are on expedition. Each class assigns work that students complete by the end of expedition, and discussions and labs are held in the field. Much of the work on expedition is place-based, connecting students with the world around them.

HMI is accredited by the Association of Colorado Independent Schools, an affiliate of the National Association of Independent Schools. Our transcripts and credit are accepted by public and private schools across the country.

Life on Campus

Students live in sustainable, off-grid cabins with 6 to 8 peers. Cabins are lit by solar-powered lights and heated by wood stoves. Students are responsible for lighting the stoves and splitting wood to keep warm at night. Students are not allowed to have phones on campus.

The rest of our campus is WiFi enabled. Students use personal laptops for schoolwork and may connect with family and friends at designated times.

Students complete weekly chores, including preparing campus meals, participate in daily exercise and activities, and attend evening study hall.

On weekends, students might take a day trip to Great Sand Dunes National Park, spend a few hours on an afternoon “solo” near campus, learn to square dance with professional callers, or ski at our local mountain, Ski Cooper.

For more information about life on campus, see Living at HMI.

HMI Semester Families Are Saying

“HMI has been the single best experience of my life. I went on amazing adventures, met lifelong friends and began to understand my life’s purpose.”

Bates B.Semester 50 Student

"This semester-long experience has impacted Isabella's ‘being' almost as much as our parenting of her over the last 17 years. Thank you HMI for providing this independent, safe and transformative experience where she found her own beliefs and ideals, life long friends and probably most importantly, her voice."

Michele W.Semester 39 Parent

"Looking back on my first academic block at HMI, I learned a simple yet profound truth: at the end of the day, I am content, and everything is going to be okay."

Zoe N.Semester 54 Student

"I never imagined just how supportive, loving, and impactful the HMI community would be in my life. I felt understood and respected by the people around me, and I got to be the most genuine version of myself every day. I found mentors who inspired me and some of my best friends in the world. I walked away from my four months at HMI with a new family and a new place to call home."

Clara M.Semester 53 Student

Stories from the Field

Semester 56 First Academic Block: A Shift in Education

March 12, 2026

Semester 56 First Expedition: Canyons, Community & Circles

February 24, 2026

Semester 54 Third Expedition: Connection, Revitalizing Pools, Feeling Capable and The Power of Returning

May 20, 2025

Our Sending Schools

Since 1998, students from hundreds of high schools have attended HMI. Use the map to see if your high school has sent students before, or work with your school to be the first student to attend HMI.

Eight member schools have made significant commitments to HMI by allowing financial aid to travel with their students who participate in the HMI Semester.

Are you a high school administrator or teacher interested in building a partnership with HMI? Learn how to become an HMI sending school.