Our Why:
In an increasingly digital and divided world, young people are facing rising levels of disconnection from nature, from one another, and from a sense of purpose. Cottonwood Institute exists to bridge those gaps. We create opportunities for students to step outside the classroom, into the outdoors, and into their own power, cultivating the confidence and connection they need to become changemakers in their communities.
Who We Are:
Cottonwood Institute is a 22-year old educational nonprofit serving Aurora, Denver, and Boulder County. We connect middle and high school students to nature and inspire them to protect it year-round through a unique blend of environmental education, outdoor adventure, leadership development, and service learning.
What We Do
We can’t expect students to care about the environment until they first have an opportunity to explore nature and develop a powerful connection to it. We partner with schools and community organizations to bring transformative programs into the classroom and beyond. By blending environmental education, outdoor adventure, and leadership development, we create space for students to explore who they are, what they care about, and how they want to make a difference. Every program culminates in a student-led Action Project, a real-world initiative that addresses a local community or environmental issue students are passionate about.
What Makes Us Unique:
Accessibility: Unlike camps or enrichment programs where finances or transportation can be obstacles, CI’s programs are offered at no cost to students and families, often during the school day. We provide all the gear, transportation, food, and instruction needed. Our programs are heavily subsidized for our school and program partners.
Impact: We prioritize high-contact, deep-impact experiences with 90+ hours of instruction. Many of our instructors see students every day for up to a semester, and many of our students return to take our programs through middle and high school.
Community Connection: With an average school partnership of 9 years, CI has long-standing relationships that allow us to be a consistent and trusted presence in the community. We have served New Vista High School in Boulder for 23 years!
Get Involved:
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Make a donation for CO Gives Day or become a Seedling monthly donor to invest in our long-term sustainability.
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Join our community of Sponsors & Partners to help connect more students to the outdoors
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Save the date for our 2027 Events
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Get involved and Volunteer for an upcoming event
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Check out out Cottonwood Blog to read about our programs in action
Testimonial:
“I really got to connect with my friends and peers in a way that no other class has come close to. I started this class with one friend and I finished with a whole friend group within the class.” -Cottonwood Institute CAP Class Student