Making Lunch Healthy and Delicious at DGS

Posted by & filed under Action Projects, Community Adventure Program, Program News, Uncategorized.

The Denver Green School Monday/Wednesday Community Adventure Program (CAP) class recently ended their semester by designing and completing an Action Project. They spent the whole semester learning about environmental issues and how they impact our communities. The students decided that they wanted to focus on one that was near and dear to their hearts: healthy school lunches…. Read more »

Cherry Creek Shines a Little Brighter Thanks to DGS Students

Posted by & filed under Action Projects, Community Adventure Program, Program News.

The Denver Green School Tuesday/Thursday Community Adventure Program (CAP) class recently completed an Action Project to address an issue they studied and identified in their community: water pollution. The students spent several weeks designing and planning a project to address this problem and initiate change in their community. The project that they proposed was a clean-up of… Read more »

Going Green for the Holidays with STRIVE Prep – RISE

Posted by & filed under Action Projects, Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

The students at STRIVE – Prep RISE are excited about the holidays, but with their environmental awareness on red (and green) alert, they wanted to reduce consumerism and environmental impact during the festivities. So, they started a series of events just before Thanksgiving break to help their community. First, they sent out tweets about how… Read more »

STRIVE Prep – Excel CAP Class Attacks Litter Head-On

Posted by & filed under Action Projects, Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

When you arrive at the Denver North campus that houses STRIVE Prep – Excel, unfortunately, one of the first things you notice is the trash that has blown up against the fence and dots the school yard. This reduces school morale and sends a (wrong) message that the students just don’t care. In fact, the… Read more »

Growing Plants in the Forbidden Hallway at STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside

Posted by & filed under Action Projects, Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

What to do with a stairway with south-facing windows and a warm radiator that is in plain view of passing students? Build a window garden, of course! Students in the Community Adventure Program (CAP) at STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside perceived a lack of access to healthy, fresh food in their community and wanted to inspire their fellow… Read more »

Top 10 Inspiring Stories From 2016

Posted by & filed under Cottonwood Institute News.

It has been another energizing and successful year! We are excited to announce Cottonwood Institute’s annual top 10 inspiring stories from 2016. Thanks to all who voted on our Cottonwood Institute Facebook Page! So what were our students up to this year? Check it out! New Cottonwood Institute Video: Watch. Like. Share. Do You Believe in… Read more »

An Enchanting Tale: Students of STRIVE Prep – Excel Journey to Cal-Wood

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

Sparkling caverns, trickling waterfalls, a troll’s den, and a bear peering through a window. Does this sound like a fairy story? Settle in while I recount the tale, Dear Reader… Once upon a time, four valiant youths left the city to seek their fortune in the mountains. They boarded a big white carriage which bore them… Read more »

Challenge and Chills with STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

Recently, STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside Community Adventure Program (CAP) students headed up to the mountains outside Fairplay to explore the Beaver Ponds Environmental Education Center. They started off the trip on a beautiful Colorado morning by stopping at Staunton State Park for a short hike. The students learned about compasses and navigation and led the way to Davis… Read more »

A Wildly Successful Year: Donor Happy Hour 2016

Posted by & filed under Updates.

For Cottonwood Institute (CI), 2016 has been a wildly successful year! CI coordinated 32 programs, served 391 students, delivered 18,163 program contact hours, and over 6,700 service learning project hours. This would not have been possible without the support of generous donors who help CI connect underserved students to the outdoors and empower them to make… Read more »

Wilderness Reflections from STRIVE Prep – RISE

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

For Cottonwood Institute‘s Community Adventure Program (CAP) students at STRIVE Prep – RISE, the second overnight at the Cheley backcountry outpost was a weekend packed full of new experiences. Read what one of the students had to say about their weekend below! My trip to the mountains with my class was awesome!!!! We got to do many… Read more »