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!

New Children’s Book about the BEN to come out 2008

Acclaimed children’s author and artist, Kristin Pratt Serafini, and Rachel Crandell are collaborating on a children’s book about El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (BEN) under the working title of The Forever Forest. Kristin joined Rachel’s group trip in March to the BEN where she began her research and paintings for the book to be published by Dawn Publications in Spring 2008. To assure the accuracy of the text and the illustrations, Kristin and Rachel conferred with experts Willow Zuchowski, Mark Wainwright, Frank Joyce, Richard Laval, Jim Wolfe, and Deb DeRossier, all biologists that live and work in Monteverde.

2007 Student Ambassadors to be Selected for Free Trip to the BEN

The three student groups that donated the most money to the BEN this year by the Earth Day deadline were 1.) Principia Lower School of St. Louis, MO, 2.) a homeschool group, Walking with Animals, in Scottsville, NY and 3.) J.E. Hinchcliffe Elementary School in O’Fallon, Illinois. Congratulations and a huge thank you to all the kids that worked hard to raise money for the forest this year. Now the student ambassadors will have to be selected, get their passports, and make their plans for a July 19 departure to Costa Rica!

Three New Board MCLUS Board Members

At our Annual Meeting on May 2 three new Board Members were elected: Tom Newmark, Terry Sheets and Gay Townsend. All three have shown deep commitment to protecting the BEN and sharing its message of conserving tropical biodiversity. Welcome Aboard!

Rachel’s Spring Trip and Presentations to Schools and Organizations

March 19-April 2 Trip to Costa Rica including 4 days at San Gerardo Field Station inside the BEN’s 54,000 acre wilderness with expert guides and endemic species!!!

April 11 Principia Middle School – St. Louis, MO

April 12 Delta Kappa Gamma Chapter Slide Show (a.m.)- St. Louis, MO

April 12 Stupp Senior Center Slide Show (p.m.) – St. Louis, MO

April 15 Decatur Audubon Society Slide Show – Decatur, IL

April 16 Johns Hill Elementary School Slide Shows – Decatur, IL

April 19 Principia Preschool Slide Show – St. Louis, MO

April 21 St Louis Rainforest Advocates presentation of “Rhythms in the Clouds” video of conservation in the cloud forest of Costa Rica at the Missouri Botanical Garden – St. Louis
April 23 Announcement to Principia Lower School winner of Student Ambassador Free trip to the BEN in July 2007
April 24 Principia Lower School slide show for Second Grade – St. Louis, MO

May 2 MCLUS Annual Board Meeting – St. Louis, MO

May 3 Canton Elementary School slide presentations – Canton, MO

May 12 Community Science Day at St. Louis Science Center – St. Louis, MO

May 15 Author Visit to Principia Lower School – St. Louis, MO

May 20 Glenridge Retirement Center – slide show – Chesterfield, MO

Dylan Sheets, third grader from Principia Lower School in St. Louis, Missouri, was selected to represent his school as an ambassador to El Bosque Eterno de los Niños, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Principia was the top school again this year with almost $3000 donation. The three top schools’ ambassadors will come free to the BEN for a firsthand experience in the forest this summer. Dylan was accompanied by his mom, Terry, and joined the MCLUS trip.  Click on pictures for larger images.
 Dylan releasing freshly hatched Owl-Eye Butterfly

 Dylan receiving Certificate as Student Ambassador

We, Dwight and Rachel Crandell, are heading south June 19th with a great group of adventurer/ learners. Our destination is the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Monteverde, Costa Rica. A full two weeks of hiking with biologists, journaling, photographing, and doing solos in the forest.

Our expert guides include the top biologists in their field. Dr. Richard LaVal will take us mist-netting at night to catch bats and collect data. Richard is the author of his lifelong culminating work, A Field Guide to the Bats of Costa Rica. Mark Wainwright takes us on night hikes and collects endemic frogs from the streams inside our 54,000 acre wilderness. Mark is the author of A Natural History of the Mammals of Costa Rica. Dr. Federico Chinchilla will mist net birds and explain migratory patterns, nesting habits, and courtship behavior in birds who form leks to attract females.

Adventures that will fill our days: Hiking in the San Luis Valley to the 200′ tall waterfall with a swim in the COLD pool, visiting an organic coffee farm, watching Arenal Volcano erupt, attending Quaker Meeting (the root of the history of Monteverde), climbing up inside a 100′ tall strangler fig tree, rafting the Corobici River, visiting a local school to donate school supplies and play soccer with the kids, planting trees in a reforestation project, visiting local women in their homes who belong to the artists cooperative, learning about orchids, butterflies, reptiles, and walking suspension bridges above the canopy of the forest.

We culminate with an experience at Las Pumas Wild Cat Refuge and time with Miguel, a Cabecar Indian, at his Arbofilia Foundation.

Sound like fun? There are just 3 openings left for a similar adventure July 30-Aug 12.
Write us at info@mclus.org to see if you can come.

Hello World!