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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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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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Denver Green School CAP Enjoys Colorado’s Autumn Beauty

Recently, the two Denver Green School Community Adventure Program (CAP) classes went on an overnight camping trip at Cheley Outpost Camp near Allenspark, CO. Having the opportunity to go on a camping trip is not common in most schools. Some of us had gone camping before, but this trip was different than any other. Overall, Cottonwood Institute provided us with… Read more »

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Teamwork, Fun, and Survival Skills with Military Kids and Families

Since 2010, Cottonwood Institute has been collaborating with the military community along the Colorado Front Range to offer our Military Kids Project. We are honored to make this program possible for active military families and their children to thank them for their incredible service and sacrifice they make for our country. With a small but mighty… Read more »

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Leaving It All Behind: Littleton Academy at Mission: Wolf

Gear flung everywhere, smiles abound, and parents left behind! It’s time for an adventure! Twenty-one Littleton Academy 5th graders and six adults headed out to howl with the wolves this past week at Mission: Wolf, a wolf sanctuary hidden in the shadows of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside of Gardner, Colorado. For… Read more »

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Meeting Wolves with New Eyes: STRIVE Prep-Sunnyside

It was a clear, sunny day when twelve STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside students embarked on a journey into the Sangre de Cristo mountains. They had one clear mission: to meet and learn about wolves in the remote mountain sanctuary aptly named Mission: Wolf. The group had bountiful energy and enthusiasm; their four hour drive to the site… Read more »

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A Rainy Pondside Retreat with New Vista CAP Students

Six New Vista High School Community Adventure Program (CAP) students and three instructors braved the wet weather as we left Boulder heading toward Allenspark. When we arrived at the trailhead, the sun was shining through the clouds and it ended up being a great day for our hike near Taylor Mountain. Instructors gathered our group to… Read more »

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KIPP Montbello Students Singin’ in the Snow

“It’s beginning to look a lot like Christmas,” twenty-plus Kippsters harmonized in the snow at the beginning of May. As many of us know, flexibility is the key word in education and we got to practice that with the abrupt change of venue for the Spring overnight trip for Community Adventure Program (CAP) students at KIPP… Read more »

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CAP Students Living in the Moment

Snug as a bug, students packed in among backpacks and gear, eager to see what awaited them on their new adventure.  This last weekend the Community Adventure Program (CAP) of New Vista High School headed to beautiful Cal-wood Education Center near Jamestown, CO.  They were met with snowy hilltops and sunshine bright enough to create lots of rosy sun-kissed cheeks…. Read more »