1. MCLUS received two Rotary International grants for $1,000 each which enabled us to refurbish and repair the two nature centers at Bajo del Tigre and Finca Steller including signage. With help from staff and volunteers new hands-on exhibits and a beautiful mural were designed and painted. The Open House for the Casita Nature Center at Bajo del Tigre was a great success with over 250 students and their teachers from eight local schools participating in hikes, activities, storytelling and an art contest. The exhibits engaged the children in activities about seed dispersal, birds and beaks, leaves and their adaptations, puzzles to match bats with what they eat, matching games about animal classification and specimens to look at through a magnifying glass. The Rotary grants also allowed us to purchase much needed field guides for the libraries in each Casita and at both field stations as well as tables and chairs for the classroom and have special insect boxes made so that we could receive a wonderful donation of a moth collection from Dr. Richard Whitten. An non-Rotarian $1000 gift provided for a professional exhibit fabricator to create a stunning exhibit on mutualism of not only plants and animals, but people and the forest. An article appeared in the March 2004 Rotarian International Magazine about thisproject sharing this success widely.

2. MCLUS has also provided volunteer support in improving San Gerardo and Poco Sol’s accommodations so that the visitors who come for unique birding opportunities and hiking in deep forest will have safer more convenient stays including hammocks and repaired rocking chairs for relaxed birdwatching and volcano viewing.

3. MCLUS purchased 4 computers for better record keeping and communications for MCL and one computer for Arbofilia.

4. MCLUS sent out the MCL annual appeal letter from the US on recycled paper, printed as a donation, saving on international postage, and MCL staff time.

5. MCLUS has initiated a Land Purchase and Protection Campaign on Earth Day 2004 with the goal of raising 1.5 million dollars by the 20th anniversary of MCL in 2007. The fund will help purchase inholding farms within the BEN and land on the Pacific slope of the Tilaran Mountains to create biological corridors by replanting native species of trees to connect existing patches of forest so migratory species will have expanded protection and habitat. (www.creatingcorridors.org)

6. MCLUS officers hosted a meeting of the directors of the four major institutions in the Monteverde Zone interested in creating biological corridors on the Pacific slope. Collaboration between the Tropical Science Center, the Monteverde Insittute, the Monteverde Conservation League and the Bellbird Conservation Center will facilitate our common goal.

7.MCLUS is offering free trips to the BEN for one student from each of the three schools that donate the most money between Earth Day 2004 and Earth Day 2005 as an incentive to help the Land Purchase and Protection Campaign. The students will travel to Costa Rica June 30-July 6, 2005 and visit the BEN for themselves.

8. MCLUS’ generous gift for trail rehabilitation has allowed for maintenance of safer and better trails including purchase of tools and entrance road improvement.

9. MCLUS led two eco-tourism trips this year with contributions built into the cost of trip. Custom family and student trips are now available. We always include a visit to a local school bringing a donation of school supplies and a service project of trail maintenance or tree planting as well as lots of adventure and hikes with expert biologists.

10. MCLUS continues to give slide shows around the US educating students, garden clubs, and friends about biodiversity and need for protecting tropical forest and creating biological corridors.

11. MCLUS provided funding for a study of alternative energy systems to meet the needs at Poco Sol and San Gerardo field stations.

12.MCLUS president and secretary/treasurer got to meet and share history with the Swedish founders of Bosque Eterno de los Niños, Eha and Bernd Kern in Monteverde.

13. MCLUS helped with balancing the 2003 budget of MCL by donating over $26,000.