As Father’s Day quickly approaches, we prepare to honor the men who taught us to play catch, helped us build tree forts, and lent their fatherly wisdom to enhance our lives. This Father’s Day, consider giving your dad—or any man in your life who has acted as a father—the priceless gift of the rainforest. By making a donation in his name to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in Monteverde, Costa Rica, you will not only give your dad a thoughtful present, but also make the world a better place for generations to come.

When you make a donation to the Monteverde Conservation League, you help secure and protect the development of crucial rainforest land; plus, you will receive a charming, printable PDF card to display a gift that will far outlast any neckties or golf clubs. You may choose to donate $10, $25, $50, or $100. Thank you for your support and for helping us honor fathers around the world this Father’s Day. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest would not exist with your generosity.

Donate Now

Next Land Purchase for Children’s Eternal Rainforest

Thanks to our donors the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has just added another 20 acres.  It is an essential piece in the Pacific slope corridor that connects two pieces of the Children’s Rainforest.  Half of the land is still original forest, but the other half was cleared years ago and used as cattle pasture.  The Monteverde Conservation League will be able to reforest the compacted, degraded pasture with seeds from the nearby forest and recreate critical habitat.  This is the third land addition since we began the Land Purchase and Protection Campaign!!!

Whole Foods Markets Partner with New Chapter to Replant in Costa Rica

Last year WFM of southern California made a generous donation to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest including coming to Costa Rica to plant trees.  The land purchased is contiguous to the existing protected area but was deforested.  Now the new seedlings Whole Foods planted are taking advantage of the rainy season to get a good head start on returning habitat and food source for endangered species by creating a corridor to New Chapter’s organic farm and protected forest.  Thanks Whole Foods and New Chapter!

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.

This Mother’s Day, the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has set aside a Mother’s Grove within their 54,000 acres in Costa Rica to honor all mothers around the world who helped protect it. We invite you to give your mom the priceless gift of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest by making a donation to the Monteverde Conservation League US.  With your donation, you will receive a charming, printable PDF card that fits in an envelope to display your love and appreciation for your mother.  You may choose to donate $10, $25, $50 or $100. Thank you for your support and for helping us honor mothers around the world with the Mother’s Grove. The Children’s Eternal Rainforest would not exist without your generosity.

Monteverde Conservation League US is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization. All donations are tax deductible. Donate at the Network for Good.

Free Teacher’s Rainforest Workshop in St. Louis

Teachers will receive a beautiful free poster, free training, and suitcase filled with curriculum, DVDs, books, and games can be borrowed free from the Missouri Botanical Garden.  The workshop is June 29 from 9-noon.  The workshop and curriculum are a collaborative effort made possible by the partnership of the Monteverde Conservation League US and the Missouri Botanical Garden.  To sign up before it gets full, email teachertraining@mobot.org.

MCLUS President on NPR

Rachel Crandell’s April 30 interview with Don Marsh on St Louis’ KWMU FM is being streamed by NPR online for the next 6 months.  Much of the hour was devoted to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.  This was wonderful exposure for our work in the forest.  To listen just click on KWMU.org.

We think of it as a gift when the rainforest occasionally reveals one of its secrets to us. Very recently some hikers crossing one of the remotest areas of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest received such a gift. They were taking a lunch break along the Rio Peñas Blancas in the heart of the BEN (El Bosque Eterno de los Niños) when a puma came to the edge of the river. Like a silent phantom it appeared and disappeared back into the forest. One of the brothers was quick enough, and had presence of mind enough, to snap this photo. Now we can all share in the gift. Puma are prevalent in this forest. We see their tracks. The forest guards know their territorial scrape marks. But they are seldom seen. To be part of the coincidence of a stealthy wild puma and human beings in the daylight in the midst of a 54,000 acre wilderness is truly a gift and a wonder. This couldn’t have happened if the BEN were not protected and maintained by our brave forest guards and the donations of our loyal supporters. The gift goes both ways. Happy Earth Day!

Frogbags Save on Plastic Waste and Raise $$ for the BEN

Katherine Phillips, one of our Student Ambassadors to the BEN in 2007, and a friend gave birth to an exciting environmentally friendly idea: personalized reusable grocery bags! In addition to providing the public with a practical product, Frogbags’ goal is to be as environmentally friendly as possible by helping reduce plastic waste. They will donate 5% of the their profits to the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Frogbags will start production the middle of May. To find out how to order your Frogbag contact frogbags4you@gmail.com.

Space Available for the June 10-23 and June 22-July 5 Trips to the BEN

Still considering that long awaited trip to Costa Rica? Airfares are lower than ever right now. MCLUS trips focused on conservation with fabulous photo ops in the rainforest both have some spaces still available. Check out itinerary on mclus.org/eco-tourism/ and see if this is the trip for you. $1895 includes everything for two weeks except airfare. Ask your questions at info@mclus.org.

MCLUS Spring Talks, Festivals, Annual Meeting and Trip

April 1 Principia Lower School, Town and Country, MO
April 7 Washington University, St Louis, MO
April 8 Women’s Voices, Ethical Soc, Clayton, MO
April 12 Webster University, Webster, MO
April 16 Principia Biology Department, Town and Country, MO
April 18 Missouri Botanical Garden, St Louis, MO
April 18 DKG Conference, Springfield, MO
April 20 REI store, Brentwood, MO
April 23 Principia Preschool, Town and Country, MO
April 24 Our Lady of the Snows, Edwardsville, IL
April 26 Earth Day Festival, St. Louis, MO
May 11 MCLUS Annual Meeting, St Louis, MO
May 18 Wolf Branch School, Swansea, IL
May 18-27 Fox River Country Day, Monteverde, Costa Rica

Donate to the Land Purchase and Protection Campaign

Earth Day is a perfect time to send your support to the protection and expansion of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. Please donate online or send your check to “MCLUS”, 1128 Weidman Rd., Town and Country, MO 63017. Thank you, and Happy Earth Day!

MCL and MCLUS are part of the collaborative that is working to protect and reforest Pacific slope.  Recently the U of Vermont graduate program sent  well-trained students to help create a layered map showing land priorities that local biologists and members of the collaborative feel are the most important criteria for us to be saving.  Things like mitigating stream sedimentation, creating buffer zones, protecting habitat for endangered, endemic or keystone species, connectivity, distance from streams, if existing forest is primary or secondary forest.

The largely deforested Pacific slope with the Gulf of Nicoya in the distance.  Our goal is to create corridors connecting the existing patches of forest and bring back habitat for migrating species from the protected areas of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest in the mountains to the gulf.

The U of VM students are defining objectives we want to include and establishing monitoring protocols.  They asked lots of questions to be sure the computer models they will make represent the needs of the collaborative in choosing the most important pieces of land to protect.

A major point of discussion was the optimal landscape design that meets the natural and social needs of the people and the wildlife while protecting forest habitat at each elevation zone and enhancing the socio-economic well being of all the communities within the corridor.

Participating Costa Rican members of the collaborative which includes the Cloud Forest Preserve, Monteverde Conservation League, and the Fundacion Conservacionista de Costariccense and the U of Georgia in San Luis.  All smiles after hearing the presentations of the U of VM folks.  A big help in planning which pieces to buy and protect.  We appreciate their dedication to making this a useful tool in our land acquisition.

“Earth” movie from Disney starts Earth Day

MCLUS President in Monteverde

In order to stay in close communication with the Monteverde Conservation League Rachel Crandell attended MCL Annual Meeting this month. Much gratitude was expressed by the MCL Board for MCLUS’ contribution that made the recent land purchase possible. The addition of Pacific slope land to protect the biological corridor is a major priority for both our organizations and only made possible by your generous donations.

New Pocosol Field Station

Pocosol (meaning only a little sun) is the biological field station on the Caribbean slope of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. The elevation is 2000′ lower than at San Gerardo. The forest is very different at that altitude. The BEN (El Bosque Eterno de los Niños) is so diverse that it has five life zones which accommodate a wide variety of plants and animals. A new lodge has been built at Pocosol with a view of the lake where endangered Central American river otters come.

Monteverde: Meetings, Meetings, Meetings

Other important work being done in Monteverde includes establishing reciprocal conservation easements by land owners, board coordinating  with interim Exec. Director of MCL, Yuber Rodriguez, explanation of the Coridor Biologica Pajaro Campana by Deb Hamilton, and Climate Change lecture by Alan Pounds.  Deb likes to say we are not only Eco-friendly, we are Ego-friendly when it comes to finding solutions for the forest through collaboration.

Needed: $500,000 to purchase essential next piece of land in the biological corridor. Please donate now. ]]> http://mclus.org/mclus-e-newsletter-febuary-2009/feed/ http://mclus.org/mclus-e-newsletter-january-2009/ http://mclus.org/mclus-e-newsletter-january-2009/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:55:20 +0000 Rachel Blog E-Newsletters Announcements http://mclus.org/mclus-e-newsletter-january-2009/

Getting to Know the Children’s Eternal Rainforest Better

You can check out El Bosque Eterno de los Niños (BEN) on Google Earth.  Put in these coordinates and zoom in on Costa Rica:  10 22′ N, 84 43′ W.
You will undoubtedly notice that there is a large dark green blob under the clouds.  That is because the dark green represents forest.  Because the Children’s Eternal Rainforest has bought and protected a large chunk (54,000 acres) of tropical rainforest wilderness you can actually see it from space!

Celebrate Wildlife that the BEN Protects

Some species live nowhere else on Earth but inside the Childen’s Eternal Rainforest.  We are so grateful to our donors who have helped us expand the protected area through a recent land purchase.  This will protect the headwaters of an important river and the primary forest habitat where so many amazing plants and animals survive.

Come Experience the BEN for Yourself

We are offering two trips this summer.  The first one is June 10-June 23 led by Maggie Eisenberger.  The second is June 22-July 5 led by Rachel Crandell.
The cost is $1895 with a $200 tax exempt donation to MCLUS included.  We meet in San Jose, Costa Rica to begin our two weeks of adventure, learning about tropical ecology and fabulous photo ops. Deposit of $200 holds your place.  Make checks out to “MCLUS”  and send to Treasurer, 1128 Weidman Rd., Town and Country, MO 63017.  For more details check out www.mclus.org>Ecotourism or email info@mclus.org.

Needed: $500,000 to purchase essential next piece of land in the biological corridor. Please donate now. ]]> http://mclus.org/mclus-e-newsletter-january-2009/feed/ http://mclus.org/the-childrens-eternal-rainforest-posters-available-soon/ http://mclus.org/the-childrens-eternal-rainforest-posters-available-soon/#comments Thu, 29 Jan 2009 22:26:34 +0000 Rachel Blog http://mclus.org/the-childrens-eternal-rainforest-posters-available-soon/

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

Yuber Rodriguez, interim director of MCL, has just sent us the word! On Thursday, December 18, 2008, the Monteverde Conservation League signed a contract to buy Olger Badilla’s 115 acres and add it to the permanent protection of the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. This beautiful, pristine forest touches the BEN (El Bosque Eterno de los Niños) and is a critical addition to the preserve as it protects the headwaters of a significant river. This could never have happened without the support of all of our generous donors, children and adults alike. I will let the photographs and Yuber’s announcement describe the land and the conditions of the agreement:

Left: Olger Badilla (center) with 2 Forest Guards Right: View of primary forest from our new acquisition

Left: Olger Badilla signing the contract with MCL’s attorney  Right: Ideally situated in the Bell Bird Pacific Slope Corridor on the southern border of the BEN
Dear Friends,

On the visit to Olger Badilla’s farm, we were able to mark the area of the property using GPS, showing that its northern border is completely adjacent to that of the BEN. Its southern and eastern borders are marked by the Aranjuez River, which indicates that some of its principle springs are located on this property.  With the acquisition of this area we will obtain a better definition of the borders of the BEN through natural markers (i.e. the river), as well as block the intrusion of hunters and other dangers to the BEN.  Also, with the formalization of this transaction, we will be able to lower the asking price for the land. The negotiated price is $1,250.00 per hectare (it is the lowest offer received in the last year).

This property is located within the Bell Bird Pacific Slope Corridor, and the farm has 100% forest coverage. The first photograph shows the purchased land behind Olger Badilla (center) with two of our Forest Guards at the property’s access site.   The second photograph shows a view from Olger Badilla’s farm over the springs of the Aranjuez River.   This negotiation could potentially strengthen the relationships between the BEN and its neigbors, and will also fortify the borders of the protected area.

Sincerely…
Yuber Rodríguez S.
Monteverde Conservation League

And Thanks to all our Children Partners
Children all across the United States have initiated different ways to raise money and awareness for the Children’s Eternal Rainforest. They have worked together as school classrooms, as a  student council, as home school groups, and as just individual devoted kids who banded together with a mutual love of the forest and wanted to do something to help.  We, here at MCLUS, are so grateful for their efforts and creativity on behalf of the BEN (Bosque Eterno de los Niños).  We can’t say “Thank you” enough.  Have a great Thanksgiving being grateful that the BEN is protected and growing with support of young people!!

“Walking with Animals” home school group in New York holds an annual Bake Sale to benefit the BEN.

“The Tree Frogs”  in Denver sell original Tshirts, frog necklaces, Save the Rainforest wrist bands and got their Student Council to sponsor a penny drive all to benefit the BEN.

Kids in Illinois created a beautiful quilt and got sponsors from local businesses to benefit the BEN.

First graders in Illinois sold smiles to benefit the BEN.   What a great idea!

Kids use their math skills to raise money for the BEN.

The “Forever Forest Group” in Missouri made beautiful notecards from their own photos and drawings after going to the BEN to raise awareness and dollars for the BEN.

Kids selling copies of The Forever Forest: Kids Save a Tropical Treasure at a local fair.

This young man has been contributing to the BEN since he was a little kid, selling all kinds of his invented products including Beanie Baby sleeping bags and reusable cup labels, selling “gently used” toys and books, accepting donations, organizing class fundraisers at his school, and teaching folks about the Children’s Eternal Rainforest.  Whenever someone gives him money as a gift, he gives part of it to the rainforest.  His trip to the BEN with his family years ago inspired him to help out.

Needed: $500,000 to purchase essential next piece of land in the biological corridor.

Please donate now.