Cottonwood Institute is excited to announce a special van “Fun Drive” Campaign. Our goal is to raise $30,000 to acquire a 15-passenger van to help connect more students to nature! It is a well known fact that transportation is a big barrier for getting more students outside and connected to nature. For the past 15… Read more »
Wow, another Base Camp Bash has whizzed by and we were able to raise critical funding for Cottonwood Institute programs with a little New Orleans flair. So, how much did we raise this year? Well, you’ll have to read on… The Cottonwood Institute decorating committee—spearheaded by Beverly Church and Jessica Church—CI staff, and volunteers descended… Read more »
For Cottonwood Institute Instructors, maintaining a strong tool kit of outdoor skills is a constant process. While the core competencies instructors teach and use in the field have long remained the same, the tools and techniques considered to be “best practices” are always evolving. So as new instructors come aboard, longtime returning champions pick up… Read more »
Spring is (finally) here, and with it comes a delicious new way to support Cottonwood Institute! For the month of April, head to Chook Charcoal Chicken, the newest restaurant from Snooze’s Adam Schlegel and James Beard Award-winning chef Alex Seidel (Fruition, Mercantile Dining & Provisions), for a great meal and a good cause! Chook,… Read more »
This year Colorado Alliance for Environmental Education (CAEE) is celebrating 30 years of being a statewide leader in environmental education in Colorado. Last week they put on their 19th annual Advancing Environmental Education Conference. Cottonwood Institute (CI) presented two conference sessions and received the Advancing Environmental Literacy Award on behalf of the Nature Kids/Jovenes de… Read more »
Every time we venture outdoors, whether for a day hike or for a month-long trek, we accept a certain level of uncertainty. Informed preparation and risk management are of course essential practices, but it is our ability to adapt to changing circumstances that more often determines the success of a trip. Even the most meticulously… Read more »
If you’ve been part of the Cottonwood Institute family for while, Aleyna Porreca will already be a familiar face. After taking a CAP class at New Vista High School, Aleyna returned to CI as a Field Instructor back in 2010. Aleyna has been an amazing advocate for Cottonwood Institute’s mission and has gone on some… Read more »
We always love to hear about the ways Cottonwood Institute students bring their CI experiences with them into the world. CAP New Vista Alumna Astrea Strawn has made the outdoors a major part of her life, working as an outdoor educator and now pursuing a masters in marine sciences at Oregon State University. What… Read more »
As the wind whips through the trees, a group of energetic people excitedly emerge from a van. Dressed to the nines in their outdoor gear, they eagerly unpack the van, load up the sled, and take off into the whirling whiteness of the Colorado mountains. Everyone ready for a day of fun and making connections!Cottonwood… Read more »
The Cottonwood Institute family grows a little bit bigger in 2019 as we welcome Andrew Miller, our new Field Program Coordinator! This is a new role that will provide dedicated support to our instructors to ensure we deliver high quality, high impact programs for our students. Andrew steps in to oversee logistics for our 30+… Read more »
