Summers in Denver are warm and dry with occasional afternoon thunderstorms. Temperatures range between 70 - 90 degrees (F) during the day and can be much cooler in the evenings (50-60's). Bring an umbrella or rain jacket as well as a light sweater or jacket for evenings. Those of you who plan to go to the mountains for hiking on the weekends should bring good, sturdy walking/hiking shoes or boots, comfortable breathable clothing, and an extra outer layer for warmth.

Attire in Denver is casual. Women may wear shorts and pants just about anywhere, and men seldom need a tie. Jeans are common. For lectures, dress comfortably in clothing that allows you to move around (sometimes on the floor!).

Altitude/Health:

Denver is called the "Mile High City" because it sits at an elevation of 5,280 feet. Although most people will not notice the difference in altitude, some people may experience feeling light headed or fatigued during the first couple of days. For those of you coming from abroad, jet lag can exacerbate this. The key to altitude sickness is to drink plenty of water!

Sunscreen is also highly recommended due to our altitude. It is easy to get burned, even if the air temperature seems cool. This is even more important in the higher elevations.

Denver has low humidity. If you wear contact lenses, you may want to keep rewetting drops handy. You may also find that your skin feels drier. A good lotion or oil will help. A moisturizer with sunscreen is best.

Shopping

The training center is close to a post office and a copy shop. In a 15-minute walk, you can be at the Denver Art Museum or the Denver Public Library. There is a shopping area downtown called Denver Pavilions; which has a Niketown, Limited, Virgin Records, Barnes and Noble, a large movie theater, and many restaurants and other specialty shops. Also downtown is Tattered Cover, Denver's wonderful, local bookstore. The next closest major shopping area is about 5-10 minutes away by car or by bus to the east: Cherry Creek Shopping Area. This includes the Cherry Creek Mall plus an outdoor shopping area (Cherry Creek North) just north of the mall with many shops, restaurants, salons, grocery stores, etc. On Saturday mornings, there is a great farmer's market in the parking lot of the Bed Bath and Beyond. There are many other malls and shopping centers around Denver.

Activities

Denver offers many fun activities. Of course, you will want to take advantage of our beautiful parks and trails, especially in the mountains.

There are a lot of options for day trips or overnighters on the weekends. In town, there are many beautiful parks--several very close to the training center. The Denver Zoo and Natural History Museum offer wonderful exhibits and are located just east of downtown near City Park. Denver's recent surge in growth has resulted in many new shopping areas, movie theaters, and restaurants. Our downtown area thrives with restaurants, shopping, movie theaters, nightclubs and bars.

Food/Dining:

There is a refrigerator at the training center for lunch/drink storage during the day. There is also a microwave for student use. There are a few small restaurants and cafes within walking distance of the training center. There is also a large grocery store (King Soopers) two blocks from the training center.