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Why We Are Unique / What We’re Not


The Cottonwood Institute is inspiring the next generation of environmental stewards and attracts motivated teenagers from around the country who love the outdoors, who care about the environment, and who want to change the world.

WHY WE ARE UNIQUE:

  • If people never have an opportunity to explore the outdoors, we can’t expect them to want to change the world or care about the environment. We teach students how to comfortably and competently explore the outdoors by practicing essential camping and wilderness survival skills, while providing students with an opportunity to develop their own personal environmental ethic.
  • Our “Change the World Curriculum” empowers students by providing them with the tools and resources to take action to do something positive to address local environmental issues affecting their communities and learn how to reduce their environmental footprint.
  • Using the community and nature as our classroom, we deliver high quality field-based and classroom-based programs to actively engage students.
  • Our courses are available for high school or college credit.

“The Community Adventure Program was, without a doubt, one of the best classes I have taken at New Vista High School. The Community Adventure Program helped me understand more about my place in the world and how I want to save it. The Community Adventure Program exponentially raised my awareness of the interconnected social and environmental issues that are embroiled in the world… it has helped me understand the incredible potential and opportunity I have as a high school student to make a true difference in the world.” Josie Brown, Community Adventure Program Alumni, New Vista High School

WHY PARENTS LIKE US:

  • Participation in our programs looks great on college applications.
  • Courses are a week-long, so you can still fit in family vacations, sports programs, and other unique opportunities.
  • Students learn meaningful life skills, such as leadership, teamwork, communication, and survival skills that could save their life.
  • Students complete meaningful service projects and spend their summers doing something productive.
  • Students have a chance to explore future careers and interact with a committed group of adults who are passionate about what they do for a living.

This course has really been a challenge and a life changer for Jessie. You have opened her eyes and sparked enthusiasm for a number of things she has never been interested in before - a sign of a great teacher. Thank you. Laurie Larsen, Cottonwood Institute Parent.

WHY STUDENTS LIKE US:

  • Because our courses are fun!
  • Because they get to practice cool survival skills like friction fire, natural shelters, and survival scenarios that could save their lives.
  • Because they learn other unique skills that other programs don’t teach, such as: stone age survival skills, animal tracking, how to take care of horses and endangered wolves, and how to fight wildfires.
  • Because they get out of the house, make new friends, and have fun with like-minded high school students who want to change the world.

“I loved my Cottonwood Institute experience! I learned how to make fire without a match, how to track an animal, and even how to kiss a wolf. It was great! This course made me a more driven individual who is ready to tackle the world!” Steven Cordova, Alumni, Endangered Wolves and Animal Tracking Project

WHY SCHOOLS LIKE US:

  • Our courses offer practical, hands-on application of textbook concepts by taking students out of the classroom and into the natural world.
  • Our courses help rekindle that spark and excitement for learning.
  • The Cottonwood Institute handles all of the logistics, making it easy for teachers.
  • Our courses meet Colorado Department of Education State Standards in Civics, Geography, Science, Reading and Writing, as well as Physical Education.

“Cottonwood Institute does an amazing job putting together field-based programs that enhance specific curricula students are learning in my Anatomy and Extreme Physiology and College Preparatory Biology classes. My students have been able to see and feel biological aspects of life that they normally would only read about and discuss in class. Cottonwood Institute’s curriculum-focused courses have brought hard to grasp concepts to life for my students and they do this through a great outdoor experience-based approach.” Leslie Bogar, Biology Teacher, Valor Christian High School

WHAT THE COTTONWOOD INSTITUTE IS NOT:

Having explained what the Cottonwood Institute IS, it is also important to explain what the Cottonwood Institute IS NOT. The Cottonwood Institute:

  • Is not a summer camp. We love summer camps and support their efforts, but we are not a summer camp. Students don’t stay in cabins and go from one activity to the next. The Cottonwood Institute is a great next step for students after summer camp to learn more specific camping and wilderness survival skills, to develop their personal environmental ethic, and to do something about local issues affecting their communities.
  • Is not a wilderness therapy program for at-risk or troubled students. While students have powerful, life-changing experiences on our courses, the Cottonwood Institute is not a place to send your son or daughter to fix problems with drugs, alcohol, disobedience, etc.
  • Is not intended to promote radical environmentalism or inappropriately influence political views or the political affiliation of students. Our philosophy is to raise students’ awareness of local environmental issues, look at those issues from a stakeholder perspective, break down larger issues into small, tangible things they can to do make a difference in their communities, and let students choose how they would like to get involved.
  • Is not affiliated with any religious institution or belief system. While we welcome faith-based youth to attend our courses and collaborate with youth groups to design custom courses with us, the Cottonwood Institute does not promote any particular religion.
  • Is not a boot camp or military-based program. The Cottonwood Institute is not a place to send your son or daughter to be punished or to stay out of trouble.