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 »
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 »
There are many signs of early spring in March in the Front Range. As we anticipate more snow in the mountains, crocuses emerge in town, the days start lengthen, and lakes begin to thaw. Cottonwood Institute (CI) spring instructor training indicates the shift in season. CI instructors transition from winter field-days to spring overnights next… Read more »
On a warm winter day in February, the second trimester AXL Academy CAP class set out to find peace on their first overnight trip together to Bear Creek Lake Park. The students were buzzing with excitement all morning to be headed out on a field trip, missing a day of school, and sleeping in cabins…. Read more »
“If the sight of the blue skies fills you with joy, if a blade of grass springing up in the fields has power to move you, if the simple things in nature have a message you understand, rejoice, for your soul is alive.” – Eleanora Duse Despite a mid-winter summer in the Front Range, the… Read more »
“The act of putting into your mouth what the earth has grown, is perhaps your most direct interaction with the earth.” ~Francis Moore Lappe During third quarter, or “Winter” CAP students decided to focus their action project efforts on Food Miles. After much discussion and deliberation students chose to prepare (and repair) the existing garden… Read more »
The Colorado wilderness is vast and beautiful and much sought after by climbers, hikers, campers and skiers alike. But this glorious wilderness can also be harsh and unforgiving. Weather conditions can change at the drop of a hat. From sun to snow to sun to…is that hail? Mountain lions and bears inhabit the mountains and… Read more »
With reality shows like Survivor, Man Vs. Wild, and Survivorman, survival has become a buzzword synonymous with crazy people willing to risk their lives on national television for the sake of entertainment. But with survival stories of missing families stuck in their cars and the climbers on Mt. Hood dominating the national headlines last November,… Read more »
Teacher: Ford Church, M. A., Founder and Executive DirectorCottonwood Institute303.447.1076 (w)ford at cottonwoodinstitute.org Course Dates and Times: Seminar Intensive for 1.0 credits: Tuesdays: 11:05am – 12:05pm, Wednesdays: 8:45am – 3:05pm (including Breaks, Advisory, and Lunch), and Fridays: 11:05am – 12:05pm, plus 2 weekend overnight camping trips. Course Description:The Community Adventure Program (CAP) is all about… Read more »
The Community Adventure Program Trip Log (TLOG) is a tool that we use to document each trip. Students can use this as a reference and template for coordinating their own trips outside of this class and future CAP classes will use this information as a reference for future trips. This is also a reflective tool… Read more »
