April Update by Jennifer Rice, President

April 8, 2012 · Filed under Uncategorized

This month KSTR has been working hard on a strategic plan to move us forward. We have all the projects: Wildlife Rescue Center, Monkey Bridges, Wildlife Sanctuary, Reforestation, Organic Gardens for the wildlife we care for, and a new Volunteer Center and Program to educate students, biologists, vets, teachers about the rainforest and how they can help to save it.
We are very proud of our efforts to save the rainforest, but we have run into a little problem of not being able to fund them!
So we have a new Fundraising Director, Scott Braman, who is a graduate of Dartmouth College and a Fulbright Scholar who lived and worked with remote tribes in Ecuador’s Amazon. Scott is currently making important documentaries in LA, check out his website to see his work:http://www.scottcbraman.com/
Welcome aboard Scott!

With Scott’s help we have come up with several ways to raise donations and wanted to share them with you!

1. We joined Razoo, which is a movement of people who want to make generosity a part of everyday life. Razoo believes that generosity is win-win. Not only does it make the world a better place, it also makes people happy and fulfilled. Check out our page at:http://www.razoo.com/story/Kids-Saving-The-Rainforest
2. Scott created a new website dedicated solely to our new Volunteer Program that we will unveil next month
3. We have a page to make direct donations on our website via Paypal: http://www.kidssavingtherainforest.org/donations.php.htm
4. We now cater to destination weddings, where couples can make a donation to KSTR in honor of the guests. We make a great personalized poster to display, or if you prefer, certificates for your guests. Contact jennifer@kstr.org to see how special they are.
5. We have a impressive Facebook page showing the animals that we rescue and much more: http://www.facebook.com/pages/Kids-Saving-the-Rainforest/146280833519
6. Our 501 C 3 Non-Profit now uses our California address for our registration with the IRS U.S. as a tax deductible non-profit and we added registration as a non-profit in California to our status as a non-profit registered in Connecticut.
So join a wonderful cause and help us to save the rainforest! If you can’t make a donation, come shop in our newly redesigned souvenir store and check out the cool changes. It is the only store in the area where 100% of the proceeds go to save the rainforest!
Located adjacent to the Hotel Mono Azul on the road to the Manuel Antonio National Park! 2777-1548

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Self Sufficient Living by Volunteer Vernita Gundy

January 4, 2012 · Filed under Articles, Miscellaneous, Organic Farm, Uncategorized, Volunteer Opportunities


HMMMMMM…What is that?

I am a US citizen who lives in the City of Philadelphia in Pennsylvania and although I’ve heard of self sufficient living, I have never learned what it actually meant until now. Self sufficient living means self reliance in learning to grow your own, make your own, sell your own and bake your own, for homesteading, urban homesteading or mini farms.

I’ve been in Costa Rica volunteering for Kids Saving the Rainforest the last 3 months and I have slowly started to understand what it is all about and how important it is to change our way of living so we can all be on this earth for years to come.

My first exposure to being self sufficient was at Finca Braman.There priority is to grow their own fruits and vegetables for the animals living at the Kids Saving the Rainforest Santuary and for their guest staying at Mono Azul and the Blue Banyan Inn. They currently have growing on their property mango trees, nance trees,lime trees,orange trees,guava trees,sugar cane,corn,pineapples and many more things to come like a tilapia farm.They have also started a compost pile and that is where they store any leftover food waste.

Did you know that much of our household waste can be food for the garden and very valuable if we compost it, sustaining a cycle of production with little waste, incorporating ideas of permaculture and organics which also benefit the soil, and the plants you grow?

Now I’m not going to preach to you on how to live your life because I myself may not go back to the states living a self sufficient life and I don’t know what is available here in Costa Rica for you to make any changes but now I will be more aware of what I buy, throw out, and what I can do to protect our environment. Self sufficient living reduces our Carbon Footprint by making small changes in every area of our everyday life.

Here are some ideas to get you started on self sufficient living:

1) Buy appliances with the energetic seals like FIDE or the Energy Star, this will tell you how much energy is consumed while in use.

2)Buy furniture made from certified wood that comes from forest plantations managed under international sustainability standards.

3)Use compact fluorescent light bulbs, they provide the same amount of light as incadescent but they consume less energy.

4)In order to improve air quality have plants inside and outside of your house. Within the house, plants are capable of absorbing up to 87% of hazardous toxins present in the air.

5)Use natural cleaning products without chemicals that may damage the environment.

6)Paint your house with light colors both on the inside and outside.On the roof this color reflects the light andon the inside these colors off light.

7)Make your own compost.

8)Start a worm farm to enrich your soil and have rich vermicompost freely and cheaply by feeding the worms your kitchen scraps.

9)Grow your own vegetables. This is the first step to self sufficiency and self reliant living.

10)Raise some backyard chickens. You can raise bantams if you have a very small space, or you can have full sized chickens. You don’t need too many for a steady egg supply. If you get a good chicken breed for eggs a good laying hen will lay about 5 eggs a week.Self reliant living at its best with fresh organic eggs every day.
So, if we all do at least one thing from this list we will all be on the right track of making our world a better place to live in.

References:
Kids Saving the Rainforest

http://www.self-sufficiency-guide.com/index.html

http://www.countryfarm-lifestyles.com/self-reliant-living.html

Compania Nacional De Fuerza Y Luz, S.A.

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Happy Holidays to you all! We want to thank you for your support over the years.

December 14, 2011 · Filed under Uncategorized

As you know, Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) is a non-profit organization, a 501 (C) 3, that was founded by a friend and myself in 1999. KSTR is actively involved in many projects, including a Wildlife Rehabilitation Center where we rehabilitate sloths, monkeys, kinkajous, jaguarondis, and other wild animals. We also have a Wildlife Sanctuary with over 30 non-releasable animals that has an Educational Center to teach people how to save the rainforest. We have a wonderful, new volunteer center we just completed in December that can house up to 20 volunteers at our Sanctuary.

Please go to http://www.kidssavingtherainforest.org/donations.php.htm now to make a generous contribution to enable us to continue our level of service to the animals of the rainforest. The troubled economy has left us very short on funds for our programs the last two years and we are desperately in need of support.

Photo taken by wildlife rescue center's animal caretaker Yeily

We also have placed 130 monkey bridges over the roads to prevent electrocution to the titi monkeys, who have been on the Critically Endangered UN Red List since 1997. When we started the program in 2001 there were only 1200 left in the world, all located in our area, now there are estimated to be 3700! We have also reforested over 6,000 trees to provide corridors, food, and shelter for the monkeys.

In June I graduated from Stanford University and I work for Teach for America and am getting my Masters Degree in Education in Los Angeles. I teach 7th and 8th grade Science and an elective in Environment, Conservation, and Policy. One of my main inspirations is the many teachers and students who have supported KSTR over the years. Many thanks to you all for your gifts and support. Happy Holidays and a Wonderful New Year!

Tropically yours!
Janine
Janine Licare
Co-founder & Spokesperson

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Kellie Holsey Brings Children’s Books to Winter Goose Publishing and Aids in the Survival of Rainforests

October 30, 2011 · Filed under Animal Rescue Center, Articles, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized

“The Secret Sloth” brings to light a beautiful and little known creature

November 1, 2011 – There are so many reasons to fight to keep our rainforests thriving, and Sloths are at the top of the list. These beautiful and slow moving creatures are a little known resident of rainforests. The Secret Sloth educates and stimulates a child’s mind with a great story and detailed hand drawings by illustrator Jim Koukis.
Take a journey through the rainforest as we learn about the amazing sloth. Discover the dangerous and uncertain world of one of Earth’s cutest and most gentle creatures. Enjoy the detailed hand-sketched drawings which bring this beautifully fun and educational story to life. You will be inspired to help one of the most peculiar and adorable animals on our planet. May they continue to thrive in the lands they have always considered their home.
A portion of the proceeds from each sale will go to Kids Saving the Rainforest at www.kidssavingtherainforest.org, an organization that aids in the survival of rainforests.

The Secret Sloth is a 32-page children’s book on paperback, with a retail price of $8.99 and eBook retail price of $5.99, benefitting Kids Saving The Rainforest. The ISBN is: 9780983676454. Published through Winter Goose Publishing and available now through Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers. For more information or to request a review copy, contact Winter Goose Publishing at info@wintergoosepublishing.
About Kellie Holsey:
Kellie Holsey lives in a small gold-mining town in Northern California with her husband, two horses, three dogs and five cats. She is a small business owner and is active in her church. She has four daughters and seven grandchildren spread out all over the United States.
About Winter Goose Publishing:
Winter Goose Publishing is an independent publisher founded in 2011. We are a royalty-paying publisher dedicated to putting out the best literature in prose, poetry and art; covering a variety of genres. You can visit wintergoosepublishing.com for more information or email info@wintergoosepublishing.
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Come volunteer with Kids Saving the Rainforest!

October 20, 2011 · Filed under Animal Rescue Center, Articles, Kids Camp, Miscellaneous, Organic Farm, Tours, Uncategorized, Volunteer Opportunities · Tagged , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , , ,

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Kids Saving The Rainforest’s New Volunteer Coordinator!

August 17, 2011 · Filed under Uncategorized

By Julia Paltseva

Senior at Harvard University &
Volunteer for KSTR

Pablo Porras, biologist, professor in sustainability and KSTR Volunteer Coordinator

Kids Saving the Rainforest is proud to present the newest member of its permanent staff – Pablo Porras-Peñaranda. Pablo, a biologist by training, will now serve as the Volunteer Coordinator. KSTR is a local non-profit organization based in Manuel Antonio whose goal is to preserve and educate about the rainforest and its many animals. As the organization’s popularity and mission has grown, the number of interested volunteers has increased.
Pablo is a welcome addition to run the volunteer program. He is a native of Heredia, Costa Rica and received his Bachelors degree in Tropical Biology from Universidad Nacional de Costa Rica. While juggling his Coordinator duties, Pablo is concurrently enrolled in a Masters program in Conservation Medicine in San Jose, so he must travel there every weekend. Pablo heard about KSTR through a classmate, María Pía Martín, the KSTR veterinarian. One of the main reasons that drew him to the organization was the prospect of environmental education. Pablo brings a unique perspective to the program with his vision for the future that involves conservation work that mixes ecosystems, involving both animal and human health and well-being.

As one of the first volunteers under Pablo’s guidance, I can vouch for his passion for biology. It is clear that Pablo wants to help humans and animals coexist and is dedicated to KSTR’s causes of rescuing and rehabilitating wild creatures. He explains that he used to want to be a medicine doctor, but after numerous educational and volunteer experiences that include sea turtle conservation and research, bat conservation and research, wildlife rescue, and alternative energy research, Pablo realized that he needs to be outdoors and research animals.
Pablo is a highly qualified individual for the duties of a Volunteer Coordinator in the educational sense. His background in avian research and sustainability projects makes him a good fit for working with an organization so dedicated to helping animals, yet the personal side of Pablo is even more appealing. As a leader, Pablo is very approachable and attentive to his volunteers’ needs. He is quick to answer any questions and alleviate concerns before they arise. Pablo’s mentality of wanting to explore the whole world and develop future young leaders is exactly the open mindset that KSTR values. We are glad to have him on board.

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Raising and Preparing a Kinkajou for a Life in the Wild.By Pia Martin DVM KSTR Wildlife Vet

August 2, 2011 · Filed under Animal Rescue Center, Articles, Miscellaneous, Uncategorized, Volunteer Opportunities

Kinkajous (Potos flavus) and in Spanish “Martillas”, are medium size mammals (40-55cms long, weighing 2-3kg), brownish colored from the Procyonid family. This means they are nocturnal, live in pairs or by themselves and are arboreal and terrestrial; just like raccoons (Procyon lotor) and coatis (Nasua narica).

However, they have unique characteristics that make them very special in the rainforest. For example: although they are categorized as carnivores, they do not eat meat. Their diet is basically fruits, flowers, and rarely they will eat a bird’s egg or an insect. They have a 5 inch tongue that helps them get nectar from flowers making them pollinators. Their ankles and wrists can rotate more than most mammals helping them climb up and down trees and walk in branches easily. They also have a long prehensile tail that can wrap itself around a branch and hold on to most of the animal’s weight so it can hang and reach for a fruit in a lower branch.

Kids Saving the Rainforest Logo

They are endangered due to the loss of their habitat (deforestation, forest fragmentation, civilization), they were hunted for food in the past and also to use their coat as the bristles in paintbrushes. They are also caught and sold in the pet trade. Here in Manuel Antonio, kinkajous are common but difficult to observe since they only come out at night and stay mainly in the trees. Their main threats are electrocutions, being hit by cars, and attacks by dogs.

Last year we received a very small, furry animal with a huge head; small eyes and long tail. It was a newborn kinkajou found by a woman in Parrita who was walking towards her house and spotted him on the ground by himself. She gave him to MINAET and they brought him to us.

Raising a kinkajou is definitely an extraordinary situation. At first we had to syringe feed him formula with probiotics, and he slept all day and all night. As he was growing we changed to a bottle and started introducing fruits and veggies, and put him into a playpen with stuffed animals, branches, ropes, and live trees.

Now, that he feeds on his own, is very active at night, and he is starting to search for his independence, we are beginning to do a soft release. Every night, the animal caretaker and me, open his cage and let him come out. He follows us into the jungle, just like he would follow his mom. We are training him to explore the world, search for his food using his sense of smell, hide from predators or unknown noises and get away from people. We are letting him climb up very tall trees and develop strong muscles in his hind legs, forearms, and tail so that he will feel secure moving in the canopy of the trees. Every time he achieves a little challenge we give him a prize, a small piece of grape or really sweet mango. It is difficult since we have to do it at night and we are always looking out for snakes and also afraid that he might run away before he is ready and that we will not be able to catch him.

But for the time being, he is still used to us so he is not leaving yet; but when the time comes and he knows how to find food, shelter, and company, he will leave and follow his instinct. We just need to prepare him well to survive and reproduce in the rainforest, just as he was meant to be; free and happy.

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How It All Began

August 2, 2011 · Filed under Animal Rescue Center, Articles, Kids Camp, Miscellaneous, Organic Farm, Tours, Uncategorized, Volunteer Opportunities

We are very proud of KSTR’s co-founders, Janine Licare and Aislin Livingstone.  They have both just graduated from two very prestigious colleges, Janine from Stanford in California and Aislin from McGill in Montreal.  Congratulations to you both!

Janine starts right away with a two-year program, Teach For America, teaching elementary school children (with English as a second language) in East Los Angeles.  Janine will concurrently be getting a Master’s Degree in Education at Loyola Marymount University.  We are thrilled that she will be able to teach these kids about the rainforest, it’s destruction, and then empower them to save it!

Aislin is currently doing her internship on sustainable agriculture in New Brunswick, Canada. After that they send her to her placement in either Cuba, Costa Rica, or Honduras and she will be assisting community- based projects working on biodiversity restoration.  Way to go ladies!!

Janine and Aislin were both raised in Manuel Antonio and saw the rainforest destruction first hand.  The area became very popular and more and more people wanted to build.  When they were just 9 years old they set up a roadside stand and sold items they made.  At first they used the money to buy chicken and pickles at Pickles Deli but then wanted to do something to save the rainforest with their money.  So they raised $80, which Janine’s mother matched, and they donated the money to buy 4 acres in the heart of the rainforest of Montezuma that would never be developed. Being very excited by what they had done, Janine’s mother agreed to drive them to Montezuma to see the land they had bought.

Once they arrived they looked up the organization that they had donated the money to, only to be told that they had no way of knowing if the money had been used for administrative costs or even where it had been used! They were young, still only 9 years old, and very sad.

On the way back in the car Janine’s mom gave them a solution.  They could start their own organization and make sure that every dollar donated would be accounted for.  So they started KSTR by adopting trees out to people and planting them where there needed to be reforestation.  They have kept track of every tree since then, and know where they all are, so if anyone wants to see their tree, they can go to the location of the planted trees to see it. After that they managed to get a loan and purchased 5 acres of rainforest in the middle of the rainforest in Manuel Antonio.  They sold each meter for a $1 to pay back the loan.  The piece of land was finally paid off last year!

They also had help from a group to find locations of where monkeys were being electrocuted or hit by cars, and through the years have successfully placed 130 bridges across the roads to help. KSTR now has a professional monkey bridge team that goes out monthly to fix bridges, put up new ones and monitor all of the bridges.  They also have monthly meetings with ICE to coordinate where branches need to be cut back from the live wires and to discuss any new electrocutions.  ICE sends out their cherry picker to help when needed.

Since this program was started 10 years ago, the Endangered Titi Monkeys population has more than doubled!

KSTR now has a wildlife rescue center with a full time wildlife vet and 2 helpers, last year they took in 120 animals for 26 species, with an incredible release rate of 55%!

KSTR also has a Wildlife Sanctuary for wildlife that can never be released, with over 30 monkeys.

The girls’ roadside stand has turned into a large Souvenir Store with 100% of the proceeds going to save the rainforest!  It is located in the Hotel Mono Azul.  (There is a 10% off coupon in Quepolandia if you want to check it out.)

Janine and Aislin also created the first public library in the area and it is still open today with more than 2500 books located right behind the KTR Store.

KSTR has a kid’s camp that meets for special events, like when the US Ambassador came to the area and wanted to meet with KSTR.

There are sister projects all over the world and chapters in other areas as well.

There is quite a lot to be proud of when it comes to these two girls who just turned 22!  We wish them both the best and can’t wait for them to come back and take over the projects as adults!

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Meet our members: Hotel Inn on the Park

June 21, 2011 · Filed under Uncategorized

Dear friends and supporters,

Thanks to the unconditional support of some local businesses we have been able to continue all of our programs. We are very grateful and would like all of you to know who they are:

Hotel Inn on the Park (http://www.innontheparkhotel.com/) is one of our new members. They cater for everybody’s taste with very nice, modern and fully equipped suites and junior suites, and if you want to bring your whole family, they even offer a large apartment. They are located at walking distance from the National Park, the beach and most of the popular restaurants, so we can leave the car at the parking lot and walk everywhere for a true relaxed vacation.

Hotell Inn on the Park has been supporting KSTR since may 2001 and their manager is a local who is very concerned about conserving the biodiversity of the area.

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Meet our members: Peace of Paradise

June 21, 2011 · Filed under Uncategorized

Dear friends and supporters,

Thanks to the unconditional support of some local businesses we have been able to continue all of our programs. We are very grateful and would like all of you to know who they are:

Hotel Peace of Paradise (http://peaceofparadisemanuelantonio.blogspot.com/2011/04/casa-paz-de-paraiso16-manue-antonio.html) is one of our new members. Our friends offer several houses and apartments for the long and short term tourist. All of them are different and range from rustic to modern, fully equipped and offer great views of the garden, the forest and the ocean. Their local staff is very friendly and will make you feel at home and will give you the best advice on what to do during your vacation.

Hotel Peace of Paradise has been supporting KSTR since May 2011 and thanks to their help we have been able to continue our kid’s camp, where young people from 6 – 14 years old learn about the rainforest.

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