Buy 14ers Art. Help Kids Get Outdoors!

Posted by & filed under Cottonwood Institute News.

Are you looking for a unique gift to commemorate a special summer weekend, or your recent trip to Colorado? Cottonwood Institute’s 14ers Art Store hosts beautiful watercolors of 53 Colorado 14,000-footers (“14ers”), available as prints, canvases, or framed images. Created by local Denver artist Mile Wilson, the watercolors are painted from unique perspectives inaccessible to… Read more »

Alumni Spotlight: Malcolm Marshall

Posted by & filed under Alumni Spotlight.

Malcolm Marshall Alumni Spotlight

We recently caught up with Cottonwood Institute alum Malcolm Marshall, who was involved with CI at New Vista High School until he graduated in 2012. It’s incredible to hear about the longterm impact of our programs, and what our former students are up to! You can read more Alumni Spotlights here. What CI program(s) did… Read more »

Cottonwood Receives Elevations Foundation Community Grant

Posted by & filed under Updates.

Ford at the Elevations Foundation grant receptions

Elevations Foundation has once again chosen Cottonwood Institute as one of their Community Grantees in 2022! We are grateful to be entering our second year in a row as a grant recipient. Cottonwood joins 12 other nonprofits who were awarded grants this year, including our friends at Wild Bear! This grant will enable Cottonwood to… Read more »

What Did Centaurus High School’s Coal Creek Data Reveal?

Posted by & filed under Action Projects, Centaurus High School.

Two CHS students check out macroinvertebrates from Coal Creek.

Read an update about Centaurus High School CAP Class’s water quality project on Coal Creek in Lafayette, CO. You can find the original article here. Our Spring 2022 fire/water Coal Creek project all started with the students. Their primary interest was contaminación de agua – or water pollution. When explored further, the students’ overriding view… Read more »

AXL’s Epic Capture the Flag Overnight

Posted by & filed under AXL Academy.

Two AXL students pose for a photo while building debris shelters for Capture the Flag

AXL Academy CAP students wrap up their term with an epic game of Capture the Flag during the overnight camping trip. Written by CAP Instructor Carly Winner. Escrito en español más abajo. See more photos here! AXL Academy 7th and 8th grade Trimester 1 students explored Cal-Wood Education Center for their fall overnight! Excitement was… Read more »

STRIVE Prep Westwood’s Double Field Day in Golden

Posted by & filed under STRIVE Prep.

Cooking on STRIVE Prep Westwood's double field day in Golden

A double field day exploring Golden, Colorado. Written by Field Instructor Jessie Colin. Escrito en español más abajo.  The first snow in Colorado is a special time as it signals the changing of the seasons, and this was the backdrop of STRIVE Prep Westwood’s double field day. We had originally planned an overnight, but with… Read more »

Help Unlock A $25,000 Match

Posted by & filed under Fundraising, Updates.

Two students who have successfully built a small fire

Escrito en español más abajo. Giving Tuesday and Colorado Gives Day are right around the corner, and we wanted to share an incredible way to maximize your impact with Cottonwood Institute: Help us unlock a $25,000 match by December 31st from four generous families!  To unlock the match, Join The Seedling Monthly Giving Program or… Read more »

Share the New Cottonwood Institute Video!

Posted by & filed under Updates.

We are excited for you to see the New Cottonwood Institute Video! Hear from Cottonwood students, staff, and board members on why are programs are so different and so impactful for middle and high schoolers. Thank you to Eric Einstein for your work on this video with us. Want to help us spread the good… Read more »