A student speaks at the Outdoor and Environmental Opportunity Fair

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Together for Tomorrow: A Cottonwood-ELK Collaboration Sparks Youth Enthusiasm for Environmental Careers

Inspiring the Next Wave of Environmental Stewards: How This Collaborative Event Is Helping Shape the Future of Outdoor and Environmental Advocacy. Written by Associate Director & Senior Instructor Chelsea Tossing. With a shared vision of empowering young people and fostering a deeper connection with nature, Cottonwood Institute and Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) brought together… Read more »

14er Selfie at DIA with Ford David Mike

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14ers Watercolor Exhibit Lands At Denver International Airport

  We are excited to announce that the 14ers Portraits watercolor collection by Mike Wilson are now on exhibit at Denver International Airport (DEN) to benefit Cottonwood Institute from March – September 2024. Local artist, Mike Wilson, generously donated his beautiful collection of 53 watercolors of all of the 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet) in… Read more »

Base Camp Bash

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Base Camp Bash 2024: A Night of Wild Wonder

In a nutshell, 2024’s Base Camp Bash did not fall short of its theme as a “A Night of Wild Wonder.” On the evening of March 2nd, as attendees entered Upper Larimer event space in RiNo, they were greeted with a variety of sensory experiences: the scent of hundreds of fresh cut flowers, the sound… Read more »

CI Staff play a game of of Nutty Squirrels

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Cottonwood Winter Training: Connecting with Nature

A day of community building, thoughtful discussion, and hands-on learning to start the year intentionally. Written by Iona Kelly. On January 7th, 2024 Cottonwood Institute held an Instructor Winter Training day in the beautiful Camp Patiya. It was held with a focus on our various programs and how to support the creation of opportunities for… Read more »

Elisha Roberts

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Board Spotlight: Elisha Roberts

We are excited to introduce you to our newest Cottonwood Institute (CI) Board Member, Elisha Roberts, who joined the CI Board in October 2023. Read on to learn more about Elisha! What is your story? Where did you grow up and how did you get to where you are today? I was born and raised… Read more »

Cottonwood Institute Founder and ED participates in an ELK community event

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Building Community Through Engagement

How cultivating connections has strengthened our collective impact. Written by Director of Strategic Partnerships, Teagan Papke. At Cottonwood Institute, our passion goes beyond our core mission. We’re dedicated to weaving a tapestry of strong, authentic relationships within our community. This means proactively seeking volunteer opportunities, attending community events, supporting current collaborations and initiating new ones,… Read more »

Centaurus High School students rock hopping

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Confused About When To Donate At The End Of The Year?

When Is The Best Time To Donate To Cottonwood Institute? With Giving Tuesday, Colorado Give Day, the holidays, and the end of the year, you may be wondering when is the best time to donate? Every organization is different, but for Cottonwood Institute (Cottonwood), it is better to donate between now and December 31st, 2023… Read more »

https://drive.google.com/drive/folders/12LkeE9DX3D02RTAHI-VA53nia1VhcifM?usp=drive_link

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AXL Academy’s October Odyssey: Exploring Nature’s Classroom!

Discover how AXL Academy students turned forests into forums and campfires into classrooms with their October overnight trip and field day! Written by CI Field Instructor M Tormasi. This October, Cottonwood Institute was excited to facilitate several outdoor education programs for students at AXL Academy! After hosting an overnight trip for the 8th grade CAP… Read more »