Save the date for the 20th Annual Base Camp Bash on Saturday, April 5th, 2025

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AXL 8th grade student holding a bullsnake he found on the overnight trip

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Bullsnakes, Bonfires, and Baby Salamanders: AXL Academy 8th Grade CAP Students Say Farewell with Epic Camping Trip!

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 »

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New Vista High School CAP Class Tackles Wildfire Preparedness

New Vista High School CAP Class Ignites Action! Written by CAP Instructor Sadie Norton. Wildfire Preparedness: Is Your Home Ready? Take the Test! The Prelude: This quarter’s CAP Class had quite the learning journey this Spring. Throughout the quarter, we spent time connecting to nature, gaining an appreciation for the beauty in the world around… Read more »

NVHS student as work in the outdoors, examining something

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From Fire-Building to Friendship: New Vista High School Camps Out at Camp Patiya

Students Encounter Wildlife, Build Shelters, and Learn Valuable Outdoor Skills on a Memorable Camping Trip. Written by Instructor M Tormasi.  Earlier in April, Cottonwood Institute had the wonderful opportunity to take New Vista High School students camping just 25 minutes northwest of their school. Throughout the trip, many students stepped into leadership roles, facilitating team-building… Read more »

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“How do you Stay Warm When it’s Cold?”

Written by Senior Cottonwood Field Instructor, Amy Kopkin Atkins Thermoregulation, the process of staying warm when it’s cold outside, may sound complex, but it’s definitely not rocket science… It’s more like biology. Outside Heat Source The “go to” way to stay warm in winter is an outside (meaning out of the body) heat source. Things… Read more »

Rise Up Field Day

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“Happier Not on a Screen” A Rise-Up Story

Written by Senior Cottonwood Field Instructor, Amy Kopkin Atkins   It is both intuitive and well known that spending time outdoors is a healthy anecdote to the mental and physical health issues that arise when one spends too much time on a screen. It’s another thing to see it in action. As Cottonwood CAP and… Read more »

An AXL Academy 8th grader poses in snow gear: a hat, goggles, and face mask

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A Snowy Overnight Adventure with AXL Academy 8th Graders

Students Enjoy Snowball Fights, Baseball, and Moonlit Walks on a Trip to Cal-Wood Education Center. Written by Caroline Paul. AXL Academy 8th graders spent an extraordinary overnight trip at Cal-Wood Education Center near Jamestown, Colorado. What started as exceptionally warm leaned its way to a beautiful overnight snowfall. AXL students spent the early afternoon learning… Read more »

Pet Some Grass

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Centaurus High School Spring Trip

Written By Cottonwood Field Instructor, Caroline Paul What is nature if not unpredictable? Mother Nature has a mind of her own, so outdoor education instructors must always be flexible and prepared to pivot. Well, Centaurus High School’s Spring 2024 Community Adventure Program (CAP) had to pivot hard for their final Spring campout and action project…. Read more »