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STRIVing To Reduce Transportation Pollution

Have you ever been concerned with a local environmental issue, but didn’t think you had the tools to tackle it? STRIVE Preparatory Schools Westwood campus students rolled up their sleeves and put their skills to the test through Cottonwood Institute’s Community Adventure Program (CAP). STRIVE Westwood students that participated in the CAP class this spring… Read more »

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STRIVE Westwood Lobos and Montbello Pumas Come Together to Discover Eagles, Deer, and Each Other!

This past weekend, Cottonwood Institute instructors and STRIVE Preparatory Schools students from two different campuses traveled with their teachers to Cal-Wood Education Center for an overnight camping adventure to learn about fire ecology in the Boulder County foothills. At Cal-Wood, students got to experience low impact camping while also learning and practicing “Leave No Trace” principles. For some STRIVE… Read more »

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CAP Class Builds Group Cohesion and Raises Team Morale

The Community Adventure Program (CAP) students from New Vista High School in Boulder, CO gladly scurried to the mountains for their first overnight trip of the quarter last weekend!  The group was more than ready to enjoy the CAP class outside classroom walls.  Cottonwood Institute’s CAP program provides outdoor excursions throughout the quarter where students… Read more »

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ETF Superheroes Converge on Earth Day

On March 22nd, 2015 youth groups and environmental educators from around Longmont, Boulder and Denver were invited to host booths in the first annual Youth of the Earth Day Festival. Earth Task Force was one of 33 youth booths and 36 environmental educator booths which showed up with activities for the fair-goers to participate in,… Read more »

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The Perfect Mix: Enthusiastic Cottonwood Institute Instructors & A Warm Sunny Winter Weekend

Cottonwood Institute (CI) headed to the mountains to explore with an enthusiastic, down-to-earth, bunch of new and well-versed instructors!  Our annual instructor training was held at Calwood Education Center outside of Jamestown, CO and was full of laughs, learning, sharing, and friendships in the making. “The CI instructor training was a wonderful reminder of why… Read more »

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E.T.F. Serves Up Sustainable Caffeine

On Thursday, February 19, 2015, Earth Task Force (ETF), a student led conservation group at New Vista High School, executed a unique day of consciousness – Bring Your Own Mug Day. Bring Your Own Mug Day focuses on urging students to drink from reusable mugs instead of ones destined for the landfill. Students who brought… Read more »

Cottonwood Institute Best of 2014

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Best Of 2014 Video: Watch. Give. Share.

2014 has been an amazing year and we can’t wait to share the incredible experiences we created for our students and share how they ignited change in their communities. There are 3 things you can do right now to help us reach our annual giving goal to raise $20,000 by December 31, 2014 to help… Read more »

Earth Task Force

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Earth Task Force Curbs Consumerism with Clothes-Cycling

On Thursday, November 13th, 2014, a student led environmental action team at New Vista High School called the Earth Task Force (ETF) implemented a Clothing Swap event during the school’s hour long lunch. ETF worked a couple weeks prior to the event to create a comedic promotional video to grab the attention of the students… Read more »

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Top 10 Inspiring Stories from 2014

What were our students up to this year with Cottonwood Institute? Check out our Top 10 Inspiring Stories from 2014! We are wrapping up another awesome year here at Cottonwood Institute. As we reflect on 2014, we’re awed at the incredible adventures, growth, and action projects our students have accomplished. None of this would have been possible… Read more »