In an effort to encourage bloggers to write about their favorite charities, Zemanta launched a Blogging for a Cause contest, where they will give $6,000 in donations to the five most blogged about charities. We invite supporters of the Monteverde Conservation League US to help promote the Children’s Eternal Rainforest by taking a few minutes to mention this wonderful cause in their blogs.

Bloggers simply need to post about their favorite charities, then add a tracking link in their blog posts. Here’s the text and link: This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “http://www.zemanta.com/bloggingforacause/”>Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

There are many things to write about, from the 54,000 acres of land protected in Monteverde, Costa Rica to the free courses and rainforest kits for educators this summer at the Missouri Botanical Gardens.

The contest runs until June 6, 2009. Check out the contest site for more info and blogger directions.

Thank you for your support, and happy blogging!

This blog post is part of Zemanta’s “Blogging For a Cause” campaign to raise awareness and funds for worthy causes that bloggers care about.

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest Posters will soon be available to be purchased on line through Bill and Ellie’s website www.mathisjones.com.

Watch it! Stranded Video on Home Page

Visually stunning video is now on www.mclus.org home page. “Stranded” tells the urgent story of why we need to buy and replant pastures to add to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Migrating species who need to move on when the fruits are done, are stranded in the BEN on their protected mountaintop. There is little habitat, food, or cover down the Pacific slope of the Tilaran mountains. These species depend on the Pacific side for their seasonal migrations and are diminishing in number. The video tells the story. Feel free to share it with others.

Discovery Bound Trip

Early July found an energetic group of high school students from the US maintaining trails in the BEN, planting over 200 trees, stuffing little plastic bags with dirt for the next seedlings, collecting seeds, and painting two classrooms in the San Luis Valley school. They worked side by side with local Tico students and made friends in spite of the difference in language. Their work ethic, willingness to serve and open hearts left their mark of goodwill on Monteverde. They were great ambassadors!

MCLUS Trip

Twenty adventurers ages 9-85 headed off to Costa Rica and El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos for the second half of July on an adventure to be remembered! The often difficult sightings of three-wattled bellbirds became common with these intrepid early morning birders. They also planted over 200 trees in the Dwight Crandell Memorial Reserve and helped Roger with progress on cleaning out and rebuilding the shed at San Gerardo. Their donations purchased a new chainsaw to clear trails of fallen giants, and needed tools for maintenance of the station, as well as a digital projector for Sergio’s work in environmental education in the schools. Hiking, rafting, swimming in the pool at the foot of the 200′ San Luis waterfall, learning from expert guides, encountering 5 different species of snakes (a record for any of our 2 week trips), and sharing quiet time on a solo alone in the forest were a few of the highlights. After such a wilderness experience, re-entry into everyday life back home is challenging, but the memories are tangible.

Donate

Your donations to the BEN are urgently needed as we negotiate for a 650 acre farm that is part forest and part pasture to be replanted in the Pacific slope corridor. Prices do nothing but go up!
You may donate online or send a check to MCLUS, 1128 Weidman Rd., Town and Country, MO 63017. We are in a race against time!

Announcing Dates for 2009 MCLUS Trip to BEN

Next summer’s trip dates are now confirmed. June 10-23 AND June 22-July 5, 2009 will be the adventure-filled/conservation/reforestation/photographyecotourism opportunities of a lifetime. Ask anyone who has gone on these trips to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in the past! Check out overview of the trip on www.mclus.org/eco-tourism/about/ and enjoy. Start making your plans now and ask info@mclus.org for references from past participants, if you like.

Rainforest Quilt: Successful Fundraiser

The rainforest has become a hot topic for children in Macomb, Illinois. Almost 200 students and the local Girl Scout troop have been painting and sewing a Rainforest Quilt. Local businesses were invited to buy donor squares that will have their names stitched into the quilt and create a border around the colorful squares of animals and plants of the rainforest that the children are creating. It is a true work of art with input from kids, teachers, parents, and businesses in the community. The Quilt has provided funding to help send a teacher to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. To see more of the children’s own art work go to www.mclus.org/kids/quilt_project. For information on how you could replicate this community based fundraiser for the BEN (El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos) contact Lisa Gruver at joelandlisa@gmail.com.

Kid’s Book Project: Draw your own Rainforest Illustrations

DREAM THE FOREST WILD: How Children Saved a Rainforest by Sue Memhard with Jim Crisp. This is the remarkable, true story of how El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos (affectionately known as the BEN, in English – The Children’s Eternal Rainforest) came to be saved thanks to kids from around the world. Now, twenty years later, the lyrical story Dream the Forest Wild continues to inspire kids everywhere and invites kids to be their own illustrators. Read the story, and ask your teacher if you can be part of the KIDS BOOK PROJECT by drawing your own illustrations and going to www.suememhard.com/ChildrensRainforest/ to get them published. Then you can have a book sale of your own version. What a great way to spread the word about the BEN and be able to make a tangible donation at the same time!

Hollywood Gala Big Success

Thousands of dollars were raised at the Gala sponsored in large measure by New Chapter and Whole Foods Markets and Creative Artists Agency. To set the stage, images of wildlife from the Children’s Eternal Rainforest were projected on the huge wall above the dinning tables. Orchids graced each table. Violin music wafted through dinner conversation. The inspirational beginnings of the BEN by the Swedish kids were provided by Rachel Crandell. Stirring appeals were delivered by Tom Newmark, Michael Besancon, Anthony Zolezzi and TV celebrity, Suzanne Somers. These remarks and the premiere of Mark Wainwright and Alex Villegas’ video “Stranded” brought the realities of the plight of migratory species in the BEN to the hushed audience who now understands better why tropical rainforests are critical to the health of the planet. The BEN made many new friends on May 8 and a big stride toward funding land purchase on the Pacific slope. Thanks to the many generous donors, we raised over $40,000. This will enable us to take a big step forward with negotiations for land purchase that will reforest wildlife corridors and suck up carbon.

Quilt Project to Help Send Teacher to the Rainforest

A quilt-making project launched on Earth Day in Macomb, Illinois invites children and adults to participate by painting fabric squares with animals and plants from the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Over 100 of these squares will surround a central painting on fabric brimming with wildlife. Sponsorships for the quilt and donations are raising the money that will be shared between a scholarship for a Macomb teacher to go on the MCLUS conservation/adventure trip July 14-27 and funds for environmental education programs in Monteverde, Costa Rica. When the quilt is completed, it will be displayed in the Macomb Public Library and borrowed by classrooms when they are studying about the tropical rainforest. Mary McMahon has been selected as the winning teacher this year. She has started to pack her backpack!

To benefit The Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc. on behalf of El Bosque Eterno de los Ninos (Children’s Eternal Rainforest), Costa Rica

Join us for the inaugural fundraiser to launch the “Project Pacific” campaign of the Monteverde Conservation League U.S., Inc., the non-profit supporting the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Monteverde, Costa Rica.

Twenty years ago, a single classroom of elementary school children in Sweden began a fundraising drive to purchase endangered habitat in Costa Rica.

Their enthusiasm spread to forty-four nations, and that international children’s campaign resulted in the creation of the largest private reserve in Central America.

Now it’s time to extend this private reserve westward towards the Pacific coast and restore the rainforest for ourselves — and our children.

$150 donation required to attend (entire donation goes to MCLUS)

For additional information and to RSVP please e-mail sara@mclus.org

Dwight passed away February 12, but his indomitable, generous, selfless, humble, problem-solving spirit will remain to encourage all of us who work in conservation. His example of patience and perseverance in the face of challenges will inspire us not to give up in every aspect of our lives, and certainly in the challenge of protecting the precious life in our forests.

Dwight and Rachel founded MCLUS in 2002 as a sister organization to the Monteverde Conservation League in Costa Rica. The goal of protecting tropical biodiversity in the Children’s Eternal Rainforest was given a huge boost when Dwight, as co-founder, treasurer and board member, gave his tireless support in the form of ideas, physical labor and financial help. His lifelong experience working in non-profits helped us set up the organization. His selfless giving of financial support inspired others to give. Dwight loved physical work. He was willing to pick up a hammer, a shovel, or a machete and lend a hand on any project that needed doing working alongside our Costa Rican friends. It didn’t matter if he was the donor or the manual laborer. In fact he was both!

Dwight lived to see the Children’s Eternal Rainforest make its first land acquisition since 1995 because of support from his work in MCLUS. As treasurer, he shepherded us in just 5 years to see our annual donations grow five times larger. We now have an endowment, thanks to Dwight’s foresight. His gentle love and devotion made him the best “shepherd” on our MCLUS trips to the Bosque Eterno de los Niños (BEN), as any of you who were on those trips could testify to. If you were tired, or your pack was too heavy, or your boots got stuck in the mud, Dwight was there at the end of the line to give a hand and lighten the load. He will be missed more than can be imagined, but his prayerful, God-centered life will be an example and inspiration always. Thank you, Dwight.

Donations can be made in Dwight’s name to MCLUS by mailing a check to:

Monteverde Conservation League, US
1128 Weidman Rd.
Town and Country, MO 63017

314-878-8427

You can visit http://mclus.org/give/donate-now/ to make a donation online.

Endangered Frogs Feared Extinct Found in Children’s Eternal Rainforest Need Prize Money to Protect Habitat

Photo Caption:
Endangered frog species population thought extinct rediscovered in Children’s Eternal Rainforest, located in Monteverde, Costa Rica, benefits from online social networking contest.
Download Full Size

ST. LOUIS, Missouri (January 10, 2008) — Online social networking site Facebook.com is hosting a contest in partnership with The Case Foundation — the Causes Giving Challenge — that will award $50,000 to the non-profit organization that attracts the most individual donors over a 50-day period ending February 1, 2008. Out of over 50,000 individual registered Causes, one has been recently getting a lot of attention — the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Only days after joining the contest, this group has rapidly risen to become the only environmental organization represented in the top 50 contest leaders.

While every group in the contest has a story to tell, the supporters of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest are particularly passionate about the prospect of winning the $50,000 grand prize. A species of tropical frog feared extinct (Lithobates vibicarius) was recently rediscovered within the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Monteverde, Costa Rica. By participating in this contest, supporters hope to ensure the continued survival of this very rare species and continue the fight against global warming.

Award-winning environmental children’s book author and illustrator Kristin Joy Pratt-Serafini entered the Cause into the contest, anticipating the release of her latest book, The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure (Dawn Publications, 2008). This true story describes how, in 1987, one class of 2nd graders in Sweden started a movement that would eventually become the largest nature private reserve in Central America.

Kristin wrote and illustrated her first book, A Walk in the Rainforest (Dawn Publications, 1992), when she was a freshman in high school. “Concern for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest inspired me to make my first book. The rainforest was a big deal in the nineties. It should still be a big deal today,” Kristin says. “It seemed natural to join this contest, and try to inspire a new generation of environmental leaders. If the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has taught me anything, it is to never underestimate the power of motivated youth. Facebook just ‘Friended’ the forest.”

The rules of the contest are simple — Facebook members click a “Join” or “Donate” button to become supporters of the Cause and contribute to its chances for winning the grand prize. The group that gets the most individual donations wins $50,000. People who haven’t yet registered for the popular site can easily create a free account to participate in the contest and help their chosen cause.

Rachel Crandell is the founder and president of the Monteverde Conservation League, U.S.: the non-profit responsible for collecting contributions to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. “I’m very grateful for all the new donations that have been pouring in,” says Rachel. “Last year we collected just over $100,000, using traditional fundraising methods, to help preserve more rainforest and protect biodiversity. Winning the $50,000 in this online contest would be a huge help to ensure that the endangered animals endemic to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest will be protected forever.”

This contest is revealing a whole new generation of young and eager philanthropic givers who are willing to donate their time, money and attention to deserving causes such as the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. It demonstrates the power of social networking sites to make a real difference with their millions of motivated members.

The Causes Giving Challenge leader board can be found here:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/giving

The Children’s Eternal Rainforest Cause page can be viewed here:
http://apps.facebook.com/causes/view_cause/53587

About the Children’s Eternal Rainforest
Swedish school children started a worldwide effort in 1987 by sending money to Monteverde, Costa Rica to purchase rain forest and protect its priceless natural treasures forever. Today children from 44 nations have helped The Children’s Eternal Rainforest become the largest private reserve in Central America, 54,000 acres.

To learn more about the Children’s Eternal Rainforest, please visit http://www.mclus.org.

Contact: Rachel Crandell
Tel: (314) 878-8427
Email: info@mclus.org

We’ve finally joined the Facebook community!

It’s been a long time coming, but the Monteverde Conservation League
now has a page on Facebook, so all our friends can join our Cause and
help promote saving the rainforest.

Right now, in fact, if you join our Cause group in the next 20 hours
on Facebook and donate $10 or more, you can help us be awarded $1,000
simply for having the largest number of donors in one day. So your $10
could help push us over the limit and save even more of the precious
rainforest lands that we all love!

Also, over the next 50 days, if we can get just 180 more people to join our Facebook Cause and donate at least $10 then we will be eligible to possibly win $10,000. If we can manage to get the most donors of anyone we can win $50,000 to help save the rainforest. So please, tell everyone you know who has a Facebook account to please, join the Cause and help us shoot for the moon and try to win that $50,000! Also, if you don’t have a Facebook account, getting one set up takes about 2 minutes, is free and easy. Don’t forget to donate at least $10 through the application to help us win big. Thanks!

Click here to join the MCLUS Facebook cause!

Christian Science Monitor Article re Monteverde Forest

The Christian Science Monitor’s front page article, “The Rain Forest’s Vanishing Species” June 21, 2007 gives a clear and detailed account of Monteverde’s dilemma caused by climate change. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest is 6 times bigger than the Monteverde Cloud Forest Preserve and surrounds it on 3 sides, thereby granting a huge extension of the ecosystem, providing habitat and buffer zone. The article by Moises Velasquez-Manoff also explains why “corridors” are so important. That is exactly what we are fundraising for right now. Reading and sharing this article by Moises Velasquez-Manoff with friends will help to spread the word about our mission.

The five page article can be read and videos viewed online at www.csmonitor.com/2007/0621/p25s06-sten.html

SLRA Grant given to MCLUS

The St. Louis Rainforest Advocates gives grants each year to aid scientific research and grassroots organizations that further the cause of tropical rainforests. This year they awarded the $900 grant to MCLUS: $400 toward land purchase, $400 toward environmental education and $100 for the native plant vivero at Bajo del Tigre. Many thanks to SLRA for their support.

Hands of the Maya in Fifth Printing

Henry Holt publishers just ran a fifth printing of Rachel Crandell’s children’s book that provides the money for the scholarship fund to send Maya children to high school in Belize. Long live the scholarship fund and more reprints!