The Perseids Meteor Shower Prompted an Alumni Gathering Full of Commaraderie and Conversation about Dark Skies, Light Pollution, and the Value of Seeing the Stars
Written by CI Alum and Assistant Instructor Elizabeth Fero. On the night of August 12th, Cottonwood Alumni gathered at Lefthand Trail in Longmont to watch the annual Perseids meteor shower. Typically, on a clear night, 25-100 meteors per hour can be seen.
Our night of stargazing turned into one of cloud-gazing. We spent the night playing word games and bonding over shared Cheeze-Its and tales of past Cottonwood adventures, while pointing out different dinosaur-shaped clouds and, when the clouds would part, the Big Dipper.
In true Alumni fashion, our lighthearted chats also spurred discussion of more impactful topics. We noticed how light pollution from nearby Boulder and Denver in the distance were reflecting onto the clouds, and we discussed how light pollution has changed our perception of the night sky. Often, especially living in areas with close proximity to the outdoors, we take for granted the stars we can see in the night sky. Light pollution in cities is a big barrier facing many residents of Denver and other large cities in Colorado. While enjoying some blowtorch-roasted marshmallows, Alumni discussed the value of Cottonwood’s programs on our own perceptions of dark skies and access to nature.
Even though we weren’t able to see any meteors, Alumni had valuable time reconnecting after the summer and reminiscing about favorite moments spent together.
A sincere thank you to everyone who attended the 2026 Base Camp Bash event, which helped raise critical funding for our Alumni Engagement programs.
If you are also passionate about getting students outside for commaraderie and connection, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
