Written by CAP Instructor Carly Winner
The first Cottonwood Institute overnight of the 2021-2022 school year was a success as students braved wintry conditions for a fun night. The AXL Academy CAP class met on Thursday morning to venture up to Cal-Wood Education Center. On the drive up, we couldn’t see much through the fog in front of the van. Many wondered…where are we going? What is even up here? Will I ever make it home! But alas, after the vans made it to the parking lot they were greeted by the lovely Cal-Wood staff who gave them a warm welcome to contrast the cool weather.
Students hiked about a mile to their campsite where the fun continued. Instructors Carly, Barbara, and Camille distributed sleeping bags, sleeping pads, and tents and soon the ground became filled with camping gear! Each student set up their own tent to maintain COVID safety, which led to a fair share of competition for the BEST camp spot.
In 2020, Cal-Wood saw devastating impacts from the historic Colorado Cal-Wood fire. In an effort to support fire mitigation, students worked with Cal-Wood staff to create slash-and-burn piles. Students created 8 piles that will be burned in the winter to support new forest growth, and protect from large wildfire spread. Students were excited to apply wildfire knowledge from their CAP class, and the learning continued after the service project with a matchstick forest activity that demonstrated how slope and tree arrangement affect fire spread.
After a busy afternoon, students were hungry for dinner. The group decided that camping does NOT have to mean the food can’t be exciting! Students took the initiative to caramelize onions, sautee peppers, and slow-cook the beans for the most DELICIOUS burrito bowls! Not impressed yet? Students even took the extra tortillas from the meal and began to fry up some homemade tortilla chips with spices and lime. Now that’s a camping meal!
The night ended with a game of manhunt, s’mores, and nighttime reflections. Students expressed feelings of joy, excitement, and gratitude for their day. As they headed for bed, they also talked about fear, nervousness to sleep in their tents, and exhaustion from the long day. As these emotions stirred, students comforted one another, grabbed an extra layer to feel warm, and reassured each other that it will be okay. The night winded down and everyone slept (semi) soundly (if you ignored all the snoring!).
The morning flew by with a great hike where the fog, mist, and clouds finally cleared and students saw the mountains for the first time on the trip. At the top of the trail the group played a few games, ate a snack, reflected, and got ready for their trek back to camp! Students said goodbye to their lovely campsite and gave a huge thank you to Cal-Wood for the time, space, and an unforgettable experience.
