Written by Teagan Papke, Director of Strategic Partnerships; Chelsea Tossing, Associate Director; and Ford Church, Founder and Executive Director The past few weeks have brought a wave of policy changes that have sparked concern and uncertainty for many in the communities we serve. From shifts in immigration policies, rolling back environmental protections, removing protections for… Read more »
Where First-Time Campers and Colorado Natives Unite for an Unforgettable Fall Overnight Adventure in Allenspark. Written by CI Field Instructor Caroline Paul. Lafayette’s very own Centaurus High School (CHS) took their Fall CAP trip this last weekend to Cheley’s Outpost in Allenspark. The weather was beautiful, and with the Aspens at peak foliage, students were… Read more »
From Gaga Ball to Topographic Maps: A Fall Adventure in Colorado’s Tahosa Valley. Written by CI Field Instructor Caroline Paul. Aurora’s 8th grade CAP class from AXL Academy had a “gagaful” time on their overnight camping trip at Cheley Outpost in Allenspark. Nestled in the Tahosa Valley, Cheley Outpost offers breathtaking views, a gaga ball… Read more »
See how one student’s passion for the outdoors and community blossomed into a leadership role, inspiring others and shaping our organization. Written by Associate Director & Senior Instructor Chelsea Tossing. One of our students, Jesse, first joined our school-based CAP Class as a freshman in high school during COVID. Even online, it was obvious how… Read more »
Growth, Discovery, and Community on the Colorado River. Written by CI Field Instructor Eeland Stribling. For the second year in a row, we had the pleasure of taking a group of students from Lincoln Hills Cares on an unforgettable adventure. While last year’s trip was fantastic, this year managed to top it in so many… Read more »
Summer fun and learning: a new partnership begins. Written by CI Instructor Erin Angel. During the dog days of summer, Cottonwood Institute embarked on an exciting new venture: our first-ever trip with the Longmont Youth Center. This adventure was the perfect blend of learning, fun, and exploration, setting the stage for what we hope will… Read more »
Discovering Nature, Building Community, and Making Memories. Written by Assistant Instructor Sasha Trask. Day 1 – Get-to-know-you and basic skills! We started off our first day of the Explore Outside program at Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College (DMLK). After a cool, cloudy morning of games, we headed off to Barr Lake State Park…. Read more »
From Fish Hatcheries to Fierce Rapids, RiseUp Community High School Students Navigate Nature and Themselves in Leadville. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. A small group of RiseUp Community High School students spent a wonderful week with Cottonwood Institute, learning about watersheds, getting to know each other better, and experiencing nature’s joys in the… Read more »
AXL Academy 8th Graders Explore, Learn, and Make Memories on Unforgettable Adventure. Written by CI Field Instructor Caroline Paul. That’s a wrap on another great year of Community Adventure Program (CAP) Class at Aurora’s Expeditionary Learning Academy (AXL)! The 8th graders took their final camping trip before their big high school graduation, which was certainly… Read more »
From tent-building challenges to catching their own dinner, these 7th graders embraced the beauty (and briskness!) of Camp Patiya. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt AXL Academy 7th Graders had a chilly yet beautiful overnight trip to Camp Patiya outside of Boulder, Colorado. Expecting strong winds and potential precipitation, we were pleasantly surprised by… Read more »
