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

Home arrow About SCLC
About SCLC
Mission and Programs

History and Mission of SCLC

Founded in the mid-1990s by the Holbrook family and Selva Verde Lodge, the SCLC is today a fully independent US and Costa Rica registered non-profit organization. The SCLC’s mission is to link communities and conservation through education and ecotourism in the Sarapiquí region of Costa Rica’s northern lowlands. The SCLC is run by an executive director and a mix of local and international staff, both salaried and volunteer. An national and international board of directors works to support Costa Rica-based staff.

The SCLC focuses its efforts in four areas — environmental education, community development, conservation, and tourism — in order to help form future environmental leaders, raise the organizational capacity of local communities, promote sustainable land use, and connect tourists to the local community. Our programs serve hundreds of local people and thousands of ecotourists each year. These programs include environmental education, ecotourism activities, English classes, ecology club, community outreach, women’s group, high school scholarship fund, community census, and GIS mapping.

 
Board of Directors 2007-2009

polly.jpgPresident

Polly Hunt

Address: Denver, CO, USA

Occupation: Special Needs Social Program Coordinator

Connection with the SCLC: Volunteer in 2000, Executive Director of the SCLC 2001-2003, 2 term board member.

 

Vicepresident

Yahaira Rojas Duran

Address: Sarapiquí, Costa Rica

Occupation: Naturalist History Guide at La Selva Biological Station

Connection with the SCLC: Through her work in Sarapiqui and from giving talks to Elderhostel groups at Selva Verde Lodge, she got to know the SCLC.

 

guiselle.jpg

 

 

Treasurer

Guisselle Monge Arias

Address: San José, Costa Rica

Occupation: Investigative Biologist at the Tropical Scientific Center, Investigation and Conservation Project of the Green Macaw

Connection with the SCLC: Through the Green Macaw Project and the Biological Corridor Project San Juan-La Selva, the SCLC has been participating in both projects.

 

 

Secretary andrea holbrook.jpg

Andrea Holbrook

Address: Gainesville, FL, USA

Occupation: CEO of a travel agency

Connection with the SCLC: One of the original founders of the SCLC and continues to support the SCLC in various ways and roles.

 

fofo.jpgVoice 1

Rodolfo Alvarado

Address: Sarapiqui, Costa Rica

Occupation: Head Naturalist Guide at The Biological Station La Selva, leader of the local guide group ANASA

Connection with the SCLC: He was a Naturalist guide at Selva Verde Lodge when the SCLC was being created and he always has supported it in various ways.

 

 

 

 

christa.jpgVoice 2

Christa Dillabaugh

Address: Buffalo, NY, USA

Occupation: Environmental Education and Interpretation Consultant

Connection with the SCLC: She was initially involved as a coordinator of Holbrook's field based education programs and now as an independent consultant and second term board member. Her commitment to the SCLC stems from a deep belief in its mission - conservation through education. She is grateful for the opportunity to support this growing and vibrant organization.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Fiscal amos bien photo.jpg

Amos Bien 

Address: San José, Costa Rica

Occupation: Owner of Rara Avis in Sarapiqui, an ecotourism lodge

Connection with the SCLC: He met Bertha Carter, one of the original founders of the SCLC.

 

To contact any Board Members please click here

 
SCLC Staff

Maren Barbee, SCLC Executive Director p3010085.jpg

Maren Barbee was born in Costa Rica. Her parents’ from Long Beach, California enrolled her in a bilingual American International school from k-12 in San José, Costa Rica. Maren graduated from University of California San Diego in 2003 majoring in Environmental Systems focusing on Ecology and Policy. Throughout her college career and after, she focused on public outreach through different environmental offices as well as national and international non profit organizations, such as Environment California and EcoVentures International. She also worked as a naturalist guide and environmental education intern with the Patuxent Research Refuge in Maryland, part of the National Wildlife Refuge System in the USA. In June 2005, Maren returned to Costa Rica to work as an adventure guide and surf instructor. In 2006, Maren was hired as the Executive Director of the Sarapiquí Conservation Learning Center based on her bilingual and bicultural background, and experience working in education, public outreach, and tourism. She presently lives in Chilamate, Sarapiquí spending the majority of her time focusing on the SCLC and learning about the local flora.

 

Nicole foto.jpgEngel, SCLC Volunteer and Program Coordinator

Nicole Engel was born in San José, Costa Rica, and was raised just outside of Boston, Massachusetts. She graduated from New England College in New Hampshire with a degree in Sociology and focused studies on Community Development and Social Change. She began to find herself wanting to live in Costa Rica since she spent a study abroad semester in the country where she was born. Several years later, after moving to Costa Rica, she founded a small custom tour company from her home in La Virgen, Sarapiquí in 2006. In January 2008 she began working with the SCLC, excited to work on a local project in her home of Sarapiquí.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Yineth Zamora, SCLC Community Development Coordinator

Yineth Zamora was born in San Carlos, Costa Rica. She currently lives in the community of El Progesso, in Chilamate, Sarapiquí. For many years she worked with troubled adolescents providing activities to keep them entertained and off of drugs. In 2007, Yineth began working with the SCLC as the Community Development Coordinator linking communities with projects and assistance provided by the SCLC. She meets once a month with leaders from the 7 target communities to find projects that need assistance, and allow for exchange of experiences between the communities. She links visiting tourism groups with the community service projects at the time.

 

Delci Gonzalez, Manager of Reception

Delci González González is  married with three children (Marylin 11, Paula 6, Roy 2). She was born in San José from her parents, Rafael Angel and Marylin Gonzalez, being the youngest of 4 siblings. Her parents have lived in Bajos de Chilamate for 5 years, and this year Delci and her husband decided to leave San José and move to Sarapiquí in order to bring up their children in a safer and calmer environment. Her daughters go to Escuela Chilamate and participate in the children activities at the Center. Delci is building a home in La Esperanza in the hopes to stay in the area for a long time. When she is at work or studying level 3 English at the Center, her parents help take care of her children. Before coming to Sarapiquí she worked as an Administrative Asistant with DECOGIFTs (2005-2007) and Receptionist at National Learning Center (2004). Her goal is to study and work in Human Resources, and for the moment dedicate herself to work responsibly, honestly and with love.

 
Image of Target Communities

 Communities Served by SCLC

communitiesservedbycecos.jpg
 
[ Back ]
website & hosting donated by edenia.com