NEWS FROM TREK COUNTRY
SPRING 2025
South Valley Academy Students in Piedra Lisa Canyon, Sandia Mountains
Cottonwood Gulch values...
CONNECTED COMMUNITIES
CONNECTED through
IDENTITY
An updated look, refined values, and a new newsletter format
We have a new look! You may have noticed that the Gulch has introduced some specific colors and images in our 2025 communications. We are thrilled to announce that we are partnering with Momenta, a creative service agency, to rebrand our organization. After all, we are almost 100 years old! We deserve a little facelift. Our branding refresh will help distinguish our imagery and messaging, while maintaining our longstanding identity. Our logo will still look familiar, and you will see some new colors to complement the original Gulch Red. Changes on our website will include more clarity and specificity about each of our program areas: school programs, summer treks, YCC and Adult Treks, along with our new look.
We have also refined our values, determining four main categories that drive our mission, and in turn, will create a through-line for our future communications. This shorter, more colorful newsletter is part of that plan, and you will receive these reports more frequently to keep you in touch with the latest news at Cottonwood Gulch. Watch for your next installment this summer!
CONNECTED by RELATIONSHIPS
“Going on these trips has shown me that it’s important to recharge, and has connected me to nature and my classmates. ”
- GBCS student
GORDON BERNELL COMMUNITY SCHOOL
“What was your favorite part of trek?”
“ Spending time with peers who don’t make me feel trapped.”
“Being outside helped me calm down, and understand what we were learning.”
“I feel like we all grew with each other.”
Gordon Bernell Community School students are different. This group of adult and non-traditional students are taking ownership over their lives and education in partnership with their school. GBCS is focused on authentic connections between educators and students to tailor learning and provide more holistic support. The Gulch is fully aligned with these values, which allows us, together, to create a trek experience that is conducive to student-driven learning, healthy relationship building, development of coping skills, and opportunities for personal challenge that feel accessible and inclusive.
Our semester-long program with these students has consisted not only of getting outside and experiencing the New Mexico landscape, but also practicing communal care and learning with each other. During 10 field trips over the course of the spring semester, these students visited a variety of outdoor sites around Albuquerque, learned environmental science and stewardship, and practiced their writing skills through nature journaling. Lead Educator Clara Bewley shares her insights: “They grew together as a community by choosing to be vulnerable with each other about their paths in life, seeking and providing support with each other, taking on new challenges, and forging connections with their peers. One student mentioned that before the program, he rarely spoke to others unless necessary and that although he still faces challenges, he’s now developed two strong and trusting friendships.” The semester culminated with a 3-day overnight at the Cottonwood Gulch Basecamp, and we look forward to many more successful semesters with amazing GBCS students.
<<GBCS students on the Sandia Mountains Crest
Cottonwood Gulch Expeditions
9223 4th St NW
Albuquerque, NM 87114
CONNECTED FAR and WIDE
Our community extends beyond the Four Corners Region. It extends beyond the United States, with trekkers traveling across oceans and alumni living far abroad. No matter the distance, our community is connected through shared experiences; challenging backpacks, shared meals under bluebird skies, and campfires filled with laughter and song.
As we prepare for our 100th birthday in 2026, we are hosting multiple Regional Rendezvous Events across the country. We are inviting alumni, former staff, community partners, families, and all who are excited to join us. Keep an eye out for emails and social media posts with more information, and head to our website to register for an event near you!
Sparking curiosity and connecting communities to the outdoors since 1926