WHAT IS IT? #Giving Tuesday is here and today officially kicks off the giving season! Hopefully you survived Black Friday and Cyber Monday, but this is a day dedicated to charities and for giving back. WHAT FOR? Between now and December 31, 2014, Cottonwood Institute is committed to raising $20,000 to meet our annual giving… Read more »
It has been a fantastic year for the Learning Gardens at New Vista High School! The action packed year was filled with student-initiated and implemented garden projects. There were many opportunities for students to engage with and learn in the garden during academic classes and Gardening Workshops. Students learned about gardening in Colorado and practiced… Read more »
The 2014 Base Camp Bash was an incredible success for the Cottonwood Institute. We raised critical funds for our programs, met some amazing supporters, and celebrated the impact our students are having in the community. One way we honor our students is through our annual Ripple Effect Awards. The Ripple Effect Award is given each… Read more »
As we reflect back on the Cottonwood Institute programs we delivered this year we are incredibly proud of our students who really pushed themselves, stepped out of their comfort zones, explored the outdoors, and tackled some impressive Action Projects in 2013. By the numbers: This year we served 545 students (almost 100 more than 2012),… Read more »
On a sunny morning in July, the Learning Garden at New Vista High School pulled Cottonwood Institute staff away from their computers and dove into the soil. Cottonwood Institute staff, donors, students, and friends volunteered their morning to work side by side to pull weeds, harvest food, and plant root veggies. They harvested heaps of healthy… Read more »
On April 20th at the Base Camp Bash, Cottonwood Institute awarded Camille Lauer with the 2013 Ripple Effect Award! The Ripple Effect Award is awarded to an outstanding Cottonwood Institute student each year. Local artist Bryan Buikema created the beautiful award piece, which will be displayed at the recipient’s school each year. Below, take a… Read more »
2011 has been a phenomenal year filled with amazing accomplishments, awards, and inspiring stories about our students getting outdoors and taking action to make a difference in the community. Here are our top 10 favorite stories from 2011: 1. Earth Task Force Recognized for National Green Prize and Receives $10,000 Check! 2. Cottonwood Institute Wins… Read more »
As I reflect about the impact the Cottonwood Institute had this past year, I am delighted to see our impact surge in 2011. We do a lot more that just connect kids to the outdoors. In the words of one of our instructors Madeline Bachner, “Our courses are centered around cultivating direct action for positive… Read more »
UPDATE – Breaking News – The Earth Task Force has WON the 2011 Center for Resource Conservation’s Youth Conservation ReWard! Congratulations goes out to ETF on a ReWard well deserved! Keep up the strong work! ### Congratulations! The Earth Task Force’s Board of Super Heroes (BOSH) was chosen as a finalist for the Center for… Read more »
In February 2011, the Earth Task Force (ETF) put together a team of students and adults to write an application for the National Environmental Education Foundation to help fund sustainability initiatives at their school. Despite the stiff competition nationally, we are thrilled to announce that New Vista High School (NVHS) has been awarded the Green… Read more »
