Join Us for Our 3rd Annual Ancestral Skills Gathering on April 25, 2026! Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. On a bright fall day, students from our Changemakers Outdoor Leadership Corps were waiting for a shuttle during a backpacking trip in the Rockies. To pass the time, their instructor taught… Read more »
Low Ropes Course Activities and a Service Project Kept AXL 8th Graders Engaged During Their Winter CAP Overnight at Cal-Wood Written by AXL Academy CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL Academy 8th graders were eager for another winter overnight CAP trip, expecting and excited for the same winter activities as last year, including snowshoeing, snow ball… Read more »
Angevine Middle School Students Discover the Joy of Snow Through a Brainard Lake Quinzee Construction Adventure Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. Earlier this February, the Angevine Middle School (AMS) CAP class was able to enjoy a wintery excursion despite the unseasonably warm weather. Up at Brainard Lake, the sun was out, the birds… Read more »
Wilderness First Aid: Changemakers Gain Skills for Caring for Others in Wild Places and Beyond Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. On a cold January weekend, while most people were staying cozy indoors watching the Broncos, Changemaker students—and a few hardy Cottonwood staff—were outside doing something pretty powerful: learning how… Read more »
Our Winter Training Brought Staff to Brainard Lake for Snow Shelters, Wilderness Medicine Scenarios, and Joyful Learning in Winter Conditions Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. Cottonwood Institute staff kicked off 2026 with a chilly and fun-filled winter training. Though the wintery weather has been lacking in the front range this season, we were… Read more »
A Day of Service, Gratitude, and Community Rooted in Social Justice and Collective Action Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. On Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.’s birthday, Cottonwood alumni, Changemakers, and family members came together to turn inspiration into action. Nine of us gathered at Denver’s City Park to listen… Read more »
As the Year’s Shortest Day Arrived, Cottonwood Alumni Came Together for a Solstice Hike Rooted in Reflection and Connection Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. We gathered in the afternoon at Golden Gate Canyon State Park and began our solstice hike to Panorama Point, arriving just in time to watch… Read more »
While Many People were Recovering from Thanksgiving Dinner—or Braving Crowded Stores—Cottonwood Institute Alumni Chose a Different Kind of Black Friday Tradition: an Opt Outside Hike. Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. The day after Thanksgiving, Cottonwood alumni gathered in beautiful Eldorado Canyon for a hike, games, and time to simply… Read more »
Curiosity Guided Students from Classroom Questions to Real-World Action at Angevine During Fall Semester. Written by Angevine Middle School CAP Instructor Sara Grillo. As the semester wraps up, it’s fun to look back at just how much we fit into our time together during our Fall CAP class at Angevine Middle School. It was a… Read more »
A Local Park Became an Outdoor Classroom for the AXL 8th Graders to Embark on a Microplastics Hunt and Archery Skill-Building. Written by AXL CAP Instructor Harmony Esqueda. AXL Academy 8th graders eagerly set out on our short and sweet 15-minute journey from school to Cherry Creek State Park. There, we were greeted by the… Read more »
