Part II: Interview with Janine Licare, founder of KSTR

Part II: KSTR 11 years later

How has KSTR’s mission changed over the years?

Originally, our main goal with KSTR was to educate children about saving the rainforest and to empower them to feel that they really can make a difference. We taught kids locally at KSTR and sometimes had educational articles published in places like National Geographic for Kids. As those kids grew up, they became the next generation of people to make a difference especially with global warming and rainforest preservation. Back then you didn’t hear much about global warming or deforestation in Costa Rica; people just weren’t aware. The next generation has to 100% put a foot down and follow the 3 R’s: recycle, reuse, and renew.

Now, we are focusing more on children internationally, rather than just locally. We have gotten a lot of international publicity throughout the years, especially in elementary school textbooks for children around the world. Children were given assignments in school to write us letters in English asking us how they could help make a difference and save the rainforest.  We had sister organizations and children from around the world who contacted us and asked us how they could become a member and what they could do to make a difference.

In response we created the membership initiation that is still in place today. To become a member, a child has to do something to help save the rainforest. We provide a list of 10 different possibilities and the child had to do one of those things and write to us about their experience.

Aside from trying to make a difference with children, our mission has always been to help the titi monkeys. We do need help from primatologists and scientists as well and occasionally have groups come to study our animals and problems with disease, dying populations, etc.

Does KSTR have any activities specifically geared towards adults?

We are in the process of trying to reach out to adults. We do get people who come through Manuel Antonio who want to volunteer. When we have volunteers come in, they stay at the Blue Banyan Inn, our newest partner. They help out at the animal sanctuary on the Inn’s premises, which is run by Kids Saving the Rainforest. They have the opportunity to help raise and care for monkeys there and can also participate in planting and horticulture projects. They can also volunteer at our rescue center, cleaning cages, walking animals, and helping with reforestation efforts.

What’s the KSTR kids camp all about?

Initially the camp was held every Saturday during the summer, but now due to popular demand it’s held year round. Kids come in and learn about the history of KSTR and our efforts. Just as we did in the very beginning, the kids make arts and crafts–rocks, bookmarks, bracelets, and earrings–that are sold in the KSTR store. Each week there is a different lesson plan. It could be regarding an endangered species, or renew, reuse, recycle (the 3 R’s), or what happens to a plastic bottle when it’s not recycled but tossed into the rainforest or ocean. Sometimes we take them into the park and they distribute our “11 Reasons Not to Feed the Monkeys” pamphlets to visitors. The camp is from 9-12am, and we get everyone from local kids to foreign kids that are visiting to expats that live here. Any child age 6 to 18 can attend. We charge 2500 colones ($5) for a day at camp, which includes snack and transportation, and of course all proceeds go right back to help save the rainforest.

Part I: Interview with Janine Licare, founder of KSTR

 

Part I: A look back at KSTR

We were lucky enough to catch up Janine Licare recently back home in Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica where at 9.5-years-old she founded Kids Saving the Rainforest (KSTR) in 1999.

Tell me a little bit about the history of KSTR.

When KSTR started it was just my friend and I. We made and sold arts and crafts on the side of the road—painted rocks, paper mache, and hand-drawn bookmarks.

At first we didn’t know what we were going to do with the money that we earned from selling the arts and crafts. We saw that the rainforest all around us was being used to build hotels so we decided to donate the money we raised to buy property to help save the rainforest. We gave about $180 to one of those organizations that you see advertise at the beginning of movies back when there was VHS and no DVDs. The money was intended to save 4 acres of land. We had this great idea to go visit the 4 acres that our money went to, so my mom took us on a road trip across the country to visit the land. When we got there a representative from the organization told us that he wasn’t sure what they did with the money, that sometimes the money goes to the staff or administrative things and sometimes to caring for trees or any number of things.

We were devastated. We were these little girls who put our hearts and souls into making these paper mache vases—which in the humidity here takes forever to dry as you can imagine—and pet rocks and candles. Because of this we decided that when people donated to KSTR that they would be able to dictate where the money went specifically—to saving a tree, to putting up a monkey bridge, etc.

How did the rescue center get started?

The rescue center idea didn’t start until 2000. We hadn’t really thought about it before then. The only other rescue center at that time in this area was in the process of closing down. People started bringing animals to us because we already had this established rainforest protection agency. People kept bringing in baby sloth after baby sloth after baby sloth. We turned into a kind of sloth sanctuary. But we didn’t have a full time vet at that time, so we used a vet in town who mainly dealt with domestic animals. We had to figure out how to raise and care for the animals ourselves. We acted as their mothers. We helped them learn life skills, fed them by hand, and spent 24 hours a day with them.

Now that we have our full-time vet involved we know exactly how to care for the animals. We know precisely what goes on every day at the center with our animals. It’s immediate satisfaction to see the progress with the animals, and it’s so easy to care about a monkey or sloth.

A Day at KSTR’s Kids Camp

Planting trees at Kids Camp.

Are you visiting Costa Rica with your family and want to provide your kids with a unique educational experience? Check out KSTR’s Kids Camp held every Saturday at the Hotel Mono Azul, KSTR’s headquarters in Manuel Antonio. We host anywhere from 8-15 kids (locals, expats, and visitors) each week at our camp where the goal is to empower the future generation and help kids realize that they too can make a difference in the world today. Our kids learn the importance of the environment and what they can do to help protect the local rainforest and its inhabitants. We begin with a little bit about the history of KSTR and our efforts, followed by a different lesson plan each week presented by our camp leaders–for example, endangered species, renew, reuse, recycle (the 3 R’s), or what happens to a plastic bottle when it’s not recycled but tossed into the rainforest or ocean. Occasional field trips give our kids the opportunity to work hands on to help educate the public and save the planet. They may distribute our “11 Reasons Not to Feed the Monkeys” pamphlets to visitors at the National Park or learn about sustainable farming by planting fruits and vegetables at the nearby Blue Banyan Inn. During our arts and crafts time, the kids paint rocks, design bookmarks, and/or make bracelets and earrings, which are all sold in the KSTR store, where 100% of the proceeds are donated to help save the rainforest.

Camp is from 9-12am every Saturday, and any child age 5 to 18 can attend. A minimal charge of 2500 colones ($5) for a day at camp includes snack and transportation, and all money goes to further KSTR’s goals. Email us to sign up your kid today!

Mangos for the Monkeys

Volunteer Profile: Juan Carlos Monge Gogni, Manuel Antonio, Costa Rica

The day after the big storm in June that left Manuel Antonio without power or running water for 4 days, Juan Carlos Monge Gogni made his way down one of the steep, unpaved roads to the beach. There were broken trees everywhere and the road looked empty, he recalled, until he spotted one lone monkey sitting in a tree staring straight at him.

“He was making some noises and looked so sad like he was trying to tell me something,” Juan Carlos said. “He was fixated on me and I was fixated on him. His face was of something in distress, and I understood he needed help. It was like we were having a conversation.”

It was this event that led Juan Carlos to research how he could help save the monkeys. He began to plant mango trees that he had grown from seed in his backyard in the same area where he had his encounter with the monkey. Mangos are a popular food for monkey species living in the area.

Soon after, Juan Carlos reached out to KSTR and began volunteering at The Blue Banyan Inn, helping care for the monkeys in the sanctuary and putting his horticulture skills to further use, planting vegetable and fruit trees. The food will serve to feed not only the guests at the inn but also the monkeys housed at the sanctuary, and will further the inn’s goal of being a fully sustainable community.

Juan Carlos has also recruited two local teenaged boys to help work at the inn one day a week, building a labyrinth and tending to the nursery.

“I want to help the kids,” Juan Carlos said. “I want to educate them to respect their environment. Some kids can be so cruel. They don’t see the beauty and they don’t know how lucky they are. For them an ocean view, or a monkey, or a mango is an everyday thing.”

Johan Montero Erhas, one of the volunteers working with Juan Carlos, said his experience has been a good one and that he will definitely tell his friends about it to try to get them involved. ”I was very excited to get to work directly with the monkeys,” he said. This was his first time seeing a monkey up close.

The idea of volunteering is not a natural concept in Costa Rica, Juan Carlos explained, but the boys are showing interest in helping and have started asking questions about nature.

“Their first reaction when they found a bee or some insect was to kill it,” he said. “But it’s nature, you don’t need to kill it, I explained. The other day we were in the house and one of them tried to kill an insect and the other asked why kill it. They both looked at me like they were proud because they didn’t kill it.”

In the future, Juan Carlos hopes to open art school for children in the area that incorporates volunteer activities with KSTR. “I want to try to make the kids understand the importance of the animals,” he said.

Article on planting trees- by volunteer Zakk

KSTR Plants Trees in the National Park for Arbor Day!
By Zakkary Meroth

KSTR member since August 2004!

With editing by Pauline Hugger

In early May, I was at the Kids Saving the Rainforest Saturday Camp when one of the counselors pulled me aside and said that a group of 5th and 6th graders was coming to Costa Rica from a Montessori school in Chicago. I was like “Ok, so what does this have to do with KSTR?” Apparently, a lot. They were going to plant trees with us in the National Park. That day at camp, we made stuff to sell in KSTR’s gift shop; like post cards, bookmarks, and greeting cards. We also made rainforest designs for t-shirts which were going to be sent to a fashion designer in Ohio who sells shirts all over the world.
After snack we had a lesson on tree planting and made up some songs to sing along. Then we had lunch, nice hot delicious pizza! After this typically big camp day we all went home.
A small group of us went to greet the Montessori kids when they arrived in Manuel Antonio on May 20th. It was raining but the kids didn’t seem to mind getting wet. There were 16 junior high students, chaperones and parents having lunch at Tulemar. We just went by to say hi and pass out their KSTR
t-shirts for the tree planting. They did a lot of stuff during the week, like visiting the mangroves, Rafiki Safari, and butterfly gardens.
On the 26th of May, all of the normal KSTR kids had to get to camp at 7:30 A.M. We all helped get ready to finally meet all of these kids. At first I thought to myself,” Man, look at how white they are and they don’t look like they can lift a log.” But trust me I was wrong! So, we seated them in their spots and had some of the KSTR kids teach them the Ten Reasons Not to Feed the Monkeys. Then we had a lesson with the new kids about how to plant trees. We then headed off to the bus to go to Manuel Antonio National Park.
When we got to the park, the Park Rangers were there and ready to go. They handed
us trees and took a bunch of photos, then pointed us to the park entrance. We went into the park and went to our areas along the main path by the beach; the spots to plant the trees were marked with colored sticks. My group got the orange sticks. So then I put the kids to the test. I showed them how to do it for
real and then they did it. I cleared a spot, dug a hole, put the little tree in, covered the roots with dirt, sprinkled some fertilizer and packed it down. I was amazed at how well they were working. All together, there were like 55 people. We planted almost 200 trees in 2 hours and it was their first time! After that they were a little tired. So we went back to have lunch.
Later that night we went to dinner with them on the beach and played games with all of the kids. Then later they thanked us for their wonderful stay. We signed their shirts, took photos and said goodbye.
So, if you’re ever in the Manuel Antonio area and want to do something cool…COME TO THE KSTR CAMP!!!!!!!!!!

Article by volunteer- Amy

Local Kids Call Saturday Activities “Highlight of Their Week”

(Updated version of Amy Reudelhuber’s 2004 article)

What do mass amounts of Tic Tacs, hysterical laughter, and saving the rainforest have in common? Come and find out! Local kids have proven that it is possible to both make a difference and have a great time at our KSTR mini-camps, held every Saturday at Mono Azul. Activities include trips to the National Park to educate the tourists about not feeding the monkeys, making crafts to sell in the KSTR store, field trips, interactive education about the rainforest, lunch, and swimming! Who would have thought saving the rainforest could be so much fun?

“My favorite part about being a member of Kids Saving the Rainforest is seeing the other kids, and knowing that you’re making a difference,” says Grace Lindelien, longtime member of KSTR, “and I like going to the Park and seeing all the animals and people.” When asked what he liked best, her brother Neils responded eagerly, “Making stuff!” His very creative and often strange crafts can be seen on sale in the store. “It’s fun, and it’s often the highlight of my week, because I get to see all of my friends,” he added.

The Saturday activities are not limited to kids who live here, however. All young people aged 7-17 are welcome, and visitors often find it a very rewarding experience. KSTR’s mini camp meets from 9:00 AM – 1:00 PM. The cost is $20 per child. Lunch, snacks and a KSTR T-shirt are included. Swimming is from 12 – 1 PM so don’t forget a bathing suit and towel.

For more information about our KSTR Saturday activities, please contact us at 777-2592. We greatly appreciate knowing in advance if your child will be joining us.

You can also contact us at janine@kidssavingtherainforest.org for more information about KSTR’s latest and greatest projects!

We look forward to seeing your kids next Saturday. Just follow the sounds of laughter and the rattling of numerous boxes of Tic Tacs…

Article on setting up recycling program

Setting up a Recycling Program in your Hotel or Restaurant

Do you want to make your planet a better place to live? Do you want your children and grandchildren to inherit a cleaner earth? You can make a difference right in your own hotel or restaurant, as well as in your home. Setting up a recycling program is easy, and can save you money. Kids Saving the Rainforest has recently revamped their program, and we would like to help you develop a program of your own!

Aluminum can recycling saves 95% of the energy needed to make aluminum from bauxite ore. Energy savings in 1993 alone were enough to light a city the size of Pittsburgh for six years. .
Source: Can Manufacturing Institute

Making cans from recycled aluminum cuts related air pollution (for example, sulfur dioxides, which create acid rain) by 95%.

Source: EarthWorks Group’s- The Recycler’s Handbook

· Back on The Shelf in 90 Days: Truly recyclable, the aluminum beverage can returns to the grocer’s shelf as a new, filled can in as little as 90 days after collection, remelting, rolling, manufacturing, and distribution. That means a consumer could purchase basically the same recycled aluminum can from a grocer’s shelf every 13 weeks, or 4 times a year.

. Source: Can Manufacturers Institute

The Container Recycling Institute (CRI) estimates that the 36 billion aluminum cans landfilled last year had a scrap value of more than $600 million. “We are literally throwing money away when we don’t reclaim valuable resources,” said Pat Franklin, Executive Director of CRI. “Over the past twenty years we’ve trashed more than 11 million tons of aluminum beverage cans worth over $12 billion on today’s market. Some day we’ll be mining our landfills for the resources we’ve buried.”
Source: The Container Recycling Institute, April 11, 1997

· Glass containers saves 9 gallons of fuel (oil) for every ton of recycled glass.
· Glass containers are used for new glass containers, fiberglass insulation, road beds (aggregate), concrete block, and glassphalt (asphalt).
Source: Waste Management, Inc.

Recycling one glass bottle saves enough electricity to light a 100 watt bulb for four hours.
Source: ” Recycling and Buy Recycled Fact Sheets America Recycles Da

· Most bottles and jars contain at least 25% recycled glass.
· Glass never wears out — it can be recycled forever. We save over a ton of resources for every ton of glass recycled — 1,330 pounds of sand, 433 pounds of soda ash, 433 pounds of limestone, and 151 pounds of feldspar.
· A ton of glass produced from raw materials created 384 pounds of mining waste. Using 50% recycled glass cuts it by about 75%.
· We get 27.8 pounds of air pollution for every ton of new glass produced.
· Recycling glass reduces that pollution by 14-20%.

ource: The Earth Works Group Recycler’s Handbook

Glass that can be recycled includes all containers such as soda bottles, beer bottles, food containers and home canning jars

The standard technical term for plastic is PET: Polyethylene Terephthalate.

Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET) Municipal Solid Waste (MSW) Facts:
· Generated: 1.13 million tons or 0.54% by weight.

recyclers can’t get their hands on enough bottles. Jerry Powell, editor of trade journal resource recycling, figures about half of the industry’s existing capacity sits idle. That’s because more than half of the containers still go straight into landfills or incinerators, says Luke B. Schmidt, president of the national association for plastic container recovery, a group of PET container recyclers.

UnRecycleAble

Styrofoam – Polystyrene (# 6)

It is un-recyclable- you can’t make it into new Styrofoam. The industry wants you to assume it is- don’t BUY it!

Each year American throw away 25,000,000,000 Styrofoam cups .
The Green Consumer, 1990

Even 500 years from now, the foam coffee cup you used this morning will be sitting in a landfill.
Source: The Recycler’s Handbook, 1990

Article on reducing your secondary footprint

Tips to Reduce Your Secondary Footprint

When you buy goods – consider where they have been made and the materials and processes used to make them. Items that have high emissions in the manufacture or delivery should be avoided when ever possible. Things such as:-

1. Bottle water

Tap water is safe to drink in most European and North American countries, yet people still insist on buying bottled water. If the bottle is labeled as being from volcanic springs – you can bet that it has probably been imported from some distance. Imagine the carbon footprint of the flight / shipping of the water! And that’s before adding in the emissions due to making the bottle and / or recycling it.

2. Food and drinks from far distances

When you go to the supermarket, look at the label to identify which country the food is from. There is no need to buy New Zealand apples in the UK in the autumn – but people do!

Think twice about buying a bottle of wine from the other side of the world – you may be able to find much more local wine, which will have traveled far fewer miles.

Better still try growing your own fruit and vegetables in your own garden. Planting an apple tree will not only provide you with lots of fruit, with zero carbon footprint, but the tree itself with breath in carbon dioxide from the atmosphere – making these fruit effectively carbon negative!

3. Meat eating

Reduce your consumption of meat, especially red meat. 

4. Clothes from far off lands

Check the clothes labels before you buy. If they come from more than 1000 miles away, keep looking!

5. High packaged items

Avoid goods and services that have unnecessary packaging! Need we say more?

6. Traveling around

Use public transport as much as possible. Find out about your local bus services and then use it.

Here’s a list of simple things you can do immediately, which will start to reduce your contribution to global warming. The items in this list will cost you no money at all and will in fact save you money. 1. Turn it off when not in use (lights, television, DVD player, Hi Fi, computer etc. etc. …) Click here to find out which electrical items in your household are contribute the most to your Carbon Footprint 2. Turn down the water heating setting (just 2 degrees will make a significant saving) 3. Turn off lights, fans, and a/c when leaving a room. 4. Fill your dish washer and washing machine with a full load – this will save you water, electricity, and washing powder 5. Unplug your mobile phone as soon as it has finished charging 6. Defrost your fridge/freezer regularly 7. Do your weekly shopping in a single trip 8. Hang out the washing to dry rather than tumble drying it 9. Go for a run rather than drive to the gym The following is a list of items that may take an initial investment, but should pay for themselves over the course of 1-4 years through savings on your energy bills. 1. Fit energy saving light bulbs 2. Insulate your hot water tank, 3. Recycle your grey water 4. Replace your old fridge / freezer (if it is over 15 years old), with a new one with energy efficiency rating of “A” Travel less and travel more carbon footprint friendly. 1. Car share to work, or for the kids school run 2. Use the bus or a train rather than your car 3. Don’t use domestic flights (e.g. from London to Edinburgh), use a train or a coach. 4. Take the ferry or channel tunnel instead of flying to France 5. See if your employer will allow you to work from home one day a week 6. Next time you replace your car – check out diesel engines. With one of these you can even make your own Biodiesel fuel. Find out more about Biodiesel. 7. When on holiday – hire a bicycle to explore locally rather than a car 8. When staying in a hotel turn the lights and air-conditioning off when you leave your hotel room 9. Ask for your room towels and sheets to be washed every other day, rather than every day As well as your primary carbon footprint, there is also a secondary footprint that you cause through your buying habits. If you buy foods out of season at the super market, then these will have either been flown or shipped in from far away – all adding to your carbon footprint. 1. Reduce your consumption of meat 2. Don’t buy bottled water if your tap water is safe to drink (especially if it has been shipped from far away) 3. Buy local fruit and vegetables, or even try growing your own 4. Don’t buy fresh fruit and vegetables which are out of season, they may have been flown in 5. Try to buy products made closer to home (look out and avoid items that are made in the distant lands) 6. Buy organic produce 7. Don’t buy over packaged products 8. Recycle as much as possible 9. Think carefully about the type of activities you do in your spare time. Do any of these cause an increase in carbon emissions? e.g. Saunas, Health clubs, restaurants and pubs, go-carting etc. etc… In addition there is your footprint at work. Do you leave your computer and monitor on when you are away from your desk? Do you leave the lights on when you leave the office? Do you print documents unnecessarily – and could you print two pages to a side and double sided?

Article by co-founder

I write to you today to let you know, not so much about the organization, Kids Saving The Rainforest, (KSTR) but more on how it got started.KSTR is a 501 (C) 3, non-profit organization that was founded 7 years ago this month in 1999 by my best friend Aislin and me.

Here is our story:

Being the young kids that we were, we decided that we wanted to start making money all on our own.

We started out by making paper-Mache bottles and painted rocks as paper weights. We set up our little (but crazy-cute) roadside stand on a “recyclable” cardboard box, selling our items to passing strangers.
Although we made a couple of bucks of some random passerby’s, our intentions to save the rainforest had not yet begun.

Instead, we would take our earnings from our hard work to an ice-cream parlor/deli stationed right next to my friend’s house. Our main thoughts were – to INDULGE! Keep in mind though, that we were not your typical ordinary children. We took much more pleasure in eating the finer foods; Beef Stroganoff, pesto, sushi, or spinach, than your mere chocolate chip ice-cream. With this in mind, and a big smile on our faces, we would head over to the deli and order a roasted half chicken with a side of pasta/potato salad and a pickle to go. Who really needs a mango ice-cream sundae?

Now, you are probably wondering…. Soooo, where did Kids Saving The Rainforest come from if all these two girls would do is eat?

Well, the truth is, that after we had our fill of chicken (which only took a week or two), we decided that maybe our money could be used for something a little more useful; and living in an area with so much biodiversity, we decided we should probably do something to save it.

So my friend, there you have it! The real birth of KSTR, a story few knew, but many will now laugh about (hopefully!)

If you would like to know more about Kids Saving The Rainforest, PLEASE log onto our website at www.kidssavingtherainforest@org or visit our KSTR Souvenir Store where 100% of the profits go to save the rainforest. The store is adjacent to the Hotel Mono Azul, one mile from Quepos on the right hand side on the way to Manuel Antonio.

Tropically yours,

Janine Licare

Founder and Spokesperson

Kids Saving The Rainforest

Article on Tree Planting

Welcome to the rainy season in the rainforest! This time of year is great for Kids Saving the Rainforest because it is when we get to plant trees. We plant trees for anyone who needs to reforest or make corridors for the monkeys. If you would like to plant trees to help the monkeys on your property, please contact us. If you have workers that can plant the trees for you, we can drop the trees off. Just email us at Janine@kidssavingtherainforest.org in May or in June you can call us at 2 777 2592 for more information.And last but not least, if you would like to plant the trees yourselves, we can teach you how to do it.Below you will find information to help you to plant on your own!

Planting a tree:

1. Cut and clean the roots, then remove the weeds of the surrounding area where the tree is going to be planted, carefully using a machete to do so. The circumference of the hole should be about 20 inches.
2. Dig a hole the size that is needed to plant the tree, the roots should be completely covered but no part of the branches should be covered. Allow an inch above the roots to be planted but no further. Therefore when digging the hole you should see how long the roots are to see how deep the hole should be and be sure to make the hole is wide enough to accommodate the roots.
3. Carefully remove the plastic bag from around the sapling, making sure not to loose the dirt that is surrounding the roots of the tree.
4. Place the tree in the hole carefully, making sure the roots are extended and cautiously placed.
5. It is recommended to put a little dirt, a little fertilizer, (if you use more it will burn the tree so just use small amounts) and then fill the hole with dirt.
6. Pack the dirt well and make a little hill of dirt above the level of the hole so that the rains will compact the dirt. By packing the dirt well, rainwater can’t fill the hole with water, drowning the tree.
7. When planting trees that will be large as adults, it is recommended that you plant each tree 5 meters away from the next. If planting trees that will grow to be smaller, you can place them 3 meters apart from each other.
8. You can plant them in rows, 5 meters apart, if you are looking for a barrier to keep the winds out during a hurricane.
9. You can choose to plant them in rows of 5 meters, and the next row will be trees that are between the two and a half meters of each tree making it an uneven line.
10. The best time to plant trees is during the rainy season, the worst time is in the dry season.