In Your Words…

Your words say it all… Thanks for an amazing quarter, Paige.

“When someone takes action on something they are passionate about, the final product can be one that is very influential and astounding…From goofy games to lengthy talks about trees’ rights, CAP has opened my eyes to the wonders and beauties in nature. Not only that, but also to the very apparent harms and dangers that we as a race continue to spread and feed. We are on the eve of a social revolution. Change is in the air, and it has been on its way. It is our time to join this change, and to water and feed it. We are the ones who are ready to break the norms that we have lived by for decades. Be ready for the wave to hit, because when it does, the world as a whole will come together to help our planet thrive.” ~ Will Barrett.

“I was psyched when we chose this issue [over-consumption] for our action project and it was encouraging to know other people cared about it too. In the time period between first becoming interested in the topic, to actively working on it in the class, I was teeter-tottering between making myself ignore it in the community and to feeling extremely helpless and angry at the people who over-consumed. CAP has helped me stay consistent in my desire to have a more positive impact on the world. I have been able to discover that we play an essential role in the world as individuals, and we can make a difference. But I have also learned that it’s important not to discourage yourself harshly with the big idea of what’s going on environmentally.” ~Olive

“This class helped me become aware of the issues facing us today and how they can affect our future. It amazed me how many people consume so much, just in the U.S. … I learned that recycling isn’t always the answer and first we must learn how to reduce and reuse…I have learned so much about how to educate people I find myself randomly saying facts about trash and recycling… In the end this class has been one of the most educational and spiritual experiences of my life. It wasn’t even a math, science, or history class that provided me with knowledge in place that are relative to life. It’s sad to see the class ending and I am excited for the next time to build new bonds with more people.” ~Aren Dalloul.

“This class helped raise my awareness on the important environmental issues affecting my community. I really want to do something to reduce me own ecological footprint. For me I like to help by riding my bike, skating, or taking the bus… I am constantly talking to my family and friends about a number of issues that we discussed in this class. I also hope to lead by example. I believe that I was part of a great class that not many students have the opportunity to experience. I think that all New Vista High School students should take this class before they graduate. The Community Adventure Program was an amazing experience that gave me a lot of information and knowledge about wilderness skills and community issues.” ~Charles Shanahan

“CAP has been a great class. The overnights were a whole lot of fun. It was great to see the group become friends and learn how to work together. I wish we had more time. I really enjoyed the class and would take CAP 2 if it was offered. I learned and used more real world skills and worked to actually make a difference. I made a few friends and had some interesting discussions. Thank you for teaching CAP.” ~ Brynn Reiff

“Before this class I used multiple plastic bags to carry my lunch in just one day. I brought a plastic water bottle and a hot drink in a disposable cup. I threw everything away, took 20 minute showers, and bought severely over-packaged products. My lifestyle now has not become any more difficult but it is much less wasteful… I feel as though my new found passion to help the environment and my positive attitude will help me once I have left CAP… CAP has been such a wonderful experience and I will carry all that I learned and accomplished with me.” ~Aleyna Porreca

“This class defininetly helped me see the bigger picture in Boulder, and throughout the country. I see where I stand and I understand it. I have brief moments where I realize I actually mean something among the abundance of life and commotion… This class really helped me put myself into a state of being where community means something more than a barbeque. It means taking resposibility and considering each other’s place in the world, and incorporating those thoughts into your everyday lifestyle. All in all, this over all of my classes has had the largest impact on  my life, and it probably will for the rest of my life. No regrets. No dissatisfactions. This class was sweet.” ~ Keelan Sears.

CAP Pre-Course Survey, 4th Quarter

Welcome to the Community Adventure Program. Before we get started, we need to get some feedback about your outdoor experience, your thoughts about the environment, your community, etc. Please answer this survey honestly and to the best of your ability. The good folks who fund this class use this information to assess the performance of the class and this information will help us acquire new grants. Please Click Here To Take The Survey.

The 4th Annual Base Camp Bash: Get Your Tickets Today!

The Cottonwood Institute is excited to announce that our 4th Annual Base Camp Bash fundraising event will be held on Friday, April 17, 2009 from 7 – 10pm at the Wynkoop Brewing Company in Lower Downtown Denver (LoDo). The night will be fun filled and action packed, but tickets are limited to the first 150 people, so you’d better act fast!

The Base Camp Bash is an annual event held to raise money to help fund the Community Adventure Program (CAP) at public schools in the Boulder/Denver area and to raise money for our Jason F. Griffith Scholarship Fund so students can attend our 2009 Summer Courses.

Here are a few Bash highlights:

• Robbie Knight, 99.5FM The Mountain radio personality and host of the Green Report, will Emcee the event.
• The first 150 guests will receive a reusable shopping bag from REI to help reduce their footprint.
• Enjoy a fabulous silent auction with amazing trips, outdoor gear, concert tickets, and more!
• We will have delicious appetizers, a cash bar, and live music.
• A panel of experts have reviewed the 2008 CAP Action Projects and selected a winner and will present an Environmental Stewardship Award to student representatives.
• We will show a short movie about the Cottonwood Institute to inspire our guests.

Tickets are $30 dollars in advance and $35 at the door. CLICK HERE to find out more and purchase tickets! We hope to see you there!

Cottonwood Institute Receives $1,500 Grant From Patagonia!

Imagine a high school class where you can get academic credit for going camping and changing the world. Sounds great doesn’t it? Well, Patagonia, the outdoor clothing and gear company, thought so too. The Patagonia store in Boulder chose to show their support by awarding the Cottonwood Institute with a $1,500 grant! The grant will specifically go towards underwriting four quarters of the Community Adventure Program at New Vista High School in Boulder during the 2009-2010 school year.

The Community Adventure Program is the Cottonwood Institute’s core educational program. Designed for high school aged students, CAP combines camping and wilderness survival with environmental awareness and community involvement. Implemented as a class during the school day, CAP students attend overnight camping trips, learn important wilderness survival skills, and create a student-designed Action Projects to address a local environmental issues. CAP helps students to be more aware and appreciative of the environment, and become involved in their local community by tackling pressing environmental issues.

Patagonia is a socially and environmentally responsible company committed to addressing local environmental issues and funding environmental work in Boulder County. Thank you Patagonia!

5280 Magazine Features the Cottonwood Institute!

The Colorado wilderness is vast and beautiful and much sought after by climbers, hikers, campers and skiers alike. But this glorious wilderness can also be harsh and unforgiving. Weather conditions can change at the drop of a hat. From sun to snow to sun to…is that hail? Mountain lions and bears inhabit the mountains and things might not always be what they seem. Because of this, one must always be prepared when venturing into the wilderness. You never know when you might have to put your skills and knowledge to the test and survive.

In the March 2009 issue of 5280 Magazine, Patrick Doyle features the Cottonwood Institute in his article, The Colorado Survival Guide! The article highlights stories of people who have been caught in real life survival situations. Ford Church, founder of the Cottonwood Institute, and other experts in the field offer commentary on what these people did right and what they did wrong so we can learn from their mistakes. The article also features a full page spread of the Official Cottonwood Institute Survival Kit and upcoming Cottonwood Institute Survival Workshops for adults. Pick up a copy of the issue on newsstands today!

CAP Post Course Survey, 3rd Quarter 2009

As the quarter comes to a close, I wanted to get some open and honest feedback from this class about how to improve the CAP for future students. This information will not affect your grade, but please take it seriously. It will be reviewed by your school, the Cottonwood Institute, and this information will help us secure funding to make this class accessible to other high school students. Please Click Here to Take the Survey.