From Fog-Covered Peaks to Nighttime Discoveries, Wonder Shaped Every Part of this First Colorado High School Charter CAP Camping Trip Written by Blaise Miles, CI Field Instructor. Students on Colorado High School Charter‘s first-ever CAP camping trip showed incredible resilience and positivity. Thirty degrees and snowing didn’t stop them from having a great time and… Read more »
Students Discovered Joy in Simple Adventures, Creative Campsites, and Unforgettable Moments Together at Camp Patiya. Written by CI Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. In late April, Angevine Middle School CAP class embarked on an adventurous and joy-filled overnight trip to Camp Patiya outside of Boulder. We started our day by fishing at Lake Waneka and caught… Read more »
From the Climbing Gym to the Trails of Heil Ranch, New Vista Students Embraced Challenges, Ancestral skills, and a Spirited Mac-n-Cheese Cook-Off Despite a Weather-Related Schedule Change Written by Hailey Schmidt, Cottonwood Institute Field Instructor. The last week of May brought some cold weather to the front range this year, affecting New Vista High School’s… Read more »
Written by Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt. Early in April, the 7th and 8th grade AXL Academy CAP classes enjoyed their field days at St. Vrain State Park. The weather forecast looked a bit chilly, but the group was pleasantly surprised by gorgeous spring days. Both groups started off their mornings with fishing and searching… Read more »
More Than 100 Participants Gathered to Learn Traditional Skills, Connect with Nature, and Strengthen Community Connections. Written by Kira Gilliland, Changemaker Alum. Over the past couple of years, our Ancestral Skills Gathering has had a meaningful impact within our small community. This year, however, we wanted to make it even bigger and better. The 3rd… Read more »
Written by Field Instructor Hailey Schmidt with help from the New Vista students. The New Vista High School CAP class had a great day at Ollin Farms. They helped plant some succulents and morning glories as well as spread mycelium and mulch. They played a number of games and students enjoyed exploring near the creek…. Read more »
The Base Camp Bash 2026 was an Evening Full of Connection, Generosity, and Celebration On April 11, 2026, the Cottonwood community gathered once again at Upper Larimer in Denver for our 21st Annual Base Camp Bash, an unforgettable evening of celebration, connection, and impact. Building on last year’s milestone celebration, the Bash 2026 brought together… Read more »
Colorado will be marking the 150th anniversary of our entrance into the Union. As the Centennial State, Colorado is the only state to observe twin anniversaries. Colorado Creative Industries (CCI) commemorates this milestone with the Creative Capitol Colorado’s Fourteeners Exhibition showcasing the natural beauty of Colorado’s unique landscape with an exhibition of prints of 53… Read more »
The Spring Break Hike was Full of Friendship, Snow Surprises, and Reconnecting with Inspiring Changemakers Alumni Written by Erin Angel, CI Senior Instructor, Changemakers & Alumni Coordinator. Our Changemakers Alumni are such cool people. We kicked off our spring break kickoff (see those double kicks?) by going from person to person and getting 2-minute updates… Read more »
Spring Training Provided the Opportunity for Cottonwood Instructors to Stay Sharp, Confident, and Ready to Lead Meaningful Outdoor Experiences Written by Harmony Esqueda, AXL Academy CAP Instructor & Social Media Coordinator. Every Spring, Cottonwood Instructors gather for a weekend-long training to learn new skills, games, and activities together. In order to deliver top notch programs… Read more »
