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AXL students at Cal-Wood

Xcel Energy Foundation Grant 2021-22

Cottonwood Institute is excited to receive a $10,000 grant from Xcel Energy Foundation to help support our CAP Classes at AXL Academy, William Smith High School, Angevine Middle School, Centaurus High School, and New Vista High School during the 2021-22 school year! We are honored to partner with Xcel energy and their commitment to transition… Read more »

CI Happy Hour 2021

Register Now: CI Virtual Happy Hour and “Best of the Vest” Awards 2/18

The Cottonwood Institute Happy Hour is getting a new look for 2021! Though we still can’t be together in person, this won’t be just another boring Zoom “happy” hour, oh no. This is an opportunity to connect with the amazing ecosystem of Cottonwood Institute program partners, celebrate each other’s success, and try out some brand… Read more »

Explore Outside Photo Challenge Calendar

CI Explore Outside Photo Challenge: January 2021

Ah January—a time to reflect, set intentions, and cave on your New Year’s resolution by January 3rd. Wait, what? If you’ve ever failed at a New Year’s goal, you’re not alone; studies show that nearly 80% of resolutions get dropped by the end of the year. We all know that big sweeping changes are hard… Read more »

Inspiring Stories 2020

Top 10 Inspiring Stories from 2020!

2020 has been a lot of things, and while “inspiring” may not be the first word that comes to mind, there were in fact many things to be inspired by in the world of Cottonwood Institute! Our instructors stepped up to the challenge of adapting their programs in a big way, and our students were… Read more »

Chai for Charity

Join CI at Chai For Charity on November 12, 2020!

Thanks to our virtual host and friend Jeffrey Kinsey from The Logos Group, Cottonwood Institute is honored to be a beneficiary of the Chai for Charity virtual event on Thursday, November 12, 2020. Chai for Charity connects donors to nonprofits in their community by contributing not just financial support, but also time and talent to… Read more »

Lafayette Youth Stewardship Internship

CI partners with WRV, Thorne, and more to launch Stewardship Internship

Although the 2020-21 school year is shaping up to be very different from any other in Cottonwood Institute’s history, it has presented us with an opportunity to work collaboratively with other organizations and reach students in new ways. One of these new programs, which launched in September, is our Lafayette Youth Stewardship Internship. Ten high school… Read more »

Winter Instuctor Training

CI Instructors Pack in Snow, Fun at Winter Skills Training

Before Cottonwood Institute takes students out for winter field days, they have to practice what they preach and teach. An eager group of CI veterans and newcomers met up early on a Saturday morning, packed lunches, and then packed themselves into CI’s shiny new van and drove to Caribou Ranch Open Space in Nederland for… Read more »

KSPA CAP Action Project: The World is Changing

Top 10 Inspiring Stories from 2019!

We’ve reached the end of another year at Cottonwood Institute! 2019 was a big one for us (our fifteenth!), and we’re so proud of everything our students, instructors, volunteers, alumni, partners, and community members accomplished this year. Check out ten of our most inspiring stories from 2019 — we think you’ll be amazed!   10…. Read more »

Fifth Strive Prep Rise Orientation Trip

Fifth STRIVE Prep – RISE Freshman Group Savors Snowy Field Day

Another group of STRIVE Prep – RISE freshmen headed out to White Ranch Park for their class’ fifth and final orientation trip last Saturday. Due to snowy weather, the group had to deviate from their planned overnight excursion, and instead headed out for a day trip to the beautiful Rawhide Trail just outside of Golden…. Read more »

KSPA CAP Field Day 2

KSPA CAP Listens to the Rhythm of the Forest on Second Field Day

It was a cool crisp early fall morning when the CAP students of KIPP Sunshine Peak Academy (KSPA) began arriving at the school for their second field day of the semester. As final packing was wrapping up and squirrelly young bodies were finding their seats in the van, one of the students announced “Look at… Read more »

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