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 »
On Saturday, July 26th, McGregor Square was buzzing with energy, friendly competition, and community connection as we gathered for the 2025 Cottonwood Throwdown, our annual cornhole tournament and fundraiser to support Cottonwood Institute students. With breakfast drinks in hand and the boards set, it was the perfect summer day to show up, play hard, and… Read more »
Beats on the Creek 2025 was one for the books. Thanks to the incredible generosity of Coohills, a lineup of amazing local bands, and a community that showed up week after week, we wrapped up a successful season full of music, good food, and meaningful connection, all in support of Cottonwood Institute’s students and outdoor… Read more »
