Dear Friends of the Forest,

Our national day of Thanksgiving was a time to reflect on progress and blessings. We are grateful for the support of each one who has given time, money or other resources to help this year. Progress includes a new and energetic board of directors, who will travel in February for meetings with members of MCL and to see the forest. You can read more about the visit to St. Louis from MCL’s leadership in this issue.

Integrity and dedication continue to be MCL’s forte. Many organizations have a short life span. But MCL and MCLUS are committed for the long haul, because this amazing forest needs long term protection. You can also read about corporate commitment and reforestation work by New Chapter and Whole Foods Market, and the strong support of NBO Shoes with the summer “It’s All One” campaign for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER).

In our efforts to safeguard the CER, we know that apathy has no place. Please share news of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest with your family and friends. And join us for a fascinating eco-trip in 2012! Read about the Costa Rica trips and see more information on our early bird specials in this issue.

We continue to give gratitude for support as we move forward!

For the forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
laurie.waller@mclus.org

SAVE THE DATE!

On April 26, 2011, MCLUS will hold its first annual fundraising and awareness-building event. The keynote speaker will be internationally renowned botanist and conservationist Dr. Peter Raven, President Emeritus of the Missouri Botanical Garden and MCLUS board member. Dr. Raven will discuss global conservation issues, rainforest ecology, and the connection between that ecosystem and our lives outside of the rainforest. It will be an informative and exciting evening (6:00 – 8:00 pm). If you would like to become an event sponsor and be acknowledged as a supporter of this event, please contact Laurie Waller at 636-751-0916.

A Rare Sighting! Ornate Hawk Eagle Seen

A recent sighting of a rare ornate hawk eagle in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest was cause for elation. For many species it is their only safe place, as habitat continues to shrink around the forest. Enjoy more information about this sighting and other animals in the forest at the MCLUS’ blog.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is on a new Costa Rican stamp!

The 24th of August was quite a day for MCL! A series of four national stamps were issued showcasing the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Being featured on the national postage stamps is a great honor and usually reserved for 100 year anniversaries and for national parks, but MCL was chosen in celebration of their 25 years of contribution to conservation.

Click here for more information on this exciting new development.

Green-eyed frog more secure

The green-eyed frog took one more step away from extinction recently when a new population was discovered in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Still critically endangered, the second population is reassuring that the species has managed to survive and increases its resilience for the future. So the population distribution maps will have to be redrawn. MCL will keep you informed of this important discovery.

By Rowan Eisner in Monteverde, CR

New Chapter and Whole Foods Market Show Strong Support – AGAIN!

MCLUS is happy to report that the “cause marketing” campaign on behalf of the rainforest through New Chapter and Whole Foods raised almost $100,000 in 2011. We want to thank Tom Newmark president of New Chapter, for continuing his support of MCLUS and the rainforest by donating a percentage of the sales of New Chapter products through several Whole Foods stores nation-wide. And we want to thank all the people at Whole Foods for their enthusiastic support and creative displays.

Click here to read more…

“IT’S ALL ONE” NBO Shoes Gives to the Forest

“Health, wellness, — our well being and quality of life — all depend on our taking care of the planet, because it is all one. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is an amazing resource and a place that needs our help. I felt we (NBO Shoes) could make a difference.” This quote from Kipp Keller, president of NBO Shoes, set the stage for a successful promotion this past summer.

Click to read more on this great promotion

Travel with us to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and Costa Rica in 2012

San Gerardo Field Station and Monteverde – March 17-25
Price: $1,850 (not including airfare)
Early Bird Discount of $100 if you sign up by December 15, 2011

Join us for a special San Gerardo itinerary designed to fit into one week of your vacation time and scheduled for spring break instead of summer! Enjoy nine adventure-filled days with rainforest hikes, waterfalls, mist-netting for bats and birds.

Click here to read more about this exciting trip!

Pocosol Field Station and Sarapiqui River – June 29-July 8
Price: $2,095 (not including airfare)
Early Bird Discount of $100 if you sign up by February 1, 2012

Embark on a tropical adventure filled with conservation, biodiversity, and Costa Rican culture. Stay at the brand new field station at Pocosol and hike the fascinating trails to the bubbling mudpots or the waterfall. Watch for the tracks of margay, ocelot, jaguar or tapir. Join your fellow travelers mist-netting for birds and bats – a harmless way to see fascinating species up close.

Click here to read more about this exciting trip!

September Board Retreat Strengthening Partnerships!

MCL Board President, Mark Wainwright and MCL and MCLUS Board member Dr. Julia Matamoros traveled to St. Louis from Costa Rica to take part in MCLUS’ September board retreat. One focus of their 5 day stay was to deepen the strong partnership that exists between MCL and MCLUS. Both Mark and Julia spent full days meeting with local donors, corporate sponsors and volunteers who have been so generous in their support of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. It also gave them an insight of how the MCLUS organization is run.

Click here to read about the retreat and see photos of the MCLUS board

Imagine standing at the highest point of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica and witnessing one of nature’s most breathtaking and elegant spectacles as butterflies paint the sky with a splendid palette of colors during their annual mass migration from the Pacific to the Atlantic side of the mountains.

This timeless movement of wildlife remains possible today because conservationists like you have supported the protection of the rainforest habitat that provides the necessary windbreak and shelter to these delicate, migrating creatures.

Will you join in helping MCLUS protect this precious resource? One of you has already made a $20,000 matching gift, so every dollar that you give provides $2.00 to the rainforest. Donating today will double the positive impact of your gift!

And, if your corporation offers a matching gift program, your donation can make an even greater impact. Please click on the “Donate Now” button if you would like to make an on-line donation. Or, if you would prefer sending a check, please use the address at the bottom of this letter.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is home to over 700 species of butterflies—an astonishing 3.5% of all those found on the planet—and their continued survival is dependent on the presence of this critical rainforest habitat. Recognizing the urgent need to protect this region and these creatures, Dwight and Rachel Crandell created the Monteverde Conservation League U.S. (MCLUS) nine years ago and we continue to honor their legacy and vision by working to preserve and protect the forest.

But we cannot do it without you! MCLUS urgently needs your care, your protection, and your funding to remain a force for good in the ecological fight to preserve the earth’s rainforests and its spectacular diversity of inhabitants.

Contributions make an enormous difference and MCLUS has accomplished so much this year.

We contributed $67,450 to the purchase of the “Pipe Cruz” land—helping to protect 250 acres of endangered Bell-bird habitat. We paid $26,000 towards the salaries of two guards (one third of the forest’s greatly understaffed protection force) necessary to prevent poaching and habitat destruction. And we contributed $6,510 to the endowment fund that permanently protects the forest. You’ve also helped us work on finding ways to use carbon credits to reforest adjacent areas and increase ecological awareness by leading four successful eco-trips to the forest in 2011.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest preserves tropical biodiversity, protects a watershed that benefits wildlife and hundreds of downstream communities, and helps to clean and renew the air that we all breathe. But the threats are great, our guards are few, and we must continually work to protect against increased poaching and habitat loss in adjacent areas. For that we need funding from you. We receive no state or federal funds and rely 100 percent on your private contributions.

To help us build a base of operational funding, one of our supporters has stepped forward and will match the first $20,000 we are able to raise by December 31. Each dollar you are able to give will be matched 1:1. MCLUS needs your gift now to preserve this rainforest resource for the future. Can you help us: 1) pay for a wildlife guard’s salary ($15,000 per year); 2) fund an environmental educator ($20,000 per year); and 3) buy crucial habitat like the Pipe Cruz land you helped to save?

Please give a gift today! 100% of MCLUS’ 14 board members support the Children’s Eternal Rainforest by volunteering their time and money. They ask you to join them in protecting the rainforest and the Crandells’ legacy.

Your partner for the forest,

Laurie Waller, President
Monteverde Conservation League U. S., Inc.

P.S. We have much more to share with you! Please see our website, www.mclus.org for more information about our upcoming trips and MCL’s wish list. You’ll also find messages from two of the greatest planetary biologists of our time, Dr. Peter Raven and Dr. Thomas E. Lovejoy – both MCLUS board members.

Photos Credits: Maggie Eisenberger and Dr. Julia Matamoros

Monteverde Conservation League US, Inc.
242 Old Sulphur Spring Road
Manchester, MO 63021

Summer 2011

Dear Friends of the Forest,

At a July national symposium called “Healing the Planet: Conservation of the World’s Tropical Forests” I had an inspiring conversation with Dr. Thomas Lovejoy, president of the Heinz Center for Science, Economics, and the Environment, and long time MCLUS board member. He spoke of the vital role that tropical rainforests have in sustaining life on earth. As Dr. Lovejoy said, “You can’t heal the planet without taking care of the tropical rainforests.”

As chief biodiversity advisor to the World Bank, Dr. Lovejoy has a global perspective. He shared how the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER) is a key piece of what he described as a larger agenda “to manage our planet” in order to “restore its biology, take CO2 out of the atmosphere, and put natural functions back into the landscape.” When speaking about endangered cloud forests, and the need to restore damaged ecosystems he said, “Having a sanctuary like the Children’s Eternal Rainforest is essential.” You will find two inspiring video interviews with Dr. Lovejoy on our website.

In this summer issue, I hope you enjoy reading more about the July national botanical conference, which honored Dr. Peter Raven, and was attended by Tom Newmark, both MCLUS board members. We’re also delighted to share two rare mammal sightings in the forest, as well as other updates from MCLUS, MCL and the CER. As summer comes to a close, we can keep helping the CER, and thus the planet. The conservation work goes on!

For the Forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
laurie.waller@mclus.org

Animal Sightings in the Rainforest

by Rowan Eisner in Monteverde

When you’re busy maintaining trails or patrolling for poachers in the CER every day you don’t necessarily think to tell anyone when you see an animal. But for those of us who aren’t in the forest every day it is really special and we would like to know! So Wendy Brenes, MCL’s information coordinator, recently asked all the guards and maintenance staff to send in reports of sightings and the reports have started to come in. In the last few months, Alonso Gonzalez, Protection Staff and Forest Guard and his workmates have had a couple of sightings.

Click here to see photos and news of these sightings.

Eco Fair in Costa Rica celebrating 25 years!

by Rowan Eisner in Monteverde

You may have read in the May MCLUS blog entry about the Eco Fest. In June, MCL held a three-day event to continue to mark our 25th anniversary, but also marking World Environment day and International Year of the Forests. The ‘Feria Ambiental, Cultural y Deportiva’ or Environmental, Cultural and Sports Fair included presentations, games, sports, plays, workshops and music. The fair kicked off with a ‘clean up Monteverde’ campaign. Armed with sacks, people from the schools, the cheese factory and the reserves started at the Cerro Plano and the Santa Elena schools and cleaned up all the trash they could find, till they met up in the middle with 10 sacks full, four of which were recyclables.

Click here to see more of the story…

Transformation of the MCL Information Center

by Rowan Eisner in Monteverde

Over the past couple of years, the Monteverde Conservation League Information Center has been undergoing a transformation to encourage people to come to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER). While located on the road to Monteverde and the Monteverde Cloud Forest Reserve, most visitors head to the Reserve to go zip lining but relatively few venture into the CER.
The Info Center’s transformation has been gradual, and has drawn on contributions from many sources, both local and international. Some of the enhancements include a beautiful mural painted by local artist, Bernal Gerardo Rojas, polished wooden floors and products for sale. Books by Rachel Crandell about the CER, Willow Zuchowski’s botanical guides and MCL’s current president Mark Wainwright’s mammal’s guide are featured. There are also local crafts and t-shirts for sale. The question being asked is how to get people to venture inside?

Click here to learn what other improvements have been made…

MCLUS Summer Trip to Pocosol field station

2011 Pocosol Travelers

by Maggie Eisenberger — Travel and Science Coordinator and MCLUS Board member

The new Pocosol trip itinerary was designed to meet several goals; an alternate itinerary for those who have already visited San Gerardo, a shorter trip for those with less time, a less physically challenging trip (although the challenges are there if you want them!), and the chance to experience more of the CER and its trails from the new lodge on the east side of the preserve. A group of intrepid travelers, ages 13 to 80, were the first MCLUS group to experience the brand new lodge at the Pocosol field station this June.

Click here to read more about the trip…

Something new for 2011 Travelers

Approaching the Solentiname islands across Lake Nicaragua

In planning the Pocosol field station trip for the first time, we discovered that some travelers still prefer a longer trip, so we offered them an optional extension in the form of a visit to Nicaragua.

Visiting Rodolfo Arellano in co-op market to shop for art.

Four travelers, along with Maggie Eisenberger and Dr. Julia Matamoros from MCLUS’ board, made the journey by boat, upriver into Lake Nicaragua, to Solentiname, an archipelago of islands in the southern end of the lake. Our beautiful hotel was on Mancarron, the westernmost island of the chain, but we visited the others in our pursuit of the local artists, including world famous Rodolfo Arellano (Google him!). We also crossed to the western shore of the lake to see the Guatuzos Wildlife Refuge. It was certainly hotter than Costa Rica, but worth it for the charming people we met and the experiences we enjoyed.

MCLUS Awareness Reception

Michael Salsich and Nancy Donohoo-Salsich with Laurie Waller, MCLUS President

In April, MCLUS board member Michael Salsich and his wife, Nancy, hosted a reception in their home for 25 guests. The purpose of the event was to introduce the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and the Monteverde Conservation League to a group of interested individuals and encourage them to consider supporting the CER in the future. Laurie Waller, president of MCLUS, spoke about the organization’s efforts to continue to expand, support, and protect this valuable resource. More such events are being planned for the future and we thank Michael and Nancy for their efforts on MCLUS’ behalf.

MCLUS Board Members at North American Botanical Conference

MCLUS Board Members Dr. Peter Raven, Dr. Tom Lovejoy, Tom Newmark and MCLUS President Laurie Waller join for a photo at the "Botany 2011: Healing the Planet" conference, held last month in St. Louis

Dr. Peter Raven’s plenary conference address, titled, “Saving Plants, Saving Ourselves” was given during July 2011′s largest gathering of botanists held in North America. Dr. Raven’s inspiring address stressed the essential fact that without plants, there is no life on earth. He spoke of the increased pressures on our planet’s resources, and the vital need to maintain the biological diversity and richness of earth’s ecosystems. We are hopeful that we can soon share a video of Dr. Raven’s address on MCLUS’ website.

A symposium titled “Conservation of the World’s Tropical Rainforests” was held in honor of Dr. Raven during the five-day conference. At the symposium, Dr. Tom Lovejoy’s presentation titled “A Wild Solution to Climate Change” examined climate change through a biological lens. He shared how biology can help us address a warming planet. He spoke of the need to revise conservation strategies, limit greenhouse gas concentrations, and restore ecosystems. In his closing remarks, Dr. Lovejoy said, “As we honor Peter, who is so good at big ideas, we are learning that nature bats last, so let’s join her team.”

Both Dr. Peter Raven (President Emeritus of Missouri Botanical Garden) and Dr. Tom Lovejoy (President of the Heinz Center) have been board members since 2002, and Tom Newmark (Vice Chairman of New Chapter) has been a member since 2007. Their loyal support and global perspective continues to be invaluable.

COME TRAVEL WITH US IN 2012
New Eco-Trip Tour Itineraries Coming Soon!

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT!

7 year old Jorie Bachus raised almost $1,300 for the Children's Eternal Rainforest!

Spring 2011

Dear Friends of the Forest,

New discoveries. New vision. New dynamics. Renewal is spring in action! In this issue you will read of the exciting March 2011 rediscovery of the Lichen Stream Frog in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, a species previously feared to be extinct. Mark Wainwright, MCL’s board president, and author of Mammals of Costa Rica, tells of this discovery in a letter to each of you.

Renewal is also what happens when an organization sets new goals as the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) is doing. As stewards of this pristine rainforest, MCL is forging a new vision of the future

MCLUS, too, is reforming itself so we can be a constant support for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. New MCLUS board members, with strong skills and passion for conservation, are joining a dedicated board. This dynamic creates exciting opportunities for growth!

In this spring newsletter we’re also sharing inspiring stories of support for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. This includes seven-year-old Jorie’s birthday initiative to buy land for the forest. We are grateful to Tom Newmark, CEO of New Chapter, whose successful story of partnership with Whole Foods Market is described below.

Our guest blogger Mia Roberts has shared a wealth of information about visiting the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in her recent series of articles. And, if you’re ready for a Costa Rica adventure there is still time to join our Pocosol trip this summer. Space is limited and the trip is filling! You’ll find more details on the Pocosol trip page.

Whether it’s reforesting a barren pasture, creating eco-sensitive energy systems, buying critical habitat, or building a new information center – all are signs of progress being made for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.

Wishing you a happy spring!

For the Forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
info@mclus.org

Jorie’s Story

Children saved this rainforest and they keep it growing. Seven year old Jorie is a child who cares deeply about her world. She wants a healthy planet and thriving rainforests.

“My name is Jorie Bachus. I am 7 years old and in first grade. I love the rainforest because everything about it is important to us. It gives us oxygen and medicine, but what I love most is how many animals and plants live there. My Grandma and Grandpa have told us all about the Children’s Eternal Rainforest and this year my family got to go to Costa Rica and see some of it. It is amazing! This year, for my birthday, I asked my friends and family not to give me gifts but to help me raise money to help the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. I learned a lot about the Rainforest and tried to teach all of my friends. I even got to talk in front of my whole Girl Scout Troop. All of them were excited and helped me reach my goal of $1,000. We did it in two weeks and some people are still sending checks. I think we are almost at $1,300 now. In this next year I hope to raise a lot more.

When we went to Costa Rica I got to meet some of the people who work to save the Rainforest. I even got to meet the President of the Monteverde Conservation League, Mark Wainwright. They were all so nice and I like knowing who they are.

My sister Julia helped me a lot. We both liked going on a night hike in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. We didn’t see any big animals but saw a lot of really neat bugs. Our guide, Henry, knew a lot. My Grandpa went with us. He loves the Rainforest and so do we.”

Jorie with members of MCL staff and board members

Schools and students world-wide raise money for the forest!

Between 2009 and 2010, MCLUS received $13,400 from schools and academies whose students held fundraisers to support land purchase in The Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Ideas for raising money were unique and varied: bake sales, a karate memorial break-a-thon, note paper sales, home chores and home electric/water conservation, contributing birthday money, giving programs and collecting funds from other students who care about the forest, collecting deposit money from bottles and cans, sponsoring a silent and dress up day at school to raise money, read-a-thons, and writing stories about the rainforest. As you can see, when children put their minds and hearts to a good cause much innovation follows. MCLUS wishes to honor and thank those schools, students, teachers and parents who worked hard to raise awareness of the rainforest and give charitably to our organization.

New Chapter and Whole Foods Market team up again to donate to the CER!

Terry Newmark helps launch the St. Louis regional New Chapter promotion for the CER

The New Chapter Key Account Team and Tom Newmark are working with Whole Foods Market to raise money for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER). Tom recently told the board of MCLUS that several stores in the Midwest, Northern California, and the Rocky Mountain regions have a month long fund raising campaign that supports the CER.

New Chapter encourages their vendors, in this case, Whole Foods, to help educate and support biodiversity and research for tropical rainforests in their Whole Body Departments. New Chapter’s products are currently being sold and displayed on store end caps with signage indicating that 5% of every purchase will go directly to the CER!

This campaign is New Chapter’s vehicle for good and a win/win for everyone, New Chapter and Whole Foods alike. Individual Whole Foods stores that do the best with their educational efforts and also convey the strongest rainforest message to store customers have the opportunity to send their team members to New Chapter’s biodynamic farm, Luna Nueva, outside the CER. While there the store teams plant trees, hike, learn more about the rainforest and explore in the CER.

In 2010, Whole Food raised over $25,000 for the CER. They plan for even bigger returns in 2011. This past April approximately $45,000 was generated in CER donations! So, check out your local Whole Foods Store to see if the New Chapter display and products are being featured.

Click here to view more photos of the wonderful in-store displays

25th Anniversary Celebrations Continue

by Rowan Eisner, Monteverde, Costa Rica

MCL continues to enjoy marking the results of the 25 years of hard work that created the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. On the 2nd and 9th of April they held a children’s event at the farmers’ market with face-painting, story telling, games and puzzles all focused on nature and animal themes.

On April 16th the Bajo del Tigre section of the reserve had an open day with guided walks, food, nature videos, forest creature face-painting, puzzles and know-your-forest activities in the casita (The Children’s Education Center).

Back in February, staff and associates of MCL gathered at Bajo del Tigre visitor center to hear the story of MCL from Bob Law – a 25 year timeline in pictures. The video of this and Bob’s slide show will soon be on MCL’s web site. They also planted punch berry trees (Myrcia splenders) which they had propagated in MCL’s nursery because there were only two left alive in the reserve. At the February assembly meeting at the main office everyone sang “happy birthday MCL” accompanied by a birthday cake.

Sleeping sloth at Bajo del Tigre open house

The biggest celebrations are yet to come. On May 1st Ecofest marks the occasion in art, nature and sustainability, highlighting eco-friendly alternatives such as solar cooking, pedal power, hydroponics and composting, with an art show and concerts.

At all such events people can check out the milestones along the way on the 25 year time-line banner with MCL depicted as a tree growing from the roots up, from 14 people meeting in Bob’s living room, into a flourishing canopy as part of a biosphere reserve with IUCN recognition.

A Thank You Letter from Mark Wainwright, President of the MCL Board of Directors

Monteverde, April 2011

The Lichen Stream Frog rediscovered in the CER on March 30, 2011

Dear Friends of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest,

A few weeks ago (on the night of the March 30th), during an MCL-sponsored field trip to monitor amphibian populations, we were able to confirm the presence of the Lichen Stream Frog (Isthmohyla tica) on a remote ridge in the heart of the CER. The Lichen Stream Frog was thought to have vanished from the Monteverde area in the late 1980′s along with the Golden Toad and many other amphibians. Subsequently it disappeared from other parts of its tiny geographic range (a roughly 1500 ft elevational sliver extending from northwestern Costa Rica to western Panama), and many feared it might be extinct. This is the third time we have encountered the species on this one stream, but to my knowledge it is not known to occur today anywhere else in the world.

The Lichen Stream Frog is but one among tens of thousands of species of plants and animals protected within the CER. Yes – tens of thousands. The CER is home to about 3,000 species of vascular plants, including more than 500 orchid species; several hundred non-vascular plant species like mosses and liverworts; about 450 species of birds; we can only guess at the numbers for most insect groups but it seems reasonable to speculate that the CER harbors some 900 species of butterflies, perhaps 9,000 moth species, and perhaps 18,000 beetle species, just to mention a few. Undoubtedly, many of these organisms are as yet unknown to science.

The CER doesn’t only protect one of the most biologically rich ecosystems in the world. It is also the backbone of the protected area that is the primary attraction for ecotourism, the cornerstone of the local economy. And just as importantly, the CER protects an enormous watershed that provides clean and constant water for communities, agriculture, and hydroelectric projects – at present, the CER is fundamental to the production of about a third of Costa Rica’s electricity.

I throw these numbers at you because I want to drive home how immeasurably important it has been to protect these forests. All of these things would have been lost if it wasn’t for the help of caring people like you. Today we can continue our dream of safeguarding the existing CER and expanding it into critical areas thanks to the ongoing support of people like Tom Newmark, whose unwavering help has held fast despite the global economic crisis and extensive changes both at MCL and at MCLUS, or Jorie Howe, who requested that her friends and family celebrate her seventh birthday party with gifts to the CER. For example, a few months ago we finalized the purchase of a 250 acre piece of land of enormous importance. By protecting this piece of land, we simultaneously connected a previously disjunct piece of the CER to the rest of the protected area, closed an entry point for trespassing poachers and livestock, and protected a swath of what is arguably the most endangered type of forest in the region – the Premontane Wet Forest.

So on behalf of the beautiful Lichen Stream Frog, and all that it represents, I would like to express a heartfelt THANK YOU! for your essential help. Please take pride in the fact that your support makes all the difference, and know that it serves as further motivation for all of us here at MCL in Costa Rica to do everything in our power to make this magical achievement truly eternal.

Sincerely,

Mark Wainwright
President of the MCL Board of Directors

Renewable Energy Improvements in The Children’s Eternal Rainforest Field Stations

Rachel Crandell showing visitors the spring house at San Gerardo in 2008.

By Rowan Eisner – Monteverde, Costa Rica

QUESTION: How do you dry sheets in the rainforest?
ANSWER: See below!

Energy at the field stations

The field stations are the hub of activities in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Study groups, research projects, monitoring programs and, of course the income-generating tourism that keeps everything going all revolve around the field stations. So how do remote, off-grid locations meet comfort expectations when a group of thirty visitors may leave and another group arrive the same day?

Volcancitos, rivers and sun

Fifteen years ago San Gerardo (the current site of the San Gerardo field station on the Pacific side) was part of a “Tico*” farming community. The reserve acquired a hydropower generator to provide power for the community. Gradually, the small landholders left and now the 25kw generator is far too big: 10W would be enough. It is 1000 yards from the stations where the water pressure was too high, blowing the fittings and a tree fell on it. The plan is to swap it for a smaller generator, which uses less water and is closer to the station for easier maintenance.

The Pocosol field station on the Atlantic side also has a hydropower generator, but it is home-made from cups of cut pipe and a car differential. It is used to power lights and kitchen appliances like the blender. Pocosol also has volcancitos, or bubbling hot mud pots, half a mile away that could produce hot water if MCL can figure out the transport.

The challenge with hydropower is that the busiest time at the field stations is also the driest time. To solve this problem San Gerardo has inherited used solar panels from a Costa Rican indigenous community that has been connected to the grid and no longer uses the solar panels. When delivered these panels could be used for lighting and MCL is keeping an eye on the price of energy-efficient LED light bulbs. San Gerardo also has a diesel generator which produces more power than is needed for the washing machine and lights it currently powers, so that too will be sold for a smaller, more energy-efficient replacement.

Laundry: Until recently, washing sheets and towels meant two, 1 hour return trips to the nearest clothes drier on the all-terrain vehicle: expensive and time-consuming. But all that has changed with the new drying room at the San Gerardo station. Built from off-cuts of fallen trees with a poly-carbonate greenhouse roof, the 20×30′ drying room can reach a temperature of 120 degrees F inside and can get towels dry as quickly as one hour. Pocosol will get its own drying room soon, replacing an attic cupboard or hour- long road trips to a clothes drier. But, true to its name, solar drying will take longer with little sun. A trip to the duty-free zone in Golfito to buy a spare set of quick-dry sheets also helped. Now the station manager can stay at the field station and help with the change over between visiting groups rather than spend the day (and all that gas!) going to dry the laundry. This will be a great help this summer with the change over between groups, when five groups – each with 28 people – will be staying at the station.

2006 Dwight Crandell with stone masons Danne and Mike Rhaesa building the San Gerardo spring house

Spring house construction completed complete with a coati proof door

Food: Salad for dinner? Fresh fruit for breakfast? Or how about fish for lunch? There is no refrigeration at the field stations, so anything fresh must be brought in frequently. Fish, for instance, needs to be picked up just before meal preparation. San Gerardo has a custom-built spring house which keeps food cool, and Pocosol uses ice boxes. Still, there is the time and cost of shopping trips and so MCL is looking into economical alternatives, including a kerosene refrigerator for the San Gerardo station.

Hot showers please! This is the number one request by guests. Currently, it is possible to make hot water by lighting a fire under the tank, but often there is no one to do it or no dry wood. Now that the solar drying room is in place at San Gerardo it should be possible to run solar hot water pipes through the room to make warm water for showers. The drawback is, with cold showers people only take 2 minutes to shower. With hot water, it would be hard to keep showers to 10 minutes.

Top energy priorities for the field stations:
Management: refrigeration
Visitors: hot showers

* “Tico” is a name that Costa Ricans call themselves.

Gratitude for Support from MCL in Costa Rica and MCLUS

Laurie Waller, MCLUS president, introduces Dr. Rainer Bussmann, Director of the William L. Brown Center and William L. Brown Curator of Economic Botany at the Missouri Botanic Garden

April 28th was a reunion of kindred spirits, and an opportunity for MCL and MCLUS board members and staff to say “thank you” to friends and supporters of the CER.

April 28th was a beautiful evening with a view of downtown St. Louis from the Maryland Walk rooftop.

St. Louis area supporters enjoyed a beautiful spring evening with camaraderie and refreshments on the roof-top at Maryland Walk in Clayton.

Carol Weisman, MCLUS’ governance consultant, friend of the forest, and her husband Dr. Frank Robbins, hosted the thank you reception and presentation by Dr. Rainer Bussman from the Missouri Botanical Garden. Dr. Bussman’s talk on “Protecting Tropical Forests and Keeping the Source of Traditional Knowledge Alive” gave new insights on rainforest conservation and the CER. Tom Newmark, CEO of New Chapter, shared inspiring remarks about his connection to this special forest and of successful reforestation. Laurie Waller, president of MCLUS, read a heartfelt thank you letter from Mark Wainwright, president of MCL’s board of directors and author of Mammals of Costa Rica.

Click here for more photos from this event

Have you missed guest blogger Mia Roberts’ fantastic series of posts about getting to know the Children’s Eternal Rainforest?

For the past couple of months, guest blogger Mia Roberts has written a wonderful series of posts about the CER that really take you inside. If you haven’t checked them out yet, please explore. Each post has vibrant pictures and descriptions of what you’ll find if you decide to take a trip to the CER.  Let us know if you like these posts!  Please send feedback to info@mclus.org or leave a comment on any posts you enjoy. Also feel free to share MCLUS blog posts with your friends and co-workers if you like!

April 27th, 2011 – Getting to Know the CER: the San Gerardo Field Station
April 19th, 2011 – The Pocosol Field Station
April 5th, 2011 – Peñas Blancas to Pocosol: The Ultimate CER Adventure
March 27th, 2011 – The Story of a Three Wattled Bellbird
March 17th, 2011 – An Interview with Marc Hoffman
March 12th, 2011 – Getting to Know the CER: Visit Finca Steller
March 7th, 2011 – Wildlife Sighting in the CER: Meet the Orange-bellied Trogon
February 28th, 2011 – Getting to Know the CER: A close-up of Bajo del Tigre
February 19th, 2011 – Exploring the Cloud Forest: Saving an ecosystem through innovative education
February 4th, 2011 – An Introduction to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest: Where is it, and how can you visit?
January 29th, 2011 – A New Way to Photograph Wildlife in the CER
January 27th, 2011 – An Introduction to MCLUS’s Newest Blogger

Want to support the Children’s Eternal Rainforest? Please consider making a tax-deductible donation today. Every contribution counts! Click here to donate.

Dear Friends of the Forest,

2011 is a year of celebration! The Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) celebrates its 25th year as creators and guardians of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER)! Since 1986, and the start of MCL, we have seen hope become action. Recently, I attended MCL’s 25th annual assembly and am convinced that today greater accomplishments are possible. More habitat can be protected. More species can be saved. More carbon dioxide can be removed from the air. The CER is a phenomenal bio-diversity “hot spot” – a world wonder needing your care.

This winter newsletter launches our first quarterly format. We want to give you expanded rainforest news – information to read now or when you have a quieter moment. In this issue you’ll see:

• an update on MCL’s 25th annual assembly
• news of its 25th celebration
• the CER’s unique biological field stations, which give you an immersion rainforest experience and are special destinations of MCLUS eco-tours
• information on the summer 2011 trips – reserve your place today for a Costa Rican adventure!

You’ll also find the latest news on the diverse and wonderful CER in our new blog. Be sure to check out our new blog post on “Canopy in the Clouds” – an immersive, multi-media science education project from the cloud forests of Monteverde!

Let’s join MCL in recognition of what can be accomplished in conservation with dedication, patience and focus.

For the Forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
info@mclus.org

It’s MCL’s 25th birthday!

MCL stewards the largest private reserve in Costa Rica. The story of MCL is totally unique – it’s about children’s hope, the uniting of a common conservation purpose, 44 countries donating funds, and over 215 land acquisitions.

Twenty five years ago, 14 people concerned about rampant rainforest destruction in Costa Rica created the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL).

Click here to read more about the celebrations on our blog.

Come to Costa Rica — explore biological field stations!

View of Arenal Volcano from the San Gerardo Field Station

The best way to explore deep within the Children’s Eternal Rainforest is to stay at one of the two biological field stations. San Gerardo station is an hour and a half’s walk from the Santa Elena Reserve entrance. The Pocosol station, on the Caribbean side of the CER, is accessible by car.

By special reservation, travelers can hike to Pocosol. It is a nature-immersion experience, a rigorous twelve-hour hike over two days through pristine ecosystems which gradually change as you descend towards Pocosol. The species of birds, plants and animals are increasingly adapted to the warmer, wetter climate as you descend. The trail crosses rivers, goes deep within primary forests and skirts secondary forests re-forested by the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL), enabling you to see first-hand what has been protected and how it is possible to regenerate even cleared forest.

Click here to read more about the exciting opportunities to visit field stations here.

February, 2011 Assembly at MCL

Laurie Waller (president MCLUS), Mark Wainwright (newly elected MCL board president), Dr. Julia Matamoros (MCL and MCLUS board member)

MCL’s 25th Annual Assembly was held on February 12, 2011. This all-day meeting was a time of happy camaraderie, reflection on accomplishments, and hope for the future. Thanks were given for the many caring individuals worldwide who have supported MCL and the CER. That includes many of you! Because of MCL’s commitment, integrity, and wise stewardship the CER continues in good hands.

At the assembly, Laurie Waller, MCLUS president, shared a report of MCLUS’ year of transition. Since the Crandells’ passing, MCLUS is pressing forward, with careful restructuring and a growing board, to continue to be a sustainable organization. MCLUS has a key role in the urgent conservation work that MCL is doing. We must keep raising funds for land purchase and protection. The CER is a dynamic forest, and because of some species’ migration patterns needs to expand. More habitat is needed and forest protection continues to be an urgent priority.

Click here to read the rest of this entry on our blog

Introducing Mia Roberts – MCLUS’ new blogger!

You will find the latest news and information about the CER on our blog. Check out past and upcoming blogs at: http://mclus.org/blog/. Read on to learn more about Mia and her passionate connection to the rainforest! Mia is pictured below climbing inside a strangler fig tree.

“I am a graduate from the University of California at Berkeley, with a BA in Integrative Biology. My connection with the MCL began when I participated in a study-abroad program through my university located in Monteverde, Costa Rica.”

Click here to learn more about Mia

High in the mountains of Costa Rica is a rich forest of over 54,000 acres, saved by the contributions of children from 44 countries. The Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. (MCLUS) supports the preservation of this special forest and you can help this wonderful effort when you travel with MCLUS. All trips include a $200 donation to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. For more information on MCLUS or our eco-tourism packages, check out our website: www.mclus.org.

14 DAYS IN COSTA RICA
JULY 2-15
ON THE PACIFIC SIDE OF THE CHILDREN’S ETERNAL RAINFOREST
From the scenic peaks of the Tilaran mountains to the warm sandy beaches of the central Pacific coast – your adventure awaits!
Trip cost: $2,195 (not including airfare). Click here for more info…

10 DAYS IN COSTA RICA
JUNE 25-JULY 4
ON THE ATLANTIC SIDE OF THE CHILDREN’S ETERNAL RAINFOREST
Educational opportunities, community service, exploring different cultures and rainforest immersion await you in Costa Rica.
Trip cost: $2,095 (not including airfare). Click here for more info…

Click here for details about these two amazing eco-tourism trips in 2011

Dear Friends,

Wishing everyone a happy holiday season! The Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. (MCLUS) has had a productive year working on behalf of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest (CER) and protecting our planet’s rich biodiversity. Much has been achieved as we’ve helped to protect the CER, as well as expand it.

We want to express our gratitude to all our supporters worldwide. Because of the generosity of many donors, MCLUS is working to complete the purchase of a 252 acre tract of land in Monteverde that extends the borders of the CER. Equally important, your gifts help save the animals and plants within the forest from predation by poachers.

We have also taken two trips to the CER this year and have three more planned for 2011. If you are interested in traveling with us, please click on the link www.mclus.org/eco-tourism to see more detailed information about these trips.

In 2011 we will change to a quarterly format with our newsletter. This will allow us to continue to share more of the important news from the CER while at the same conserving staff hours in order to focus on new fundraising and land purchase efforts.

We are also seeking volunteers who would like to contribute to our blog: http://mclus.org/blog/ in order to make it even richer and more informative. Please contact volunteercoordinator@mclus.org for more information.

The board and staff of MCLUS are committed to continuing the dedicated work of the late Rachel and Dwight Crandell in supporting the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. We appreciate your continued support!

For the Forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
info@mclus.org

P.S. There is still time to make a tax-deductible donation to support the Children’s Eternal Rainforest — Click here to make a donation today!

Cat Sightings in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest!

NEWS FROM MCL’S INFO CENTER IN MONTEVERDE

Jaguar Canyon, or Bajo del Tigre, is one of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest’s visitor centers. This accessible, densely forested property was donated to the Monteverde Conservation League (MCL) around 1990 to conserve it and has both an information and environmental education center.

Good news was recently received from the Bajo del Tigre visitor center:

“We have seen the results of our conservation efforts with sightings of ocelots, margay and jaguarundi in the past several months. Recently, a wild cat on a tree was seen by several members of the MCL staff. It was a Margay!”

Mark Wainwright, a member of MCL’s board, gives the following information on the Margay in his comprehensive field guide, The Mammals of Costa Rica. “The Margay is mostly solitary, nocturnal and rarely seen. Its leaping ability is phenomenal: it can jump vertically 8 feet in a single bound. They are difficult to distinguish from an oncilla but are larger, with spots and streaks usually larger, fewer and enclosed.” These beautiful wild cats were hunted heavily from the 1960′s to the 1980′s for their pelts to make coats. “Fur trading is minimal now, but margays are still pursued by indiscriminate hunters and poultry farmers. Margays do not seem to do well in disturbed habitats, and may thus be particularly affected by deforestation.”

Deforestation continues around the CER’s protected area. MCL seeks opportunities to buy land to increase habitat protection for the cats and the countless other animals and plants that are threatened by development and population pressures.

COSTA RICA ECO-TRIPS 2011 – EARLY BIRD REGISTRATION AND $100 DISCOUNT – DECEMBER 31, 2010

Explore the natural beauty of Costa Rica and the Children’s Eternal Rainforest – explore tropical habitats and ecosystems, learn about the local communities, help with a service project – all these activities and many more are part of an MCLUS eco-trip.

For the first time, you have two tremendous trips to choose from this summer! For 2011, MCLUS is offering two separate itineraries to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest: to the Pacific Slope and to the Atlantic Slope – both fascinating and unique ecosystems.

Deposits made before January 1, 2011 will earn you an early bird $100 discount off the price of either the Pacific Slope (San Gerardo) or Atlantic Slope (Pocosol) trip. You’ll find the complete itineraries on our website at www.mclus.org/eco-tourism. Come ready to experience Costa Rica’s natural wonders with a small group of travelers. Our trips are limited to just 20 people so all have the chance to fully participate.

BELIZE TRIP 2011 — JUST TWO DAYS LEFT FOR DEPOSITS!

There are only two days left! Belize beckons, but deposits are needed by Thursday, December 16th. Don’t miss this opportunity to explore the best of Belize – rainforest, reefs and ruins with Blue Water Ventures.

Several enthusiastic women travelers have already committed and are ready to hike, snorkel and discover this fascinating country. We need a few more intrepid travelers to sign up in order for this trip to proceed. This special trip itinerary (see http://mclus.org/eco-tourism/belize-trip-2011), designed by the late Rachel Crandell and is for women only – so pack your mask and fins and bring your mother, sister, niece, daughter, friend, co-worker or colleague with you! If you are interested in joining us, please email us at info@mclus.org. You can also print off the registration form from the website and send it in with your deposit of $200.00. Hope you can join us!

Photo credits: Margay by Rachel Crandell, Belize by Blue Water Ventures

Dear Friends,

Almost 25 years ago, in the swirling mists of the Monteverde cloud forest in Costa Rica, a dream took form — a rainforest saved by and for children.

This dream continues and I am constantly inspired by the energy of children to help save their forest. There is still critical habitat to buy. And the need to protect it is constant and urgent.

In this newsletter you can read of a young man’s perseverance to make products to sell for the forest; and of young people who have made a beautiful rainforest calendar to sell.

You’ll also get a look into the unique bellbird sanctuary, part of our San Gerardo trip. Like all of our eco-tours we want you to experience the forest, by waking up in the midst of it. It also gives you the greatest opportunity to see these rare birds and many other species – including white-faced capuchin monkeys, the keel-billed toucan, and the delicate glass wing butterflies.

In this Thanksgiving month I especially want to say “thank you” and express my gratitude for your support. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is not just for the young. It is for those who have hope for the future. It is your forest too.

For the Forest,

Laurie Waller
President
Monteverde Conservation League U.S.
info@mclus.org

Why stay at La Calandria (Bellbird) Lodge?

The MCLUS Costa Rica trip next July stays at La Calandria, or Bellbird Lodge. This 27 hectare property was a Mallory family bequest and is part of the Bellbird Biological Corridor in which MCL is a partner. Staying here gives visitors first-hand experience of the importance of protecting species along their migration route. The bellbird, whose extraordinary territorial “bonks” can be heard from the lodge, is a keystone species, meaning it plays a crucial role in its ecosystems. It distributes seeds of key fruiting trees, maintaining and extending the habitat. La Calandria also plays a vital role in the whole of the corridor with a nursery which has distributed over 60,000 native trees to reforest the corridor. This corridor enables the bellbird and other species which winter at lower altitudes to find food as it becomes scarce in Monteverde, and so is crucial to the integrity of the ecosystems of the Monteverde reserves themselves. Guests can help out in the nursery during their stay.

Rice Sacks for the Rainforest

Rice Sacks for the Rainforest is the newest fundraising effort launched by one of our long-time supporters – 14 year old Gabe Given of Media, PA.

Under the slogan “Warming You, Saving the Planet,” Gabe hand-makes and sells a line of colorful, microwaveable rice-filled heating pads, with all proceeds going toward rainforest land purchase through MCLUS. Gabe’s Rice Sacks project began two years ago as gifts. They proved so popular that friends started commissioning them from him, and the seed of Rice Sacks for the Rainforest was planted. This fall he is expanding his line and launching his website in time for the winter and the holidays. Useful as bed-warmers, foot-warmers, draped on necks and backs or just used to keep you warm so you can turn the thermostat down, Gabe’s Rice Sacks make attractive and practical gifts. They come in a variety of all-cotton flannel fabrics as well as natural organic flannel.

Gabe has been a supporter of the CER and MCLUS since he was a young elementary student. He is full of ideas for ways young people can collect for MCLUS: as a 3rd grader, he convinced his class to dedicate their annual fundraising to the CER and collected over $500; he often asks for donations instead of holiday gifts, and even contributes some of his earnings from odd jobs.

While on sabbatical in Central America Gabe’s father, a professor of biology, took Gabe on a side trip to the BEN. He and his parents spent several days at the San Gerardo station and visited with the late Rachel and Dwight Crandell. Gabe’s time in San Gerardo heightened his interest in rainforest conservation. During his year in rural Guatemala, he witnessed the disastrous flooding, landslides and water pollution that are the consequences of severe deforestation. He knows how important habitat preservation is! In addition to making Rice Sacks, Gabe’s interests include learning about alternative energy, exploring methods for building simple solar ovens, and saving vegetable seeds for biodiversity.

This dedicated young man donates all of his time and labor: 100% of the proceeds over the cost of materials goes directly to MCLUS. See his products at: http://sites.google.com/site/ricesacksfortherainforest/home

Or you can email Gabe directly at: RiceSacksfortheForest@yahoo.com

2011 Forever Forest Group fund-raising Calendar

Enjoy a 2011 calendar with rainforest scenes!

The Forever Forest Group (FFG) is a small group of students who have traveled to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. They are committed to buying more land for the forest and protecting it. With their own photos and artwork they have created this calendar for sale.

Please help them reach their goal of $10,000 and buy a calendar! You can click on the .pfd file link here to get an order form. Fill it out and mail it to us with your check. Many thanks!

Click here to download PDF order form (PDF, 246K)

Join us!

International Travel Club of St. Louis invites you to a talk, “An Introduction to Ecotourism: A Visit to The Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Costa Rica” to be given on November 20, 2010 at 2:00 pm in the St. Louis County Library Headquarters – 1640 S. Lindbergh Blvd in St. Louis, Missouri. Laurie Waller, President, Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. (MCLUS) will be the speaker.

Be an advocate for rainforest protection today! Every year, the Rainforest Action Network (RAN) designates a week in October as World Rainforest Week. The goal of this special awareness week is to encourage individuals to recognize the beauty and wonder of the world’s rainforests. It is also a time for individuals around the world to unite in action to help broaden awareness of the threats that the world’s rainforests endure.

Here are some ways you can be an advocate!

Be a rainforest educator: Learn about the rainforest and share what you know at a local school or neighborhood group. If you are a teacher in the St. Louis area you can benefit from our tropical rainforest curriculum. Go to mclus.org/curriculum to find teaching resources developed in collaboration with the Missouri Botanical Garden.

Share our “Stranded” video with a friend: The deforestation surrounding the Children’s Eternal Rainforest is similar to what has happened globally. This short video highlights the problem of deforestation and also shows what you can do to make a difference. You’ll find it on the MCLUS home page at www.mclus.org.

Be a smart consumer: Check product labels and choose products that do not use palm oil! “Palm oil is a globally traded agricultural commodity that is used in 50 percent of all consumer goods, from lipstick and packaged food to body lotion and bio-fuels. Demand for palm oil in the U.S. has tripled in the last five years, pushing palm oil cultivation into the rainforests and making this crop one of the key causes of global rainforest destruction.” (RAN)

Blog for the Rainforests!: Write a post about World Rainforest Week for any blogs that you are a part of. Share this news with friends on Facebook and other social networks.

Donate: Celebrate World Rainforest Week by supporting our work to protect and expand the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.

Click here to donate now to support the Children’s Eternal Rainforest!

Photos courtesy of Dr. Julia Matamoros, Maggie Eisenberger, Merran Waller, and the late Rachel Crandell.

Belize

March 18 – 27, 2011

COST: $2,449 (not including airfare) with Blue Water Ventures

Belize is an Extraordinary Adventure!

This trip combines the very best of Belize – Rainforest, Reef, and Ruins.

Your 10 day Belize adventure is a special trip for women travelers.   You will have extraordinary experiences: boat upriver to the Mayan ruin Lamanai, have an optional overnight with a Mayan family, raft through the caves at Blue Hole National Park, photograph or observe animals in the Jaguar Sanctuary home to jaguars, tapirs, kinkajous, leaf-cutter ants, toucans, marmots and curassows, and snorkel the brilliant barrier reef. For more information and a registration form – check out our website at www.mclus.org/eco-tourism and click on the “Belize 2011” tab or call our office 314-941-1257.

Costa Rica – San Gerardo

on the Pacific side of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest

July 2 – 15, 2011

COST: $2,195 (not including airfare)

From the scenic peaks of the Tilaran mountains to the warm sandy beaches of the central Pacific coast – travel with us to glorious Costa Rica. This 14 day adventure shows why Costa Rica is a popular destination for eco-tourists worldwide and a biological Mecca for researchers, nature lovers, and conservationists for nearly 50 years. Stay in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest – a 54,000 acre preserve, take nature hikes into the rainforest to see a variety of species from howler monkeys, coatis, morpho butterflies, swallowtail kites, leafcutter ants, crested curassow, to the endemic Orange-bellied Trogon. This trip is a feast for all your senses and will most likely transform you! For more information check out our website at www.mclus.org/eco-tourism and click on the “San Gerardo – Costa Rica Trip 2011” tab or call our office 314-941-1257.

Costa Rica – Pocosol

on the Atlantic side of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest

June 25 – July 4, 2011

COST: $2,095 (not including airfare)

Educational opportunities, community service, exploring different cultures and rainforest immersion await you in Costa Rica. This wonderful 10 day trip will inspire you to want to return to Costa Rica again and again. Float above and through the rainforest on an aerial tram, visit Earth University, cruise the Sarapiqui River, visit one of the indigenous Maleku villages, and spend 3 nights in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest at the Pocosol Station walking trails to volcanic mud pots and waterfalls, mist-netting birds, taking part in bird walks in the early morning air and 2 nights at Finca Luena Nueva Lodge – a model organic farm and sustainable eco-lodge – these are just a few of the adventures in store for you! For more information check out our website at www.mclus.org/eco-tourism and click on the “Pocosol – Costa Rica Trip 2011” tab or call our office 314-941-1257.

School and Family Trips

Your school or family can enjoy a fully customized trip around your special interests. Come to Costa Rica to visit the Children’s Eternal Rainforest – a 54,000 acre preserve in the mountains. We have had groups from ages 8 – 85 delight in their shared experiences. For more information contact our office at 314-941-1257 or send us an email at: info@mclus.org. We would be happy to assist you in planning a unique, educational, inspiring trip to the rainforest!

Please Join Us for an Extraordinary Adventure in Belize!
March 18-27 2011
This trip combines the very best of Belize – Ruins, Reef, and Rainforest

Our Belize adventure is a celebratory trip for women travelers.   We’re celebrating the strength found in both old and new friendships, the joy of “sisterhood” and the fun that comes from sharing extraordinary experiences. This trip is open to all women, including those who want to bring a daughter, niece or younger friend.  If you have someone who you think would be interested, feel free to share this email with them.

We are thrilled to be going and hope that you will come with us!

Belize and the Mayan culture were greatly loved by the late Rachel Crandell.   She wanted to share the natural wonders of Belize and the present day Mayan way of life. This rich itinerary was created last year by Rachel, with Kim Powell, her trusted friend and owner of Blue Water Ventures. It celebrates Rachel’s appreciation for international friendships, indigenous people and ecological resources.

TRAVEL INFORMATION

Kim Powell and Nikki Doyle will be our guides on this adventure! Check out our website at http://mclus.org/eco-tourism/belize-trip-2011/ to see more information. We are taking a 10 day trip from March 18-27, 2011 at a cost of $2,449 (not including airfare) with a full group of 15-18 people. A $200 donation to MCLUS to support the rainforest is included in the price.

Ricardo's Beach Huts in Belize

TRIP HIGHLIGHTS

This adventure is richly layered with fascinating nature and cultural explorations. You will discover Belize’s Mayan culture, both ancient and contemporary, while learning more about Belize’s unique rainforest and reef eco-systems.

It begins when you travel “up river” and explore the ancient site of Lamanai-Mayan Ruins which have a rich history beginning in 1500 B.C.

Hike through the thick tropical foliage that surrounds Blue Hole National Park to St. Herman’s Cave. Explore this magnificent cave once used by ancient Mayans. Then tube through the cave’s stalactite filled chambers.

Travel to Hopkins which is the home to an ethnic group in Belize known as the Garifuna. Learn about the fascinating blend of West African and Carib Indians traditions. Enjoy delicious traditional Garifuna meals.

Hike into the heart of the Cockscomb Basin Wildlife Sanctuary, a primary habitat for the endangered jaquar. In addition to jaguars, this sanctuary is also home to tapirs, kinkajous, leaf-cutter ants and hundreds of species of tropical birds such as toucans, motmots and curassows.

Visit the Maya Center and the wonderful families that welcomed Rachel Crandell into their lives while she lived in the village. You’ll have the option to overnight with families in the village.

Travel to the Bluefield Range Islands. Examine the shallow turtle grass flats and intricate system of mangrove roots where an array of species find refuge. Venture out to Rendezvous Caye, an island jewel located on the majestic barrier reef of Belize. Travel to English Caye, a nearby lighthouse surrounded by reefs. The last night in the Caribbean there will be an opportunity for a night snorkel to observe the nocturnal inhabitants of a coral reef and enjoy a campfire on Rendezvous Caye.

Click here for full trip itinerary and to request an application.

All photos courtesy of Blue Water Ventures. Questions regarding the itinerary can be made directly to Kim at bluewaterventures@sbcglobal.net or call 831-459-8548.

Interested in joining us on this trip?
Contact info@mclus.org for more information and a registration form!

Can’t make the trip but would like to make a donation to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest? Click here to donate now!