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 Immerse yourself in 3,400 acres of tropical rainforest, breathtaking views of endless mountains, the world’s largest nocturnal-ambience frog habitat, wild flora and fauna, a zipline tour through the rainforest canopy, amazing waterfalls and the chance to work side by side with researchers from the
University of Costa Rica as they work to protect and
understand the biodiversity of Costa Rica’s rainforests.
Now that’s an EcoTeach classroom!
EcoTeach travelers will also have the opportunity to participate in the first conservation project involving amphibians in Veragua
Rainforest and the first of its kind in Costa Rica and Central America.
The project will focus on two critically endangered species of frogs and
will attempt to establish artificial breeding sites within the forest,
mimicking the natural breeding sites. EcoTeach travelers will help track
the number of frogs colonizing the breeding sites, the number of
deposited egg masses and the level of predation. They will also record
temperature, relative humidity and rainfall to cross- reference with the
species' behavior and activity levels.
Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park is located near the Caribbean town of Limon and was developed in 2004 by a group of local Costa Ricans. The park was born out of a passion for conservation and a desire to promote education and respect for the environment while introducing sustainable development opportunities to surrounding communities.
Innovative Fundraising: Canines for Kids Dog Walk!
 We first visited Costa Rica in 2006 and couldn’t help but fall in love with the country and its culture. We arrived home with a burning in our bellies to do something to reward local Costa Ricans for their dedication to nature, love of peace and friendliness to strangers.
We decided to focus on local Costa Rican children and their schools. It took some research to figure out how to get money to Costa Rica but once we connected with the EcoTeach Foundation, it all came together. The EcoTeach Foundation supports locally-managed environmental conservation and cultural preservation programs in Costa Rica. It encourages sustainable practices through the provision of equipment, volunteers, independent donations, and local revenue generated by visiting EcoTeach student groups. Now, we were ready to start raising funds.
In 2006, we started a fundraiser called
Canines For Kids Dog Walk and have held four annual walks. So far, we’ve raised $14,905 and have provided a new roof, new floors and school books for a local school in Costa Rica and even purchased new water storage containers for Estacion Las Tortugas, a sea turtle conservation project on the Caribbean coast.
It's easy and fun to coordinate your own Canine For Kids Dog Walk?
Gather up your friends and their furry friends and you’re ready to start! While other organizations have “runs” or “walks” where humans raise money, we let our dogs do the walking for us. We get together and take the pooches for a one mile walk (that’s actually seven canine miles) and each dog raises money. We encourage our dog sponsors to write checks payable to the EcoTeach Foundation so they are tax deductible. (However, we’re always happy to take money in any form.) This is a home grown fund raising activity and we make up the rules up as we go along.
It’s just that simple. For anyone who shares our passion for Costa Rica and the EcoTeach Foundation's efforts to improve the schools and education of her youth, this would be a great way to do it. We’d both love for you to steal our idea and run (or “Walk”) with it.
Please feel free to contact us at k94kids@aol.com if you have any questions or thoughts. We’d love to be a part of anyone’s very own Canines For Kids
Dog Walk!
Dave & Susi Cleveland, Albany,NY
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Connect, Share & Stay Informed
Want to stay connected to EcoTeach? Get inspired about our destinations here!
Join a Summer 2011 Trip
Check out our Educator Trip for only $995 (airfare not included) or our
Volunteer Vacations for adults and families!
Educator Trip
Volunteer Vacation
Family Adventure
College Student Trip
Did You Know?
 The perfectly conical, Arenal Volcano, slept peacefully throughout the colonial era (and was even referred to as Arenal Hill) until the July, 1968 earthquake awakened it from its sleep. The earthquake was felt as far away as Boulder, CO.
Today, it is regarded as one of the world’s most active volcanoes with constant eruptions and lava flows. On almost any day, you can see smoking cinder blocks tumbling down the steep slope from the crater that opens to the west or in the evening, watch lava flow from the 140 ft deep crater.
Come See Us in California!
EcoTeach will be exhibiting at two conferences in Northern California in
March.
California Association of Independent Schools
March 7, 2011
Head-Royce School in Oakland, CA
NSTA National Conference
March 10-13, 2011
San Francisco, CA - Moscone Center
EcoTeach Booth #1007
Check out our NSTA workshop too!
EcoTeach and Veragua Rainforest – Biodiversity of Costa Rica
March 12, 2011 from 4:00pm – 5:30pm
Moscone Center – Room#110
Presented by Greg Enright, Owner of EcoTeach and Rocio Lopez, Director of Veragua Rainforest Research & Adventure Park.
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