Support Overview

The goal of the school is to keep tuition as low as possible to ensure that as many area children as possible have a chance to attend the school. By educating the children of Monteverde about the diversity and importance of the cloud forest, we work to ensure that they will learn to value and preserve this endangered ecosystem. Much of Costa Rica's forests have been lost to agriculture and this loss of forest is threatening many rare and unique species of flora and fauna. Monteverde alone has over 3,000 flowering plants and ferns and 500 species of orchids - all of which play a vital role in supporting the rare butterflies, birds and mammals found here.

But we can't do this alone. Here are ways you can help:

• Have a coffee tasting using Rainforest Alliance Certified coffee. Coffee grown under trees tastes better, uses few or no pesticides, and protects the forest and its wildlife (especially birds). At the tasting have people sign postcards asking local retailers to carry the Rainforest Alliance Certified brands.
• Sell products from the rainforest that are harvested sustainably.
• Slide shows, video/film shows, lectures, plays, concerts, etc. with a rainforest theme whereby tickets are sold or donations are requested.
• Spell-a-thon, run-a-thon, roll-a-thon, bird-a-thon, faun-a-thon and/or others you create whereby pledges are solicited from prospective donors.
• Contests: Produce a game show like "Jeopardy," with environmental themes and a prize to the winner, have a tree free paper airplane or kite making/flying contest, etc.
• Raffles: Kids love to sell chances.  Offer a modest commission or a party at the end for great results.
• Hold a Dance: Decorate an auditorium, gym, or other space like a rainforest.
• Auctions: Have an entertaining sale of donated items or services.
• Have a garage/yard sale to sell used books and other donated items.
• Rainforest tour: Build a rainforest in your classroom and give a tour to the rest of the school. Raise money by selling snacks donated by parents.
• Have a pancake breakfast.
• Have an Environmental Art Exhibition to display and sell student artwork created from from recycled materials.
• Bake sales: Make cookies shaped like monkeys, toucans, blue morpho butterflies, or other rainforest animals.
• Make trail mix to sell. 
• Have a car wash.
• Have a bottle and can refund drive.
• Have a penny/loose change drive.
• Place a box in your school for donations.  Visit our wishlist for suggestions of needed school supplies.

Plant a Donation – Through our Plant a Donation program you can support our school’s reforestation efforts by sponsoring trees to be planted in the cloud forest.  Our students are intimately involved with reforestation; and we are the largest reforestation agent in the area.  Our integrated curriculum ensures that our students spend at least a quarter of their time in the rainforest learning about the diversity in which they live.

Building Fund – When the school began, we moved onto a former dairy farm: a barn with stalls and the “main” farmhouse.  Over the years, we have added new classroom buildings to accommodate our growing student body.  To see photos of our most recent building for our 5th, 6th and Spanish classes click here.  We will be taking a break from construction over the next few years to concentrate on strengthening our core curriculum, and faculty benefits. However, stay tuned for upcoming projects.

Scholarships - Over 65 percent of our students receive significant scholarships because their families earn less then $500 a month to support a family of four. Every year we have a caminata (walkathon) to help raise money for scholarships.

CFS Foundation - Donations from the United States are given to the Cloud Forest School Foundation, a U.S. based not-for-profit 501(c)(3) that was founded in 1993 to support the Cloud Forest School The Cloud Forest School Foundation is located in Sewanee, Tennessee and is made up of nine volunteer board member Contributions can be sent to.  The Cloud Forest School Foundation, PO Box 3223, Sewanee, TN 37375

Poster Sales – We have been fortunate that many talented people have donated their time and skills to our school. The poster was donated by the artist, Charley Harper; and funds raised from the sale of these posters benefit our annual operating budget.

Wish List – Please look over our wish list, especially if you plan on visiting our school in the near future. We could use some courier help. If you are in Monteverde, please stop in to see us.