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CAP Alumni Spotlight: Peter Zola

We caught up with Peter Zola, an amazing Community Adventure Program (CAP) student alumni from New Vista High School in Boulder, CO who is now 31 years old. He was gracious enough to fill us in on what he’s up to these days.  Of course, he’s still “Livin’ the Dream!” as our Executive Director, Ford… Read more »

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A Trip of Firsts for Colorado Youth for a Change Students

Colorado Youth for Change and Cottonwood Institute teamed up to create an impactful experience for ten very lucky high school students from Prairie View and Brighton high schools this summer.  We loaded up the vans and were off on an adventure to Mission: Wolf!  Students didn’t really know what they had signed up for, although… Read more »

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Challenge and Chills with STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside

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 »

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Wilderness Reflections from STRIVE Prep – RISE

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 »

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A Tale of the Ages: STRIVE Prep – Excel Overnight

A unique feature of the Community Adventure Program (CAP) class at STRIVE Prep – Excel is the age diversity of the participants. Half of them are Seniors, driving cars and getting ready for college. The other half are Freshmen, just out of middle school and testing their new high school identities. (Then there is one Sophomore,… Read more »

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CAP New Vista Builds Shelter and Lasting Friendships

The fall semester is flying by and this weekend was CAP New Vista‘s final camping trip together as a group! After a quick gear check in Boulder on Saturday morning, we arrived at a camping spot near Taylor Mountain in Allenspark, CO. While the hike in was less than two miles, it was a great… Read more »

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STRIVE Prep – RISE Rises Above Chilly Weather

Recently, a group of twenty-two freshmen from STRIVE Prep – RISE headed up past Allenspark to the Cheley Outpost. For most of them, this was their first camping trip ever. The weather was bright and the aspens were at their peak for a beautiful fall weekend. The students enjoyed the challenge of setting up their tents in the… Read more »