Under blue skies and the shade of towering cottonwoods, Cottonwood Institute alumni and Changemaker students teamed up to host our second annual Cottonwood Ancestral Skills Gathering at Ollin Farms—a day full of hands-on learning, cultural connection, and community building.
Inspired by the success of our student-led gathering last year, our alumni invited participants to reconnect with the land and each other through workshops facilitating traditional skills and shared wisdom. Teachers traveled from across the state—and even as far as Texas—to share everything from leather bag making and fermentation to natural dyeing, ancestral fire starting, and foraging.
A rare moment in a busy world, the gathering offered a chance for participants to slow down, learn by doing, and connect with others through shared curiosity and craft.
We’re incredibly proud of our students and alumni for building such a powerful and welcoming space, and deeply grateful to our teachers and partners at Ollin Farms for helping bring this vision to life.
Stay tuned—this won’t be the last time we gather around the fire.
A big thanks to the funders and supporters that make the Changemaker Program possible, including: Larrk Foundation, Great Outdoors Colorado, Thorne Nature Experience, and Tony Grampsas Youth Services Program.
If you too are passionate about getting students outside and inspiring them to become leaders in their communities, please consider making a donation or becoming a monthly donor! You’ll help invest in our students, programs, and long-term sustainability and success!
