The Cottonwood Institute announced today that their third-annual Base Camp Bash fundraising event and silent auction will be held at the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Lower Downtown Denver on Friday, March 28, 2008 from 7-10pm.

Proceeds from the Bash will help fund their public school programs in the Boulder/Denver area that combine adventure, wilderness survival, and environmental service to help high school students change the world. Cottonwood Institute programs are designed to motivate students to tackle important environmental issues affecting their communities ranging from water pollution to invasive species to wildfire mitigation.

Though the bar was set high with 2007’s $15,000, the Cottonwood Institute aims to break its own fundraising record at the third-annual Base Camp Bash with $25,000 for public school programs and scholarships.  An array of silent auction items tempt this year’s bidders, including: a Whistler ski vacation, a wine tasting getaway in California, a Mountain Hardwear tent and environmental consulting services; not to mention all of the tickets and gift certificates to the coolest events and hippest restaurants in the Front Range.

The organization a fun night out on the town including give away prizes, appetizers and a cash bar, along with a sneak peak of a short film from the 2008 Boulder Adventure Film Festival and a student-produced Cottonwood Institute DVD. The Bash will feature music by local guitarist Gary Shackelford, who you may have seen pickin’ his folky tunes at the Boulder Farmer’s Market and other venues around town.

“I am really excited about the direction our organization is heading. Each year we reach more students and change more lives and the generosity of the community has been outstanding,” said Ford Church, Cottonwood Institute Founder and Executive Director. “The Base Camp Bash fundraising event will help ensure that many more students are able to experience the outdoors and become future environmental stewards.”

Base Camp Bash promises to “walk the talk” in terms of environmental sustainability. This will be a Zero Waste event meaning that all waste from the event will be recycled, composted or reused with the help of Eco-Cycle in Boulder. The Green Heart Institute in Boulder will also lend a helping hand by donating wind energy credits to offset the event’s energy use. In addition, the Base Camp Bash will educate attendees about the Cottonwood Institute, how students are changing the world one adventure at a time, and how they can reduce their environmental footprint.

Tickets are $25 in advance or $30 at the door the night of the event. Tickets can be purchased directly through the Cottonwood Institute. For more information about the event or to purchase a ticket, call 303.447.1076 or visit www.CottonwoodInstitute.org and click on “Base Camp Bash.”