The Base Camp Bash has been a special event for many years, raising critical funds for Cottonwood Institute (CI) students and programs. The past five years, CI started a new tradition by awarding two students from our Community Adventure Programs (CAP) the coveted Ripple Effect Award for their outstanding leadership, attitudes, and actions while designing… Read more »
It was a dark and stormy morning, when intrepid CAP class students from Centaurus High School set out for their inaugural epic backpacking adventure! They embarked on their uphill journey to Mica Mine at Cal-Wood, slipping and sliding through mud and snow with ginormous packs weighing them down, footsteps sinking deep. Arriving at the campsite,… Read more »
It was not your typical spring morning – no dew on the grass nor fresh smell of a new day. In typical Colorado fashion, the weather threw a curve ball at a hopeful AXL Academy CAP crew. It was an overcast, cold day, with a high probability of rain and snow. But the crew hardly… Read more »
Recently the Angevine Middle School CAP class experienced a wild and wonderful winter field day at Caribou Ranch Open Space. One of our aims was tracking, which was made difficult due to extremely high winds and lack of snow but we did see fresh coyote tracks! While we were enjoying lunch, a mini-blizzard came through;… Read more »
One of our favorite months is upon us! Spring is in the air, baseball season is starting up, it’s a great time to get out and explore the great outdoors, and Cottonwood Institute is the Tap Room Beneficiary at Great Divide Brewing Company! For the month of April 2018, head over to Great Divide’s Arapahoe… Read more »
Wow, this is shaping up to be the Best. Bash. Ever! The 13th annual Base Camp Bash to benefit Cottonwood Institute is about a month away on Saturday, April 28th, 2018 at Great Divide in RiNo in Denver, CO and we wanted to give a sneak peek to some of the trips we have this… Read more »
STRIVE Prep -Westwood CAP students visited Lily Lake in Rocky Mountain National Park for their winter field day this year. Situated at 9000’ and still partially covered in ice with snow around its perimeter, this mountain lake was a wintry retreat from the city! What a contrast from Garfield Lake, the local lake in the Westwood… 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 »
We recently caught up with Chandra Galbiati Thomas, a rock star CAP Alumni from the early days of Cottonwood Institute at New Vista High School. See what she’s been up to since her high schools days romping in the outdoors! “I currently live in New York City, working as a software engineer for Peloton. One doesn’t usually… Read more »
