At Mothapalooza, Community Members Explored the Vital Role of Nocturnal Pollinators through Hands-On Learning, Expert Presentations, and an Unforgettable Evening Under the Stars Written by Cottonwood Institute Instructor and & Social Media Coordinator Harmony Esqueda. At dusk on a warm summer night, a crowd eagerly gathered at Beech Open Space near Longmont for an evening… Read more »
Give Where It Grows to Support 40+ Colorado Nonprofits that Provide Outdoor and Environmental Learning Experiences During Great Outdoors Month June is National Great Outdoors Month, and the Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education asks you to Give Where it Grows by donating to their incredible network of outdoor learning organizations, which includes Cottonwood Institute. Outdoor… Read more »
From Fishing at Barr Lake to Navigating a Snowy and Soggy Campsite, AXL Academy 7th Graders Made the Most of Every Moment During this Spring Camping Adventure Written by AXL Academy CAP Instructor & Social Media Coordinator Harmony Esqueda. Our 7th grade AXL Academy CAP spring overnight started off strong with our first stop being… Read more »
Cottonwood Institute Founder and Executive Director Receives the Elizabeth Abernathy Hull Award from the Garden Club of America in 2026 Just before the annual Bash Camp Bash event began on April 11, 2026, Ford Church, Founder and Executive Director of Cottonwood Institute, received a surprise honor from the Garden Club of America. One of the… Read more »
New Vista Students Explored Climate Solutions Through the Cycle of Hope and Hands-On Action Written by Lori Powell, New Vista CAP Instructor and Communications & Administrative Coordinator. The New Vista High School spring Community Adventure Program (CAP) class kicked off the quarter with a powerful learning experience. On the afternoon of the first day of… Read more »
Cottonwood Institute is Proud to Announce that We Have Been Awarded the Unique Distinction as a Colorado Water Education Exemplar for 2026! What is it? This distinction is given by the Colorado Watershed Assembly to recognize local programs that offer objectively exceptional education about Colorado’s water using the Guidelines for Excellence in Environmental Education. These… Read more »
Our Headlamp Highlights Shine a Light on the People and Organizations that Help our Cottonwood Community Thrive. Meet Board Member Alyssa. We are excited to highlight our Cottonwood Institute (CI) Board Member, Alyssa Ash, who has been on the CI Board since February 2026. Read on to learn more about Alyssa! Introduce yourself to the… Read more »
From Fog-Covered Peaks to Nighttime Discoveries, Wonder Shaped Every Part of this First Colorado High School Charter CAP Camping Trip Written by Blaise Miles, CI Field Instructor. Students on Colorado High School Charter‘s first-ever CAP camping trip showed incredible resilience and positivity. Thirty degrees and snowing didn’t stop them from having a great time and… Read more »
From the Climbing Gym to the Trails of Heil Ranch, New Vista Students Embraced Challenges, Ancestral skills, and a Spirited Mac-n-Cheese Cook-Off Despite a Weather-Related Schedule Change Written by Hailey Schmidt, Cottonwood Institute Field Instructor. The last week of May brought some cold weather to the front range this year, affecting New Vista High School’s… Read more »
Students Discovered Joy in Simple Adventures, Creative Campsites, and Unforgettable Moments Together at Camp Patiya. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. In late April, Angevine Middle School CAP class embarked on an adventurous and joy-filled overnight trip to Camp Patiya outside of Boulder. We started our day by fishing at Lake Waneka and caught… Read more »
