One of the quintessential Cottonwood Institute experiences is learning to build a quinzhee, a simple snow shelter that can be useful in winter survival scenarios. It’s a technique Executive Director Ford Church brings from his survival school days, and one that endures as a winter field day staple (see pictures from our recent Instructor Training… Read more »
What a semester! With five CAP classes, 16 field excursions, and more than 100 students served, Spring 2019 was one of our busiest yet. From taking their frigid first steps on winter Field Days to making incredible strides to improve their communities in their Action Projects, Cottonwood Institute students have achieved so much this year…. Read more »
At Cottonwood Institute, we aim to help students explore and appreciate the outdoors in any weather! It’s almost time for winter programming to begin and as we prepare to enter our snowy season, we could use your help!! During the winter, each of our CAP classes participate in a winter field day. We take students… Read more »
This spring Denver Green School CAP classes had an awesome and exciting semester! We explored the world around us; Learned new skills and wilderness survival; Educated ourselves about environmental issues that affect our communities; And designed and implemented community action projects to affect real change in our worlds! We began the semester by exploring our connection to nature,… Read more »
Nature Connection Arises Through First-Time Experiences in the Snow. Written by CI Field Instructor David Diaz. Although it was a cold winter morning, 22 students from the Centaurus High School Community Adventure Program (CAP) class eagerly set out for a day in the sunshine outdoors. After picking up their equipment and getting to know the… Read more »
As the cold of late autumn wraps its long arms around us, our inner and outer world begin to slow, settling in for winter. May we use this time to reflect on what we are grateful for, and recall the warm memories of a busy summer. Written by Cottonwood Field Instructor, Caroline Paul, July 18th,… 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 »
In CAP class, students learn to connect with nature – and each other. Written by Shira Nathan, Centaurus High School CAP Class Student and Co-Editor-in-Chief for The Warrior Scroll. Note: Some of the students interviewed speak Spanish as their first language. An English translation will be included alongside their responses. Students filter into class, chatting… Read more »
From Survival Skills to Community Impact: A Journey of Growth and Connection at RiseUp Community High School. Written by Logistics Manager Maeve O’Meara. This January, in the heart of Denver’s Five Points neighborhood, RiseUp Community High School welcomed Cottonwood Institute to offer students a unique opportunity for growth and connection. For the first time ever,… Read more »
Written by Senior Cottonwood Field Instructor, Amy Kopkin Atkins Thermoregulation, the process of staying warm when it’s cold outside, may sound complex, but it’s definitely not rocket science… It’s more like biology. Outside Heat Source The “go to” way to stay warm in winter is an outside (meaning out of the body) heat source. Things… Read more »
