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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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Alumni Spotlight: Malcolm Marshall

We recently caught up with Cottonwood Institute alum Malcolm Marshall, who was involved with CI at New Vista High School until he graduated in 2012. It’s incredible to hear about the longterm impact of our programs, and what our former students are up to! You can read more Alumni Spotlights here. What CI program(s) did… Read more »

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AMS has a __MAD LIBS__ camping trip

The Angevine Middle School CAP class loved their overnight camping trip to Cal-wood this fall. As part of their trip reflection, they did a custom Mad Libs on the bus ride home. We hope you enjoy their ______ (adjective) re-cap of their ______ (adjective) trip! Escrito en español más abajo.  Our Camping Trip One __maroon__… Read more »

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Staff Spotlight: Senior Instructor Erin Angel

We are excited to do a little bragging about our amazing Cottonwood Institute (Cottonwood) Senior Instructor, Erin Angel (she/her)! Erin is a woman of many talents, interests, and passions, and we are excited for you to get to know her better! Erin teaches Cottonwood’s core CAP Class and Changemaker Program in Boulder County. Erin helps… Read more »

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Alumni Spotlight: 2014 Ripple Effect Award Winners

As we continue to bask in the glow of last month’s Base Camp Bash, we’ve spent quite a bit of time reflecting on all of the amazing things Cottonwood Institute students have done this year. Our Ripple Effect Award Honorees Osiel Gomez and Pedro Guerra led the charge, educating their communities on the harms of… 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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A Truly “Trashy” Halloween! From the Earth Task Force

On Monday, Earth Task Force (ETF) held a contest, called ”Trashy” Halloween, to raise awareness about upcycling, recycling, and reuse. Each advisory classroom was required to make a costume made only of recycled materials with an environmental theme. They then competed to see who had the best and most creative costume the day of Halloween…. Read more »

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Honey Raised Some Money for the Earth Task Force

The Earth Task Force (ETF) held a bake sale of yummy pastries that all contained honey to promote pollinators. ETF students decided to do this for the pollinators that are in danger of becoming extinct and the team wanted to earn money to give to an organization that helps pollinators. They also wanted to help… Read more »

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Fire Fury and Snow Flurries with STRIVE Prep – Excel

The act of making a fire connects us back to our ancestors of more than 100,000 years ago. Huddling around a fire for warmth, sustenance and community is something that too few of us get to experience in our modern world. But on a snowy day at the end of January, in a sheltered grove… Read more »

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Earth Task Force Turns Trash into Tradition with “Trashy” Halloween Costume Competition

On October 30th Earth Task Force (ETF) an environmental club at New Vista High School, hosted the very first ‘Trashy’ Halloween Costume Contest event. The event was aimed at raising awareness and pushing students to think about the impacts people have on the environment. Advisories (community based classes that students participate in daily) competed against… Read more »