AXL 7th Graders Get Hands-On with Skulls, Skins, and Pond Critters at Golden Gate Canyon State Park. Written by CI Field Instructor Shawn Heyland. The plan for Ms. E’s 7th-grade AXL trip was to head out into nearby nature to learn about wildlife in a fun, engaging way. We visited Golden Gate Canyon State Park… Read more »
From Anxious First Steps to Triumphant High-Fives, AXL 8th Graders Discovered their Inner Strength on the Vertical Rock. Written by CI Field Instructor Shawn Heyland. Rock climbing isn’t for the faint of heart, and Ms. E’s 8th-grade AXL CAP class showed up at school on Friday with bravery and resilience. The goal for the day… Read more »
Our Headlamp Highlights shine a light on the people and organizations that help our Cottonwood community thrive. We are excited to highlight our Cottonwood Institute (CI) Board Member, Candace Richter, who has been on the CI Board since September 2024. Read on to learn more about Candace! Introduce yourself to the Cottonwood Community. Where did… Read more »
From Sparks with Flint and Steel to Newfound Friendships, AMS CAP Students Light Up Their First Overnight Experience. Written by CI Field Instructor Monique Murillo. Ms. Grillo’s Angevine Siddle School CAP class started the morning with fishing at Waneka Lake Park. After time spent by the water and a few fish caught, students made sandwiches… Read more »
On a warm September evening, some of our Cottonwood Institute community gathered at Woods Boss Brewing Company in Denver to raise a glass, connect, and enjoy some time together outside of the classroom and the field. Our 2025 Happy Hour was a chance to connect with friends, supporters, and new faces over good beer and… Read more »
We started our day at Ollin Farms with a greeting from Mark Guthridge, one of the owners and caretakers of Ollin Farms. Mark explained his family’s intergenerational journey to becoming a regenerative farm. He explained how regenerative farming actually builds soil by using compost, woodchips, mycelium, planting windbreaks, and smart grazing. He is not just… Read more »
We began our Changemaker’s first overnight trip with a classic Colorado plot twist: rain. On Friday evening, our van rolled into Granby under the darkness of night and the promise of precipitation. Students sprang into action, pitching tents in the drizzle and laughing while we all worked to flip a rain fly right side out… Read more »
On Friday, September 5, Ms. Grillo’s middle school CAP class hit the road for a full day at Staunton State Park. The goal: strengthen friendships, build outdoor confidence, and—most importantly—have fun. The morning at Angevine started with preparation and lively car games. On the hour drive to Staunton, one car group discovered 141 things they… Read more »
I love this time of year when I get a moment to pause and reflect on the positive impact Cottonwood Institute has created in the lives of our students and the communities we serve for the past programming year (August 2024 – July 2025). In a world that can feel divided, a quick scan of… Read more »
What a day on the greens! The Harvard Gulch Golf Invitational brought together 104 players for a fun-filled afternoon of golf and community spirit, all in support of Cottonwood Institute’s mission to awaken the changemaker within every student. Thanks to everyone who came out, we raised an incredible $12,790 to connect more students to nature… Read more »
