Under blue skies and the shade of towering cottonwoods, Cottonwood Institute alumni and Changemaker students teamed up to host our second annual Cottonwood Ancestral Skills Gathering at Ollin Farms—a day full of hands-on learning, cultural connection, and community building. Inspired by the success of our student-led gathering last year, our alumni invited participants to reconnect… Read more »
In a world where broken gear often means buying new, Changemaker students decided to take a different approach: repair, reuse, and keep it out of the landfill. As part of their spring action project, our Changemakers tackled two big issues in the outdoor industry—waste and accessibility. Outdoor gear isn’t cheap, and when it breaks, it’s… Read more »
A Community Service Day with Luvin’ Arms Benefited both Humans and Animals. Written by Senior CAP Instructor Erin Angel. Although many people don’t realize it, the MLK Jr. holiday was originally designated in 1983 as a day of service. The idea was that people got the day off of work or school to do civic… Read more »
See how one student’s passion for the outdoors and community blossomed into a leadership role, inspiring others and shaping our organization. Written by Associate Director & Senior Instructor Chelsea Tossing. One of our students, Jesse, first joined our school-based CAP Class as a freshman in high school during COVID. Even online, it was obvious how… Read more »
And just like that, another inspiring cohort of Changemaker Outdoor Leadership Corps (a.k.a. Changemaker) students wrapped up an incredible year. Let’s take a look back to see what the Changemaker students accomplished for the 2023-24 programming year: This past fall, Changemakers hiked the Boulder Flatirons and enjoyed a September sunset picnic giving their program year… Read more »
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 »
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 »
Our high school Changemakers gathered on a unseasonably balmy weekend in January 2024 to receive their Wilderness First Aid and CPR Training from Backcountry Pulse, an amazing Latina owned small business based in Colorado. The Changemakers are developing their leadership and trip leading skills, so it is important for them to have Wilderness First Aid… Read more »
How the Changemaker Outdoor Leadership Corps Discovered Magic Stewarding Colorado’s Land. Written by Senior CAP Instructor Erin Angel. The Changemaker Outdoor Leadership Corps spent two crisp, golden days together enjoying a break from the pressures of the “real world.” We gathered under the bright autumn sun at Reynolds Ranch to work with the inspiring Ranger… Read more »
Cottonwood Institute works closely with our school and community partners to make sure that our programs meet a real community need and values student voices. Now entering its third year, the Changemaker Program engages CAP class alums through a yearlong leadership program. In 2021, students identified relationship building as our goal in response to the… Read more »
