Multiple Downpours Added to the Experience as Centaurus High School Students Embraced Two Rainy Days of Adventure. Written by Senior CAP Instructor Erin Angel. Anxiously watching weather models as the date for the Centaurus High School CAP trip drew near, the prospect of camping and driving in 12 inches of snow led us to make… Read more »
Written by Sara Grillo. Summer is just around the corner and Cottonwood Institute is gearing up for a season full of fun, community, and impact! Whether you’re into live music, golf, cornhole, or just kicking back with a cold beverage for a good cause, there’s something for everyone this summer. Join us for these exciting… Read more »
Fire-building Skills Proved Useful During a Chilly Spring Fishing Adventure. Written by AXL Academy CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL Academy 8th graders in CAP class gathered on a frigid early Friday morning to head out on our fishing adventure. We piled in the vans for our hour-long drive to Colorado Youth Outdoors in Fort Collins…. Read more »
Digging in the Dirt Allowed New Vista High School Students the Opportunity to Connect with the Earth and Each Other. Written by CI Field Instructor Kelsi Massengale. On a bright and sunny Friday morning, students from New Vista High School’s CAP class prepared for their field day with a bit of hacky-sack outside the school… Read more »
This year, Cottonwood Institute celebrated our 20th Base Camp Bash fundraising event, thus our theme: Cheers To 20 Years! On the evening of April 5th, 2025, our Cottonwood community gathered for a night of music, food, fundraising, and festivities at Upper Larimer in RiNo in Denver. As people trickled in they were met with the… Read more »
Dominguez Canyon Wilderness Provided a Unique Setting for Peak to Peak Students to Embrace Adventure while Backpacking through in Both Directions. Written by CI Field Instructor David Goldsmith. After a tempestuously windy night, the Peak to Peak Charter School group set out for Bear Family Ranch – our home for the next two nights. With… Read more »
Building Quinzhees for the Winter Overnight Kept Everyone Sheltered from the Cold. Written by Changemakers and Senior CAP Instructor Erin Angel. Changemakers met at the crack of dawn to beat ski traffic to the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) in Leadville for our winter overnight trip. We snowshoed to our site and got to diggin’… Read more »
A Day of Challenge Didn’t Deter Students from Enjoying a Snowy Adventure at Caribou Ranch. Written by CI Field Instructor David Diaz. When they set out for their winter field day, Angevine Middle School students in the Community Adventure Program (CAP) were expecting a fun and challenging day that involved building a quinzhee (a traditional… Read more »
Nature Connection Arises Through First-Time Experiences in the Snow. Written by CI Field Instructor David Diaz. Although it was a cold winter morning, 22 students from the Centaurus High School Community Adventure Program (CAP) class eagerly set out for a day in the sunshine outdoors. After picking up their equipment and getting to know the… Read more »
Snowshoeing Facilitated Outdoor Learning in the Deep Snow at Cal-Wood. Written by AXL CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL Academy 7th graders spent their winter Community Adventure Program (CAP) overnight trip at Cal-Wood Education Center in Jamestown, Colorado. The trip was off to a rocky start when the vans got stuck in a patch of snow… Read more »
