Cedro's perfect dream

Polar Bears for Global Cooling

Damn, it's cold.  I know, I know... nothing like Wisconsin or New England, but cold nonetheless, and I couldn't be more pleased.  This is how it's supposed to be.  As everyone talks year after year about how strange the weather patterns have been, about how the toucans are not supposed to nest at this altitude, about how dry the dry season has become, I see now what a Monteverde transition season is meant to be.  For the last two years, the rains have subsided, the winds have slipped into quiet breezes as January has waned, and I've taken on that lovely lobster hue common among the gringo expats.  This year February is on the verge of disappearing and the wind/rain from the north continue to pound us with a vim and vigor known only in the tales of old, from when asphalt and cable tours were just zygotic dreams in some Tico entrepreneur's head.   

It is the dry season, meaning we see the sun regularly, meaning we can leave home midday and let our babies know the outside world.  However, the nights remain alive and beastly and the toucans reconsider their relocation from the lowlands.  Haven't seen one in weeks, which is a huge relief to the emerald toucanettes and quetzals.  Their eggs just might be safe for the time being.  The capuchins and sloths are ecstatic.  Now if only the golden toad would come back...

Thanks Obama!  Just by swearing in, some of the effects of Global Warming have subsided!

Carrera Creativa

 

            The Cloud Forest School is in its 17th year of providing bilingual instruction which integrates environmental education into all facets of the curriculum. Students at our school learn the skills and develop the strengths and values needed to enable them to protect and nurture the unique tropical rainforests encircling Monteverde.

 

The Cloud Forest School prides itself on its ability to offer equal opportunity education to the children in our community. To do so takes time, dedication, hard work, and money. Last year's Carrera Creativa, a 10K Run accompanied by a 5K Walk, was a great success. It drew more than 50 runners and 100 walkers from five different countries. The participants included students, parents, teachers and other local supporters. All enthusiastically contributed time, money and/or effort in a gratifying show of support for our school. Many will return for this year's Carrera to again show support and to raise money for scholarships so that we can continue to offer educational opportunities without regard to family income.

 

Currently tuition payments cover 61% of our budget. Thus many of our students receive substantial scholarships. These are supported by donations from hundreds of individuals both here and internationally. Our average family earns less than $500/month. With tuition averaging $175/month some families are paying as much as 35% of their total income for education. We think this is a telling indication of the value our students' parents place on the education we provide. Nevertheless the global economic crisis has affected everyone and today more than ever our families are in need of your support.

 

You may not be able to be here to participate in this year's Carrera Creativa (you would be more than welcome!), but you can still take steps with us and help us increase our ability to provide scholarships to our neediest students.

 

            This year we will provide $150,000 of scholarship assistance. We hope to raise $20,000 of this amount through the Carrera Creativa. Please help us reach this goal by making a tax-deductible donation to our scholarship fund. Just fill out the form on the reverse of this letter and send it with your check in the enclosed envelope. Or, you can donate at our website, www.cloudforestschool.org/donate.htm.  Please specify that your gift is for “scholarships”.

 

Thank you in advance for your consideration and support of the Cloud Forest School and our students’ education!