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 »
Spring Training Provided the Opportunity for Cottonwood Instructors to Stay Sharp, Confident, and Ready to Lead Meaningful Outdoor Experiences Written by Harmony Esqueda, AXL Academy CAP Instructor & Social Media Coordinator. Every Spring, Cottonwood Instructors gather for a weekend-long training to learn new skills, games, and activities together. In order to deliver top notch programs… 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 »
More Than 60 Participants Gathered to Learn Traditional Skills, Connect with Nature, and Strengthen Community Connections. Written by Kira Gilliland, Changemaker Alum. Over the past couple of years, our Ancestral Skills Gathering has had a meaningful impact within our small community. This year, however, we wanted to make it even bigger and better. The 3rd… Read more »
The Base Camp Bash 2026 was an Evening Full of Connection, Generosity, and Celebration On April 11, 2026, the Cottonwood community gathered once again at Upper Larimer in Denver for our 21st Annual Base Camp Bash, an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and impact. Building on last year’s milestone celebration, the Bash 2026 brought together… Read more »
What It Takes to Sleep in Quinzees: A Changemakers Backcountry Journey of Grit, Snow, and Self-Reliance Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. Smile and say “Quinzeeeeee!” Changemakers Outdoor Leadership Corps were all smiles when they finally finished building their quinzees in time to scarf down a late dinner and crawl… Read more »
