August 2006 E-Newsletter
August 2006 E-Newsletter of the Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. (MCLUS)
Opal Creek, Oregon – Sister Forest to the BEN
Three Oregon teachers joined Rachel Crandell, President of MCLUS, for a magnificent day of hiking in Opal Creek, the Sister Forest to the Children’s Eternal Rain Forest. Opal Creek flows through this temperate rain forest with its towering Douglas Firs, Western Red Cedars, and Hemlocks. Ferns, mosses, and lichens similar but different from those in Monteverde, are everywhere. The sparkling pure water of Opal Creek cascades over dozens of waterfalls. In honor of our Sister Forest they named the largest one La Cascada de los Niños. Environmental education seminars are held at a rustic lodge for teachers and students of the ancient forest. We have much in common with this 38,000 acre protected wilderness. It lies only two hours southeast of Portland, Oregon. We look forward to a growing relationship with our Sister Forest. You can find out more about Opal Creek. www.opalcreek.org
Oregon teachers hiking in Opal Creek
Cascada de los Niños in Opal Creek
Free Trips to the BEN – Student Ambassadors from Seattle and New York City
In August Ellen Terry and her mom, Janet from Seattle, and Madeline Petrie and her mom, Jennifer from New York City, joined the MCLUS trip to the BEN. The girls were thanked by the Monteverde Conservation League for their schools’ generous contributions to the Bosque Eterno de los Niños. Eckstein Middle School and Little Red School House had successful fundraisers last year which earned them the right to send a student ambassador for a free week in Costa Rica and time in our deep wilderness of the BEN. The girls were awarded BEN T-shirts and hats like our Forest Guards wear. Their experiences in the forest will be shared back home with other schools to raise awareness of the important work of protecting this special ecosystem. All schools are invited to participate in our contest for this school year. The deadline for selecting the top three fundraising schools is Earth Day, April 22, 2007. You can check out www.rainforestkid.com for earlier reports of last year’s student ambassadors.
Madeline and Ellen on Bajo del Tigre Trails in BEN
