A Changemaker student practices ancestral skills at the ancestral skills gathering at Ollin Farms

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Changemakers Spark Ancestral Skills Revival: Reconnecting Community Through Fire, Shelter & Crafts

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 »

NVHS student as work in the outdoors, examining something

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From Fire-Building to Friendship: New Vista High School Camps Out at Camp Patiya

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 »

A student speaks at the Outdoor and Environmental Opportunity Fair

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Together for Tomorrow: A Cottonwood-ELK Collaboration Sparks Youth Enthusiasm for Environmental Careers

Inspiring the Next Wave of Environmental Stewards: How This Collaborative Event Is Helping Shape the Future of Outdoor and Environmental Advocacy. Written by Associate Director & Senior Instructor Chelsea Tossing. With a shared vision of empowering young people and fostering a deeper connection with nature, Cottonwood Institute and Environmental Learning for Kids (ELK) brought together… Read more »

14er Selfie at DIA with Ford David Mike

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14ers Watercolor Exhibit Lands At Denver International Airport

  We are excited to announce that the 14ers Portraits watercolor collection by Mike Wilson are now on exhibit at Denver International Airport (DEN) to benefit Cottonwood Institute from March – September 2024. Local artist, Mike Wilson, generously donated his beautiful collection of 53 watercolors of all of the 14ers (peaks over 14,000 feet) in… Read more »

Base Camp Bash

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Base Camp Bash 2024: A Night of Wild Wonder

In a nutshell, 2024’s Base Camp Bash did not fall short of its theme as a “A Night of Wild Wonder.” On the evening of March 2nd, as attendees entered Upper Larimer event space in RiNo, they were greeted with a variety of sensory experiences: the scent of hundreds of fresh cut flowers, the sound… Read more »

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“How do you Stay Warm When it’s Cold?”

Written by Senior Cottonwood Field Instructor, Amy Kopkin Atkins Thermoregulation, the process of staying warm when it’s cold outside, may sound complex, but it’s definitely not rocket science… It’s more like biology. Outside Heat Source The “go to” way to stay warm in winter is an outside (meaning out of the body) heat source. Things… Read more »

Rise Up Field Day

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“Happier Not on a Screen” A Rise-Up Story

Written by Senior Cottonwood Field Instructor, Amy Kopkin Atkins   It is both intuitive and well known that spending time outdoors is a healthy anecdote to the mental and physical health issues that arise when one spends too much time on a screen. It’s another thing to see it in action. As Cottonwood CAP and… Read more »