About the Program

Elements of our experiential, project-based curriculum include: 

Scholarship

Academic work at Cottonwood is pursued daily via a number of curated curriculums to support learners in mastering academic skills at their own pace.   

Genius Hour
Learners choose a project to pursue over the course of a six week period.  At the end, everyone showcases their work to their peers.

Long Term Project Work
Each semester, facilitators lead learners through an independent project on a shared topic and framework. This in-depth project work covers curricular areas such as entrepreneurship, research, scientific inquiry and history. 

Open Studio
Learners pursue an intention or project of their choosing in our resource rich learning environment.They have access to sewing machines, computers, art materials and more.

Classes
Learners have access to experts, sometimes through a recurring class offered at Cottonwood and others by going into the community to find the right space and educator.  

Field Experiences

Learning happens everywhere! We intentionally leave the familiar grounds of our community and pursue experiences in the natural and cultural landscape around us. Field Days are some of the most exciting and valuable days for connection and learning.

Community Caretaking 

Our community shows great respect for ourselves, each other and our space. Each learner plays a role in caring for their community members and the spaces they occupy.  Our mantra is to “make it beautiful for the next person.”

Culture Building

Our culture building tools support young people in being curious, kind and self-aware.

Cottonwood is founded on the belief that humans are naturally curious and the drive to pursue our own interests should be at the heart of our learning experiences. Facilitators foster that curiosity, trusting the learner will gain the skills they require when they are fueled by their passions. Each young person has the opportunity to fulfill their own creative ideas everyday and learns to know, trust and communicate their individual limits.