2008 Success Stories

2008 proved to be an exciting year for the Cottonwood Institute. Before the end of the year approaches, I wanted to take a moment to share some of our exciting success stories and to thank all of our donors, instructors, volunteers, educational partners, students, and parents that helped make it all possible.

PARTICIPANTS SERVED:

In 2008, we served 800 participants through the Community Adventure Program, our Summer Courses, programs for Schools & Community Organizations, Free Survival Skills Clinics, and Change the World Movie Nights!

SCHOLARSHIPS:

This summer we awarded over $7,000 in scholarships, a 250% increase from 2007! We are incredibly grateful to all of our donors who have supported our Jason F. Griffith Scholarship Fund to make our courses accessible to those that otherwise would not have the opportunity to join us for a course this summer.

JACK JOHNSON CHALLENGE GRANT:

We successfully met a $2,500 challenge grant from Jack Johnson, the All at Once Community, and the Johnson Ohana Charitable Foundation raising $5,000 for our Jason F. Griffith Scholarship Fund.

EPA GRANT:

We received a $20,000 Environmental Education Grant from the US Environmental Protection Agency to help underwrite the costs of implementing our public school initiative called the Community Adventure Program at New Vista High School in Boulder, CO and at P.S.1 Charter School in Denver, CO.

REI WINTER GEAR GRANT:

We have continued to strengthen our partnership with REI, Inc. and received a $5,000 winter gear grant to acquire the gear and equipment we need to increase the accessibility of winter recreation with our students. We are now equipped to take students out all year long without having to rent or borrow gear from other groups. We are also participating the 2009 Winter Trails Day sponsored by REI and Snowsports Industries America, so stay tuned for volunteer opportunities to help get more youth outside this winter.

EXPANDING PROGRAMS:

Based on our financial success so far this year, we have been able to expand the Community Adventure Program to Manual High School in Denver. Manual is an amazing school that was once a failing school shut down by school district, but under the leadership of Rob Stein and an amazing new staff has transformed Manual into a model school reform success story. Learn my by listening to the NPR Report that aired earlier this summer.

ENVIRONMENTAL SERVICE-LEARNING:

The Cottonwood Institute is committed to inspiring active community leaders and environmental stewards and I was impressed with the “Action Projects” that our students and volunteers completed this summer. From organic gardening to wildfire mitigation to horse and wolf caretaking projects to completing much-needed restoration work on Mt. Evans with the Colorado Fourteeners Initiative, we made a huge difference in Colorado this summer.

Alumni Snapshot: Coral Hackler

While trying to get in touch with past Cottonwood Institute students, I got a very enthusiastic response from Coral Hackler. Coral took the Community Adventure Program at New Vista High School in 2004. She was very excited to be able to contribute to the Cottonwood Institute in any way she could. Here is what she had to say:

Q: What are you up to these days?

A: I am currently a senior majoring in Psychology and Gender Studies at Fort Lewis College in Durango, CO. I am still and avid camper and backpacker. I love the outdoors, which is a big reason that I moved to Durango for college. Another big factor in my relocation down here is the environmentally conscious community that thrives around me. The Community Adventure Program gave me confidence in my skills as an outdoorswoman that still resonates today.

Q: What is your favorite Cottonwood Institute memory or story from your courses?

A: I think the best was shoveling snow at Saint Mary’s Glacier to build a snow Quinzhee. The lazy people who didn’t want to shovel sat shivering in the snow, while the people shoveling were throwing off layers of clothing because they were creating so much body heat. That night we slept in the shelter and stayed super warm. I even had to unzip my bag because I was sweating so much.

Q: What environmental issue are you most passionate about and what are you doing to address it?

A: There are so many environmental issues and they are all extremely important. I particularly believe that most of these stem from our belief that profit and greed is important to successful living, and that this must happen by plundering all our natural resources without regard to environmental or human consequences. I have been getting really into food politics and learning about the industrialization and the corporation of our food system. I am very worried about the amount of oil that it takes to sustain our food supply. I have been focusing on helping the Durango food economy strengthen.  I am working with my school to bring local foods into the cafeterias. I have been trying to grow my own food and preserve food for the winter. Earlier this year someone called the FLC Environmental Center and reported an abandoned peach orchard. We worked hard to pick and collect peaches. We then made as many cans of peach jelly, peach cobbler, and peach salsa that we could and gave away the peaches to every hungry mouth we could find. I also participated in our local Homegrown Festival that taught Durangoans what to do with all the neighborhood apple and other fruit trees.

Top 5 Ways To Help The Cottonwood Institute Thrive!

As the end of the year approaches and you decide what charities to support this year, we hope you will consider the Cottonwood Institute. We accomplished amazing results in 2008 and we could not have done it without the generous support of individuals like you! In these challenging economic times, we wanted to offer the Top 5 Ways To Help The Cottonwood Institute Thrive in 2009 and beyond:

1. Donate before December 31st and double your impact. Whether you have donated in the past or you are a first time donor, all donations made by December 31, 2008 will be matched 100% up to $5,000 through two generous matching gift challenges. If you have already made a financial contribution this year, help us spread the word by telling a friend about us. Let them know that you support the Cottonwood Institute, encourage them to visit our New Website, and let them know about our matching gift challenge. Donating is easy: You can Donate Online or send in a check made payable to Cottonwood Institute to PO Box 7067, Denver, CO 80207.

2. Take a 2009 Course or give one as a gift. We have new and exciting 1-2 day Survival Workshops for adults and week-long Summer Courses for high school and middle school students in 2009. Our courses make an excellent gift for children, grandchildren, and adults that want to practice survival skills and make a difference in the world! Visit our 2009 Course Schedule and Register For A Course Today!

3. Shop with a conscience online. In the spirit of the holidays, you can Shop Online and benefit the Cottonwood Institute. Looking for the perfect holiday gift? Consider an Official Cottonwood Institute Survival Kit or Survival Knife. Best of all, we are offering free shipping for the month of December! If you like to shop online, consider using GoodShop to shop at stores like Amazon.com, J. Crew, Banana Republic, Nordstrom, Gap, Macy’s, Old Navy, and more! A percentage of each online sale will go to the Cottonwood Institute and we will use the funds to support our public school programs, so you can shop till you drop!

4. Gift of Stock. Let’s face it, stocks were hammered in 2008. As you create a new investing strategy for 2009 and beyond, you may want to consider the tax advantages of donating some of the poor performing stock in your portfolio to the Cottonwood Institute. To make a gift of stock, contact your financial advisor to see if it makes sense for you and then call us at 303.447.1076.

5. Wish List. If you are looking for non-financial ways to support the Cottonwood Institute, please visit our Wish List online. From winter camping gear to digital video cameras, you may have something lying around the house that can help support our programs. Don’t forget, most donations from our wish list are tax-deductible!

Respectfully,

Ford Church, M. A., Founder and Executive Director
Cottonwood Institute