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Changemakers Winter Overnight Adventure in Quinzhees

Building Quinzhees for the Winter Overnight Kept Everyone Sheltered from the Cold. Written by Changemakers and Senior CAP Instructor Erin Angel. Changemakers met at the crack of dawn to beat ski traffic to the Colorado Outward Bound School (COBS) in Leadville for our winter overnight trip. We snowshoed to our site and got to diggin’… Read more »

Seeing the World through a New Lens: New Vista’s Fall Overnight

Surrounded by the Autumnal aspens who were casting their golden beams of light upon us, New Vista’s CAP Class followed the long and winding road to Camp Cheley in Estes Park, a place we would call home for the next two days. After arriving, we oriented ourselves to this new space, wild and new to… Read more »

CAP Alumni Spotlight: Galen O’Shea

Meet Galen! A Cottonwood Institute CAP Alumni who is living life to the fullest and always leaves time to explore the outdoors!  We caught up with him and asked a few questions about what he’s currently up to and the impact CAP has had on his life. What are you up to these days? “I… Read more »

Shablam – CAP at New Vista has the Perfect Backpacking Recipe 

Backpacking, for anyone who has been, is like a recipe. A little of this, a little of that to produce an unforgettable experience. Each trip has some key ingredients; there are those touching moments you can’t get when plugged into your phone or IPad. The pride of overcoming obstacles to meet basic needs, an incredible… Read more »

An Enchanting Tale: Students of STRIVE Prep – Excel Journey to Cal-Wood

Sparkling caverns, trickling waterfalls, a troll’s den, and a bear peering through a window. Does this sound like a fairy story? Settle in while I recount the tale, Dear Reader… Once upon a time, four valiant youths left the city to seek their fortune in the mountains. They boarded a big white carriage which bore them… Read more »

Challenge and Chills with STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside

Recently, STRIVE Prep – Sunnyside Community Adventure Program (CAP) students headed up to the mountains outside Fairplay to explore the Beaver Ponds Environmental Education Center. They started off the trip on a beautiful Colorado morning by stopping at Staunton State Park for a short hike. The students learned about compasses and navigation and led the way to Davis… Read more »

Denver Green School Students Play the Days Away

Recently, the two Denver Green School Community Adventure Program (CAP) classes went on their second camping trip of the year. A group of 13 students and three leaders drove up to Cheley Outpost Camp near Allenspark and spent two days and one night learning camping skills, whittling, sawing wood, hiking, making fire, cooking and, of course,… Read more »

A Windy Autumn Backpacking Trip with STRIVE Prep – Federal

During the first week of October, a select few students from STRIVE Prep – Federal braved the cold and the wind for an experience like no other! Ten middle schoolers, along with two STRIVE teachers and two Cottonwood instructors, spent two days at White Ranch Open Space, just west of Golden, CO. The first impressions… Read more »

STRIVE Prep – RISE Rises Above Chilly Weather

Recently, a group of twenty-two freshmen from STRIVE Prep – RISE headed up past Allenspark to the Cheley Outpost. For most of them, this was their first camping trip ever. The weather was bright and the aspens were at their peak for a beautiful fall weekend. The students enjoyed the challenge of setting up their tents in the… Read more »

Denver Green School CAP Enjoys Colorado’s Autumn Beauty

Recently, the two Denver Green School Community Adventure Program (CAP) classes went on an overnight camping trip at Cheley Outpost Camp near Allenspark, CO. Having the opportunity to go on a camping trip is not common in most schools. Some of us had gone camping before, but this trip was different than any other. Overall, Cottonwood Institute provided us with… Read more »

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