Organization: The Cloud Forest School Foundation

Focus Areas:	Children, Education, Environment
Countries Served:	Costa Rica

Description of Services:
The Cloud Forest School, or Centro de Educacion Creativa as it is known locally, is a bilingual school that offers experiential instruction that integrates environmental education into its curriculum. Students from preschool to 11th grade study biodiversity and conservation. By taking responsibility for the school's environment and learning the basic skills of land stewardship, our students gain the knowledge, tools and passion to become environmental advocates. A child-centered teaching style helps to develop problem-solving and creative thinking skills in children,better enabling them to meet the challenges that life brings their way.
History:
In 1989 five young parents representing both North American and Costa Rican cultures began searching for relevant, lasting answers to overcrowded schools and the environmental crisis. Late in 1991 the CFS began Kinder and Prepa classes for 28 children on Yvonn and William Vargas' land in Monteverde. In 1992, The Nature Conservancy of the United States leased 106 acres to the CFS. This was part of the newly-conceived "Ecological Easement" concept, promoting private protection of property in perpetuity. In 1993 The Cloud Forest School Foundation, a 501(c)3 was set up to provide outside support from the United States. The Foundation raised the funds to purchase the land from The Nature Conservancy in 2000.
Accomplishments & Progress:
Through the years, a tremendous amount of work has gone into the creation of our school. Hundreds of parents, teachers, volunteers, and donors have created this miracle on our mountain, making a major contribution to the children, families, and our forest home. We celebrated our first graduating class in 2005. We currently serve 200 children, pre-school through 11th grade. In 2002, CFS obtained Utilidad Publica, the first private school in Costa Rica to obtain this status. This means that the school is a community focused school, serving not only students but the community at large. We support this title through community service projects, parent education workshops, and mutual resourcing with local schools.