Home - Sarapiqui Conservation Learning Center

Get the Flash Player to see this player.
Flash Image Rotator Module by Joomlashack.
Image 1 Title
Image 2 Title
Image 3 Title
Image 4 Title
Image 5 Title

Support SCLC

Become a Member

Be a Scholarship Donor

Material Donations

Donate Now !

Special Thanks

Reserve a Tourism Activity

SCLC Resources

Home

SCLC Welcomes New Team of Volunteers

Don't forget to check out our SCLC blog! Visit www.SCLCseeds.blogspot.com to gain insight into the adventures of what it is like to volunteer in the tropical rainforest of Costa Rica and be sure to keep your eyes peeled for upcoming updates from our new volunteers.

As 2010 rolled around so did a new team of volunteers. Leah Josephson joined us from Saint Paul, Minnesota and is our Level 1 & 2 ESL teacher and Scholarship Coordinator. She is busy everyday communicating with the Scholarship students and their sponsors, finding new donors, and planning for her daily classes. She graduated from Simpson College in Iowa and later received her TEFL certification in Barcelona where she helped begin an English Language School for business professionals. Heidi Gramlich has moved from Fort Ann, New York and is our new ESL Coordinator. In college she majored in ESL at SUNY Oswego University in NY and is taking time to volunteer in Sarapiqui before returning to the states to study for her PhD.

Lee Caldwell is our Ecotourism volunteer and is from Forsyth, Georgia. We are right in the middle of high season for tourism so Lee will be busy helping Kattia (the Ecotouism and Community Development Coordinator). Joanna Colon has joined us from New York, NY and is our After School Program Coordinator...she will be working with not only Chilamate this year, but also with Cristo Rey and Linda Vista. She decided she wants to touch as many childnren's minds and hearts as possible.

Our short term volunteers have been great additions to the center. Anne Louise Carney came to the center for 5 weeks and worked with ´Las Morphas´. Las Morphas is a women's group that comes to the center to make their jewelery and crafts and then sell them in our artisan gallery. She taught the women how to felt so that they could sell different products. They loved ´Ana´ and still ask about her daily. Casey FitzGerald has just joined the team as our short term volunteer. He came as a birder but we found out he has MANY other talents as well. He will be working in the schools here on any projects that are needed from a 'handy man'. He will also be coordinating the weekly Bird Club.

GIS Course: BIG SUCCESS

At the end of May, the SCLC was privileged to offer a three-day workshop on Geographical Information Systems (ArcGIS Desktop II) conducted by GIS professional Heather Milton. Twelve participants including university students, biologists, geographers and resource managers took part in the 3 day course. Upon completion of the course, the participants received an ESRI Certification of Completion, which counts toward the GSIP status from URISA GIS Professionals certification program. By the end of the GIS course the students could manipulate database and spatial information to create maps, collect data from existing images and database, and use the new technology in their conservation work. All the students were very satisfied with the course. The SCLC hopes to have similar opportunities available in the future.

Preserving Biodiversity, Ecosystems, and Habitats

As part of the SCLC’s high school scholarship program, local students of Sarapiqui are involved in different activities supporting conservation measures and environmental education. On March 28, 2009, the younger portion of the Scholarship students participated in a hike to visit an Alemendro tree that was approximately 620 years old. The nature walk was co-lead by Colombian Forestry Engineer student, Mauricio Molina and SCLC director Andrew Rothman. Different themes were discussed in an open dialogue throughout the hike and the tour proved to be an educational experience for everyone involved. The students continued to develop their knowledge about the importance of land conservation as well as learned firsthand about the significance of interrelated themes such as biodiversity, wildlife identification, sustainability, ecosystems, and different habitats of an array of species. Mauricio and Andrew discussed different species of trees and plant life, various types of soil, native birds, as well as the interdependence of ecosystems and the vital role biodiversity plays in the survival of each species. Overall the students were able to grasp the concepts of conservation and understand their individual parts to contribute to ecological sustainability for the future of Sarapiquí.