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CI Spring Instructor Training: An Exercise in Adaptability

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 »

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Alumni Spotlight: Aleyna Porreca

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 »

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Alumni Spotlight: Astrea Strawn

We always love to hear about the ways Cottonwood Institute students bring their CI experiences with them into the world. CAP New Vista Alumna Astrea Strawn has made the outdoors a major part of her life, working as an outdoor educator and now pursuing a masters in marine sciences at Oregon State University.   What… Read more »

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Cottonwood Institute Welcomes New Field Program Coordinator

The Cottonwood Institute family grows a little bit bigger in 2019 as we welcome Andrew Miller, our new Field Program Coordinator! This is a new role that will provide dedicated support to our instructors to ensure we deliver high quality, high impact programs for our students. Andrew steps in to oversee logistics for our 30+… Read more »

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Amazing Action Projects in 2018!

Our 2018 season of Cottonwood Institute (CI) CAP classes has come to an end! Each of our CAP classes spend a portion of their time service learning through their class action projects! In case you missed it, check out a few of the amazing Action Projects created by CI CAP students in 2018! Ending Car… Read more »

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Alumni Spotlight: Chloe Woodruff

Traveling is just dream for many, but not for Chloe Woodruff, a Cottonwood Institute alumnus, whom we caught up with recently. Taking one of the first ever CAP classes, Chloe has come a long way from being a timid adolescent back in the day.  Now she’s in charge! What are you up to these days?I… Read more »

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No Idling at KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy!

Back in September, the students in the CAP Club at KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy (KSPA) started brainstorming ideas to focus on for their action project. After breaking down each idea into what would be most applicable at their school and what they felt could be best achieved they decided to focus on the issue of… Read more »

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STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside Students Test Local Waterways!

On Saturday, Dec. 15, 2018, students from STRIVE Prep Sunnyside CAP-Club joined an international effort to monitor our waterways and measure the impact our human habits have on our beloved lakes, rivers and streams. By tackling this “citizen science” challenge, the students learned how to collect samples and test the water’s: temperature, PH, turbidity (cool… Read more »

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Nature Kids/Jovenes de la Naturaleza Project Receives CAEE Award For Excellence

Congratulations to Nature Kids/Jovenes de la Naturaleza (NKJN) partners! The Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education’s (CAEE) Awards Selection Committee recently honored NKJN with the 2018 Advancing Environmental Literacy Award for Excellence in Environmental Education!   NKJN is an innovative, 5-year, $10M collective impact project that has 2 primary goals: 1. To connect Lafayette, CO youth… Read more »