From Fish Hatcheries to Fierce Rapids, RiseUp Community High School Students Navigate Nature and Themselves in Leadville. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. A small group of RiseUp Community High School students spent a wonderful week with Cottonwood Institute, learning about watersheds, getting to know each other better, and experiencing nature’s joys in the… Read more »
AXL Academy 8th Graders Explore, Learn, and Make Memories on Unforgettable Adventure. Written by CI Field Instructor Caroline Paul. That’s a wrap on another great year of Community Adventure Program (CAP) Class at Aurora’s Expeditionary Learning Academy (AXL)! The 8th graders took their final camping trip before their big high school graduation, which was certainly… Read more »
From tent-building challenges to catching their own dinner, these 7th graders embraced the beauty (and briskness!) of Camp Patiya. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt AXL Academy 7th Graders had a chilly yet beautiful overnight trip to Camp Patiya outside of Boulder, Colorado. Expecting strong winds and potential precipitation, we were pleasantly surprised by… Read more »
No Tents, No Problem! Angevine Middle School Makes Memories on Action-Packed Day Trips. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt Last month, Angevine Middle School students were disappointed to hear that their overnight trip had been switched to two day trips due to excessively cold weather predicted for the night of their May campout. However,… Read more »
Leadership, Nature, and Growth on a Transformative Trip. Written by Changemaker Program Students, Lahja Wise and Iona Kelly. How can a single trip be so exciting, introspective, and informative at the same time? The only thing we know for sure is that it would not have happened without our lovely mentors, Erin And Chelsea. This… Read more »
New Vista High School CAP Class Ignites Action! Written by CAP Instructor Sadie Norton. Wildfire Preparedness: Is Your Home Ready? Take the Test! The Prelude: This quarter’s CAP Class had quite the learning journey this Spring. Throughout the quarter, we spent time connecting to nature, gaining an appreciation for the beauty in the world around… Read more »
In CAP class, students learn to connect with nature – and each other. Written by Shira Nathan, Centaurus High School CAP Class Student and Co-Editor-in-Chief for The Warrior Scroll. Note: Some of the students interviewed speak Spanish as their first language. An English translation will be included alongside their responses. Students filter into class, chatting… Read more »
How a Focus on Employee Wellness is Setting This Environmental Education Nonprofit Apart. Written by Cottonwood Instructor Alo McGarigal. As a new field instructor for Cottonwood Institute this spring, April has been a whirlwind of onboarding, training, and getting acquainted with the incredible team. Having worked for various environmental education non-profits, I’ve seen a range… Read more »
Students Lead Frigid-Weather Gathering, Fostering Sustainability & Connection to Heritage. Written by Associate Director and Senior Instructor Chelsea Tossing. In a world increasingly dominated by technology, our Changemaker students have been craving to reconnect themselves and their community with ancestral skills. This past weekend, our Changemaker Outdoor Leadership Program welcomed 40 eager members of the… Read more »
Students Encounter Wildlife, Build Shelters, and Learn Valuable Outdoor Skills on a Memorable Camping Trip. Written by Instructor M Tormasi. Earlier in April, Cottonwood Institute had the wonderful opportunity to take New Vista High School students camping just 25 minutes northwest of their school. Throughout the trip, many students stepped into leadership roles, facilitating team-building… Read more »
