In September of 2014, Community Adventure Program (CAP) students at New Vista High School embarked on their first overnight backpacking trip of the quarter! Led by Cottonwood Institute (CI) instructors Katie and Sandy, the group of 10 students hiked up the trails at White Ranch Park in Golden, Colorado. Once arriving at their campsite for… Read more »
Posts By: Ford Church
Instructors Get Outside to Learn and Play Together
“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” – John Muir New and returning instructors met up on a sunny Saturday morning… Read more »
Come Throwdown At The Throwdown!
It’s go time people! The Throwdown, our annual charity cornhole tournament to benefit Cottonwood Institute, is a little over a week away on Saturday, August 9th, 2014 from 11am – 5pm at City Park in Denver, CO. Come hang out for the day in beautiful City Park, play a few games of cornhole, enjoy amazing food… Read more »
Spring in Review: A Mid Year Programming Update
We’ve been busy here at Cottonwood Institute this spring! Take a look at this fun slideshow of many of our spring 2014 programs with Colorado Academy, Colorado Youth for a Change, Johnson & Wales University, Littleton Academy, Logan School, New Vista High School, and STRIVE Preparatory Schools. To learn more about past, current, and future… Read more »
Fossils, Fun, and Camping with Military Kids and Families
A bus full of excited and energetic military families emerges from the traffic and craziness of the cities of Denver and Colorado Springs into the wonder that is Colorado wilderness. Thanks to Sanborn Western Camps and Florissant Fossil Beds National Monument, these amazing families and their instructors learned not only about nature awareness and camping, but… Read more »
Casa de la Esperanza Explores South Boulder Trails and Finds la Serpiente de Cascabel
Casa de la Esperanza had a great day hiking with Cottonwood Institute last weekend as part of their Summer Nature Awareness Series. After the ride down from Longmont, participants packed up lunch, played a few name games and were ready to start learning. Juanita from Boulder Open Space and Mountain Parks (OSMP) joined them at… Read more »
Logan School Students Learn and Grow at Mission: Wolf
In late May, a group of students from Logan School for Creative Learning participated in the Endangered Wolves Project with Cottonwood Institute. Cottonwood Institute instructors Kristin and Brian led the Logan School students, teachers, and chaperones to Mission: Wolf, a horse and wolf sanctuary located across the valley from the Sangre de Cristo Mountains in… Read more »
STRIVE Prep Sunnyside Hosts Bike to School Day
This spring, over 20 students enrolled in Cottonwood Institute’s Mini-CAP course offered at STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside as an Enrichment course for students. All but three students were in the sixth grade, and together they learned about issues affecting their community and took action to improve some of the problems they observed. Passionate about air quality in their… Read more »
STRIVE Sunnyside and Green Valley Ranch Join Forces and Head to the Hills!
In mid-May, students from STRIVE Prep Sunnyside and Green Valley Ranch campuses enjoyed one of the first sunny and warm weekends of the spring. Students from both campuses came together for a fun-filled and adventurous overnight camping trip as part of their respective mini-CAP classes with Cottonwood Institute. Early on Saturday morning, they headed to… Read more »
Flood Recovery at Cal-Wood: Students from CYC Rebuild Trails
New best friends were made and hiking trails were made usable once more after eleven girls from the Colorado Youth for Change (CYC) program went to Cal-Wood for two nights. In early June, Cottonwood Institute partnered with CYC, which works to help at-risk youth to stay in high school until they can graduate. They brought… Read more »