Maren Barbee, SCLC Executive Director

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 Engel, 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.