School Programs

Put classroom learning into action with our School Programs, where self-discovery, place-based education, and outdoor adventures come together. Immerse yourself in the outdoor classroom, and engage in hands-on learning in the captivating Southwest.

Dive into Experiential Learning with Cottonwood Gulch!

We offer a number unique programs to engage students in the outdoor classroom. Ranging from day trips to overnight camping to backpacking, all of our programs include connecting youth to outdoor spaces, focusing on place based education, and incorporating environmental stewardship practices. No matter what program you choose, your students will experience adventure, community engagement and practice critical thinking through Science, Art, Service learning and more!

Community Camping

Community Camping

The science behind the benefits of spending time in nature is vast. After spending days inside moving between classroom and home, what students really need is some deep breaths in the fresh air. Bring your classroom on an adventure where students will be introduced to basic outdoor skills such as camping in an open-air cabin or tent, practicing outdoor living practices learning to Leave No Trace, and spend time in nature bonding as a class as they experience a new level of independence and personal growth. Click below to download the flier!
Download the Community Camping Flier
Every Kid Outdoors (EKO)

Every Kid Outdoors (EKO)

Every Kid Outdoors introduces fourth grade students to public lands in their local community. In partnership with the U.S. Forest Service the goal of Every Kid Outdoors is to increase students’ appreciation of public lands by connecting them with their natural and cultural resources. Focusing on experiential and place-based learning, students will be exposed to a variety of landscapes and ecosystems which will help instill a sense of place and stewardship for public lands. Students will also learn about possibilities of federal land management careers through Forest Service guest speakers. Click below to download the flier!
Download the EKO Flier
Energy and Fossil Fuels

Energy and Fossil Fuels

Where does the energy we use come from? How does energy production affect our communities? Explore the fossil fuel rocks of New Mexico, and discover the fossils and clues they contain toward understanding climate change. Adventure through landscapes, cultural-historical sites, and local communities that are threatened by pollution from energy production. Learn about recent political efforts toward conservation by meeting with local residents, scientists, and activists. Click below to download the flier!
Download the Energy and Fossil Fuels Flier
Environmental Restoration

Environmental Restoration

Get involved in your community!  During this program, we will explore incredible wilderness areas that are in dire need of restoration from human impact, including mining, oil and gas extraction, and urban development. We’ll learn about their natural history, cultural significance, and the habitats and local communities affected by polluting industries. Students work alongside community experts, which helps them connect with their community. We’ll collect scientific data to evaluate forest health, water quality, and local wildlife habitats. By the end of the program, students will develop and facilitate an environmental restoration project. Click below to download the flier!
Download the Environmental Restoration Flier
Photovoice

Photovoice

Photovoice invites students to use photography to make meaning, by responding to questions or prompts. Using student centered learning, a question is created based on the research focus, and students generate an answer by creating a photograph, or series of photographs, along with written captions. Students will engage with nature in both urban and wild settings, whether that be walking around their neighborhood/school or NM public lands using photographs to create their own story of how they relate to nature. Click below to download the flier!
Download the Photovoice Flier
Students In Wilderness Initiative (SIWI)

Students In Wilderness Initiative (SIWI)

The Students in Wilderness Initiative (SIWI) helps middle school learners answer the question “where is my home?” Aimed at broadening the definition of home by guiding students towards feeling at home in outdoor spaces, SIWI teaches about public lands, ecology, and sense of place in New Mexico. The experience takes an experiential approach by exposing students to different public lands and ecosystems, and culminates in a 3-5 day camping trip in the Southwest. Click below to download the flier!
Download the SIWI Flier
Plan Your Own Adventure

Plan Your Own Adventure

This trek invites students to work alongside Cottonwood Gulch staff and their classmates in order to plan and execute a multi-day adventure aligned with their interests. A road camping loop, backpacking trip, or bike-packing trip provides students with the opportunity to familiarize themselves with New Mexico’s public lands and outdoor living, while working closely in community and improving their relationships, communication skills, decision making skills, and social awareness. Click below to download the flier!
Download the Plan Your Own Adventure Flier
Water in the Southwest

Water in the Southwest

This program is an exploration of place through the lens of water and the multitude of connections it has to our lives. Classroom sessions, day trips, and overnight camping trips will invite students to explore the role of water in their communities, cultures, and ecosystems. Throughout the course of this program, students will be empowered with the skills to test and evaluate water quality in their homes and ecosystems. Click below to download the flier!
Download the Water in the Southwest Flier
Customize Your School Trek

Customize Your School Trek

Don’t see a trek that meets your classroom’s needs? We work with teachers and administrators to create the perfect trek for your students. We are always able to adapt our current programs, but if you are looking for something specific that we do not offer, lets create it together! Contact our Director of Education, Naina Panthaki, to begin the process of planning a life-changing adventure for your students.

Contact the Director of School and Community Programs at theresa.lewis@cottonwoodgulch.org
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