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DMLK: Brave Hearts and Bear Hangs

Middle Schoolers from Dr. MLK Jr. Early College Step Into the Outdoors—with Courage, Creativity, and Some Impressive Bear Hangs. Written by CI Field Instructor Blaise Miles. Recently, students from Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Early College spent the week immersing themselves in outdoor activities from archery to rock climbing to camping in the foothills. On… Read more »

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Hook, Line, and Llamas? Sims Fayola Had a Reel-y Good Time Fishing!

Written by Senior Instructor and Associate Director Chelsea Tossing. This week, we traded city sounds for mountain breezes, trout ponds, and surprise pack llama sightings during two days of fishing clinics with the middle school students from Sims-Fayola at Staunton State Park. With rods in hand, students dove into the art of casting, baiting hooks,… Read more »

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A Week in the Wild: RiseUp Community School Explores Colorado’s Waters

Exploring Colorado’s Water Systems Combined Science, Service, and Outdoor Adventure. Written by Hailey Schmidt and Caroline Paul. This June, a group of high school students from RiseUp Community School in Denver, CO, headed to the mountains for an unforgettable five-day camping expedition at the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) in Leadville, Colorado. The trip, designed… Read more »

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Reflecting on AXL Academy’s Spring Trimester of Adventure

AXL Academy Middle Schoolers Enjoyed a Spring Trimester full of Fishing, Planting, Creating, and Adventuring! Written by AXL Academy CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL Academy 7th graders started the spring trimester by practicing survival skills and learning all about safety in the outdoors. In teams, students competed in “CAP Camp Olympics” where they learned how… Read more »

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Longmont Youth Center Overnight Adventure

Teens from Longmont Youth Center Brought Curiosity, Courage, and Joy to the Overnight Trip. Written by CAP Instructor Sara Grillo. Earlier this summer, Cottonwood Institute teamed up with teens from the Longmont Youth Center for an overnight adventure full of learning, laughter, and time in nature. We kicked off the trip early in the morning,… Read more »

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Into the Labyrinth: Changemakers Summer Trip 2025

Experiences in Labyrinth Canyon and with Regenerative Agriculture Provided Changemakers with Opportunities to Show Grit, Growth, and Share Plenty of Laughs. Written by Changemakers Senior Instructor Chelsea Tossing. We spent our first day in Dinosaur National Monument trying to find fish scales and instead discovered a thousand similar lizards. We sat on warm rocks, crawled… Read more »

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Upcycling Clothing Allows NVHS Students’ Creativity to Shine

Combating Clothing Waste with Upcycling Projects was a Unique Way to Close Out the School Year. Written by NVHS CAP Instructor Lori Powell. It was obvious from early on in the spring quarter that the New Vista High School Community Adventure Program (CAP) students were a creative bunch. Creativity was expressed throughout the class in… Read more »

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AXL Students Enjoy a Snowy and Windy Spring Overnight

Windy and Snowy Conditions Punctuated the Overnight Trip to Cheley for the AXL 8th Graders. Written by CI Field Instructor David Goldsmith. On a windy Thursday morning, AXL Academy 8th graders met once again, but this time, for their last CAP overnight before migrating to high school. Before setting off in the caravan to Cheley… Read more »

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