As Cottonwood Institute (CI) wraps up its 17th year of operation, I wanted to take a moment to reflect about the challenges and successes of this past year. We are now highly skilled at being flexible, designing creative back up to the back up plans, and are ready to tackle any challenges and opportunities… Read more »
Posts By: Ford Church
Fourteeners Give Colorado Kids An Escape Route to the Great Outdoors
Denver artist Mike Wilson, who has painted magnificent watercolors of the highest peaks in Colorado, has joined forces with Cottonwood Institute, an award-winning 501(c)3 educational non-profit organization based in Denver, in an effort to break down barriers to get more underrepresented kids outdoors and inspire them to be leaders for the environment. Wilson’s and Cottonwood’s… Read more »
Xcel Energy Foundation Grant 2021-22
Cottonwood Institute is excited to receive a $10,000 grant from Xcel Energy Foundation to help support our CAP Classes at AXL Academy, William Smith High School, Angevine Middle School, Centaurus High School, and New Vista High School during the 2021-22 school year! We are honored to partner with Xcel energy and their commitment to transition… Read more »
Move-A-Thon Week On Social Media
Stay tuned on CI’s social media channels, including Facebook, Instagram, and LinkedIn for fun things you can do each day this week leading up to the Move-A-Thon Virtual Party on Saturday, July 31, 2021 from 6pm – 7:30pm MT. MOVE-A-THON WEEK ON SOCIAL MEDIA Here is a preview of some extra credit ways… Read more »
Introducing The Seedling Monthly Giving Program
Cottonwood Institute is excited to invite you to join The Seedling, our new monthly giving program. The Need: Public school students have shared that they feel isolated and alone, and that they are craving the meaning and purpose that CI programs provide. CI needs help raising critical funding to support our students and programs during… Read more »
CI Explore Outside Photo Challenge: January 2021
Ah January—a time to reflect, set intentions, and cave on your New Year’s resolution by January 3rd. Wait, what? If you’ve ever failed at a New Year’s goal, you’re not alone; studies show that nearly 80% of resolutions get dropped by the end of the year. We all know that big sweeping changes are hard… Read more »
Cottonwood Institute State of the Union 2020
With the US presidential election less than a week away — don’t worry, this is NOT a political post — I wanted to take an opportunity to share Cottonwood Institute‘s (CI) State of the Union in 2020. We are now 8 months into the COVID-19 pandemic and like many, CI’s world has turned upside down…. Read more »
Denver Startup Week 2019 Sustainability Results
We are happy to report that the Denver Startup Week 2019 sustainability results are in! But first, a little background… Waste diversion rates in Denver are hovering around 20% and the popularity of Denver Startup Week exploded to over 20,000 participants in 2019. It was incredibly important that we come together to reduce our… Read more »
Cottonwood Institute Received 2019 ColoradoBiz Magazine Top Company Award
On August 28, 2019, Cottonwood Institute‘s (CI) hard work was recognized when it won the coveted ColoradoBiz Magazine Top Company Award in the nonprofit category. According to Ford Church, CI’s Founder and Executive Director, “kids today are spending 50 hours per week in front of some screen or device, soon they will be asked… Read more »
Cottonwood Institute Van “Fun Drive” Campaign
Cottonwood Institute is excited to announce a special van “Fun Drive” Campaign. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to acquire a 15-passenger van to help connect more students to nature! It is a well known fact that transportation is a big barrier for getting more students outside and connected to nature. For the past 15… Read more »