Cottonwood Institute

Our Why:

According to a recent study of youth across five countries, over 84% of young people reported that they were worried about our changing climate. Nearly half of students surveyed expressed feeling “anxious, helpless, and powerless” in the face of global environmental issues. Young people are concerned about the future of our planet, but don’t always have the support they need to feel empowered as changemakers – this is where Cottonwood Institute (CI) steps in.

How We Do It:

CI believes that we can’t expect students to care about the environment or to protect it until they first have an opportunity to explore nature and develop a powerful connection to it. Since 2004, CI has engaged students with programs that support confidence-building outdoor skill development, immersive environmental education, and student-directed civic action.

Testimonial:

According to Kira Gilliland, an alum of our CAP Class and Changemaker Program, “Overall, I feel that this class changed my life forever, and I found a place where I could be myself. I learned so much about the outdoors, but also about myself. I loved it so much that I convinced my friends and my brother to take this class. I would highly recommend this class to any person on this planet, no matter their age.”