Fort Lewis College

Durango, CO

Do your friends describe you as a madman (or woman) because of your insistent pursuit of back-country sports? And do they think you’re even crazier because you’re looking for a college now where academics and nature collide? Well, tell them to sit down—you have some explaining to do!

Nestled in the mountains of Durango, Colorado is an amazing college called Fort Lewis. It’s an ideal enclave for extreme sports enthusiasts and bookworms alike. From the Adventure Education degree that prepares you to teach and lead others in outdoor activities like rock climbing and backpacking, to the BA in American Indian Studies, this unique liberal arts college has something for everyone in a setting that will blow your mind.

I mean, could there be a better place to study the mountains than in the mountains? Survey says: nope! In fact, the Mountain Studies degree here is the first and only of its kind at a liberal arts school. Here, students explore the mountains’ roles in history and culture, and take classes in biology, history, anthropology, and the geosciences. Even better, this program forces its students into the outdoors with Fort Lewis’ Outdoor Pursuits program. This organization is one of the largest on campus, with close to 900 involved students and professors who participate each year. It was designed to introduce students to all of the available outdoor activities in the Four Corners region that surrounds Fort Lewis. 

And literally, there are outdoor activities in every direction from the campus. Purgatory, Telluride and Wolf Creek ski resorts are all within driving distance, and to the west, the desert invites students for backpacking and hiking adventures. But if you’re only borderline obsessed with outdoor sports and need a taste of civilization every once and awhile, head down to Main Street in Durango with other Fort Lewis students—they love it here! Restaurants and shops line the traditional-style main drag in town, and students are often found  trading their mittens for a warm drink to catch a break from the resounding chill in the air.

Incidentally, Fort Lewis isn’t a good choice for the faint of cold. Located at 6,800 feet, snow comes down in the winter months, and North Face coats and weatherproof boots aren’t abnormal in-class gear. But for students looking for smaller class sizes and a picturesque winter wonderland beyond the classroom walls, Fort Lewis College is a spectacular alternative to the much larger Colorado-Boulder and Colorado State universities.

Thinking you’re going to miss out on sports at a smaller school that’s tucked high in the mountains? Think again. The Fort Lewis Skyhawks feature D-II men’s football and golf, men’s and women’s basketball, cross country and soccer, and women’s softball and volleyball. And if you’re wondering where the winter sports come in, ice hockey and skiing are popular club sports on campus too.

There’s much to love about Fort Lewis College—just ask the 4,000 or so students who choose to call it home for four years. Sure, they’ll talk about the exquisite, peaked backdrop, and how the small town atmosphere can make even the most homesick person feel right at home. But what they’ll probably speak to most often is how incredible it is to find a college where they can participate in outdoor activities with so many like-minded people (students and professors alike). This is one college that truly values its location and makes every effort to challenge its students both on an academic and extracurricular level.

As a kid, you were a fort-builder in the living room. As a college-bound student, you’re thinking of building your education at a little place called Fort Lewis. Ready to take the plunge? Find out at www.fortlewis.edu/.