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 »
Summertime in Denver is not complete without Cottonwood Institute’s Annual Throwdown charity cornhole tournament at Union Station. Union Station, originally built in 1881, burned down in 1894, and re-created in 1914, while historical, was previously only known as a train depot. (Really, there were passenger trains in and out of Denver?) Now, not only does… Read more »
Beats on the Creek has become a summertime staple in downtown Denver, bringing people together on the banks of Cherry Creek to enjoy food, drinks, and free live music, all to support local nonprofits! This year’s concert series, presented by Coohills Restaurant, is extra special because all proceeds from the event support Cottonwood Institute… Read more »
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 »
Wow, another Base Camp Bash has whizzed by and we were able to raise critical funding for Cottonwood Institute programs with a little New Orleans flair. So, how much did we raise this year? Well, you’ll have to read on… The Cottonwood Institute decorating committee—spearheaded by Beverly Church and Jessica Church—CI staff, and volunteers descended… Read more »
For Cottonwood Institute Instructors, maintaining a strong tool kit of outdoor skills is a constant process. While the core competencies instructors teach and use in the field have long remained the same, the tools and techniques considered to be “best practices” are always evolving. So as new instructors come aboard, longtime returning champions pick up… Read more »
Spring is (finally) here, and with it comes a delicious new way to support Cottonwood Institute! For the month of April, head to Chook Charcoal Chicken, the newest restaurant from Snooze’s Adam Schlegel and James Beard Award-winning chef Alex Seidel (Fruition, Mercantile Dining & Provisions), for a great meal and a good cause! Chook,… Read more »
This year Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) is celebrating 30 years of being a statewide leader in environmental education in Colorado. Last week they put on their 19th annual Advancing Environmental Education Conference. Cottonwood Institute (CI) presented two conference sessions and received the Advancing Environmental Literacy Award on behalf of the Nature Kids/Jovenes de… Read more »
Every time we venture outdoors, whether for a day hike or for a month-long trek, we accept a certain level of uncertainty. Informed preparation and risk management are of course essential practices, but it is our ability to adapt to changing circumstances that more often determines the success of a trip. Even the most meticulously… Read more »
If you’ve been part of the Cottonwood Institute family for while, Aleyna Porreca will already be a familiar face. After taking a CAP class at New Vista High School, Aleyna returned to CI as a Field Instructor back in 2010. Aleyna has been an amazing advocate for Cottonwood Institute’s mission and has gone on some… Read more »
