Military Kids and Families Connect with Nature and Each Other

Posted by & filed under Military Kids Project, Program News.

Since 2010, Cottonwood Institute has been collaborating with the military community along the Colorado Front Range to offer our Military Kids Project. We are honored to make this program possible for active military families and their children to thank them for their incredible service and sacrifice they make for our country. “This is the best… Read more »

Seeing the Forest and the Trees: Casa de la Esperanza Takes on the Emerald Ash Borer

Posted by & filed under Casa de la Esperanza, Program News.

Can’d Aid Foundation presents the Cottonwood Institute Community Adventure Program at Casa de la Esperanza. Even though it is a pressing issue on the Front Range, most people have never heard of the Emerald Ash Borer. Neither had the kids at Casa de la Esperanza until the fourth day of their two-week Community Adventure Program. When… Read more »

Saving the Bees with STRIVE Prep-Excel

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

Many people wonder how Action Projects with Cottonwood Institute work and what makes them so powerful. The key is the students. The students have to be invested in the topic and really care about the outcome in order for the projects to not just be another course requirement when many students already feel overwhelmed with coursework. How… Read more »

School’s Out But Adventure Has Just Begun! Mission: Wolf with STRIVE Prep-Montbello

Posted by & filed under Cottonwood Institute News, Courses, Mission: Wolf, STRIVE Prep.

STRIVE Prep – Montbello middle school had just let out for the summer, but the following day nine students, two of their teachers, and three Cottonwood Institute instructors loaded up in vans and headed out to meet the wolves. There were feelings of fear, excitement, and curiosity being exchanged during the drive to Mission: Wolf, a gorgeous and isolated retreat in… Read more »

Food, Fracking, and Pollution: Action Projects by KIPP Montbello CAP Students

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Cottonwood Institute News, KIPP Colorado, Program News.

The two 9th grade Community Adventure Program (CAP) classes at KIPP Montbello Collegiate High School have wrapped up their classes and action projects for the semester and are proud of what they have accomplished! Out of the two classes, three groups were formed around different issues: food deserts and lack of fresh whole foods in… Read more »

We Walked the Walk: New Vista Spring CAP Students Tackle Water Pollution

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Cottonwood Institute News, Program News.

The students of New Vista High School and Cottonwood Institute’s Community Adventure Program (CAP) discovered buckets of information about water pollution and stream restoration this quarter and realized there was a lot they could do to help. With visible enthusiasm, they decided to pick this as their Action Project. The Action Project is a student-led project… Read more »

Leaving It All Behind: Littleton Academy at Mission: Wolf

Posted by & filed under Cottonwood Institute News, Littleton Academy, Mission: Wolf, Program News.

Gear flung everywhere, smiles abound, and parents left behind! It’s time for an adventure! Twenty-one Littleton Academy 5th graders and six adults headed out to howl with the wolves this past week at Mission: Wolf, a wolf sanctuary hidden in the shadows of the beautiful Sangre de Cristo Mountains just outside of Gardner, Colorado. For… Read more »

Growing Food for the Community: STRIVE Prep-Westwood

Posted by & filed under Community Adventure Program, Cottonwood Institute News, Program News, STRIVE Prep.

Cottonwood Institute’s Community Adventure Program (CAP) students at STRIVE Prep – Westwood got the worm this time when they worked alongside Re:Vision team member Joseph Teipel to plant three fruit trees for the neighborhood food co-op. With lots of great ideas to consider, all focused around food scarcity, we worked through the logistical limitations of a successful action… Read more »

Meeting Wolves with New Eyes: STRIVE Prep-Sunnyside

Posted by & filed under Cottonwood Institute News, Mission: Wolf, STRIVE Prep.

It was a clear, sunny day when twelve STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside students embarked on a journey into the Sangre de Cristo mountains. They had one clear mission: to meet and learn about wolves in the remote mountain sanctuary aptly named Mission: Wolf. The group had bountiful energy and enthusiasm; their four hour drive to the site… Read more »