​Hi Queopolandia - belated happy easter!  It’s Dani, your spokeskid :)

Today I want to tell you about a new owl we received, named “Chill.”  I’m also going to tell you about an animal in our sanctuary called Grandma Bella!  And lastly, I want to give you an update about the nursery, and our intern position!

When I first started volunteering at KSTR, the second time I was there, I was going into her enclosure to give her her diced food - she jumped on my shoulder!  I tried to get her off, but she clearly wanted to hang out - and rode long with me while I fed the parrots!  Eventually, she got tired of the Dani Ride, so I took her back to her cage :)

UPDATE ON THE NURSERY!
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​We’re almost done building, and it’s time to start looking for interns!  We’re now accepting applications to help the Nursery Mom with care for the babies.

Click here for information on how to become an intern!

Hi Guys,it’s Dani, your spokeskid for KSTR!

Today, I am excited to share 3 stories about animals at the sanctuary with you - 1 about an animal who is there for good but very happy and has a girl friend, one about an animal fighting hard to get back out into the wild, and one very inspiring story about a friend of MINE who helped save an injured animal at KSTR.
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Darwin is a spider monkey who was rescued from someone who was keeping him as a pet, and introduced him to people alot. Darwin was aggressive towards people, and the pet owner asked KSTR to take him. Darwin continues to be aggressive towards people - but he has settled in very nicely at KSTR, and even has a roommate - or as I like to call her, a Girl friend (named Nina - who is also a spider monkey).

​Next is a Capuchin Monkey named Arfonzito, who was electrocuted and had damage to his tail. After trying to save his tail, the vets at KSTR had to amputate his tail to save his life. He’s currently recovering at KSTR, and he is trying hard to learn how to live (and move) without his tail, so that he can go back to nature, where he belongs!

​Now it’s time for the story I have been waiting to tell you! This is a very inspiring story about a tiny Oriole bird, who was found by a friend of mine named Richard (who also saved my life from a snake bite - but that’s another story for another time!). Richard is a very talented artist - and my dad and I keep up with him on Instagram even when we are not in Manuel Antonio (@ohh_my_richard). Richard found this Oriole injured when he was out for a walk, and he contacted KSTR right away. It was too late in the evening to bring him in, so Richard took good care of him overnight and then dropped him off in the morning with KSTR. From the way the Oriole looked and the damage to his body, it appeared he was attacked by a bigger animal and managed to escape. Now he is recovering at KSTR, and they plan to release him soon!

​Thanks for reading, and happy Easter! I look forward to sharing more stories in the future :)
Any donation to KSTR will help these and many other animals stay safe and be rescued when they are in need!

​Hi, This is Dani - your spokeskid for Kids Saving the Rainforest - or KSTR! 

First of all, I want to wish a very Happy 23rd Anniversary to KSTR!  It was started in February 1999, by two 9 year old’s, Janine and Aislin, and Janine’s mom Jennifer.
Next, I want to wish you a Happy Valentine’s Day!

​Today I am going to tell you about why the rainforest is so important for our planet, and our animals - and not JUST the ones in the rainforest.  In addition to all the beauty that exists, and animals that live in the rainforest, the rainforest also does a lot to help our environment stay healthy and clean.  

The rainforest has many big trees and lots of plants that take in tons of Carbon Dioxide and put out clean air.  If the earth’s atmosphere contains too much Carbon Dioxide, it will raise the temperature of the earth by changing our greenhouse gasses, and will harm animals that rely on the temperature, like Polar Bears, Penguins, and other animals that live in cold environments.

I’ve talked about this before - how we can limit our carbon footprint - like eating less meat/dairy, walking, biking, or skateboarding instead of driving, and not using so much energy by turning off lights when you’re not using them.  The rainforests we have now absorb about 50% of the Carbon Dioxide we make - and it’s important that we keep the rainforest trees and plants healthy so they can help save the environment and the temperature on earth stay great for all its inhabitants!
Did you know that KSTR has planted over 17,400 trees over the past 22 years?  Pretty amazing, right?
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Here is a picture of 2 of the Co-founders Janine and her mom, Jennifer, planting a tree.  It was taken 17 years ago!

​At the KSTR, we work hard to keep all the trees and to build our sanctuary around them - for example, we use natural fallen wood for the enclosures we build and the enrichments we put inside them!  We’d love to see you at the sanctuary for a tour and we can tell you all about what we’re doing to save the rainforest.  Check us out at www.kstr.org

- Dani

​So, after seeing that close call with the monkey family on the main road to the beach, my parents donated a wildlife bridge in Valle Pura Vida (where the old KSTR wildlife rescue center used to be!) My mom says it is the best souvenir she has ever got.

​The bridges are also great for another reason. Have you ever seen the monkeys run on the power lines? Well, that can also be very dangerous for them, as they can get shocked by high-voltage wires. If you ever see a loose wire- or hear it crackling when it rains, please call ICE so they can fix it! The KSTR blue ropes also help keep our little friends from being electrocuted.

On November 10th, 2021, CNN is holding the first-ever Call To Earth day. Celebrating a planet worth protecting, CNN is partnering with schools, individuals and organizations across the world to raise awareness of environmental issues and to engage with conservation education. This includes Kids Saving the Rainforest!
Join CNN on November 10 for a special day of coverage on TV, digital and our social media channels.

Dani, KSTR's spokeskid, put together a great video for Call To Earth Day. You can watch the video below!

You can visit CNN's Call To Earth page by clicking here.
To see how you can be part of this special day, you can click here.

​#CalltoEarth #PerpetualPlanet
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How to Practice Sustainable Giving in Your Community
By Victoria Smith

If you want to live your life peacefully, then the secret to it is giving. Nobody knows how long they would stay on the Earth; however, the time you spend here, make sure to utilize it in the right way. If you are planning to contribute to your local community, here are some tips that can help you contribute sustainably.

Homemade Products

So many of us have almost everything in our kitchens and sometimes the things we don't even need. You can utilize these things and make gifts for your community from the kitchen, and don't worry, as these gifts are always welcome. Everything made from scratch is sustainable yet heartfelt. Your effort and time, as well as your cooking talent, are just as valuable as that store-bought present that they may or may not require.

The time you spend in your kitchen is probably comparable to the time you spend shopping for gifts at the mall or online. Food is also a personalized present that has no bad effect on the environment and is also unlikely to go to waste. You can make jams and jellies in the summers and distribute them in your local community. Moreover, baked items are always welcome. Other than that, you can also make pickles and chutney.

If you have a home garden, then it’s good news for you; all you have to do is take a dehydrator and donate some sun-dried tomatoes, dried pears, free fruit leathers, and apple rings.

Pick Up Trash

Although it may appear insignificant, however, garbage and litter have a significant impact on a community, and removing them would definitely help the community sustainably. Garbage scattered in waterways or over a park is not only unattractive, but it also conveys the image that nobody really cares about the environment. And if an area is already littered, it virtually gives the green light for more trash to be thrown in. Volunteer to clean and pick up trash in your neighborhood if you want to make an immediate difference. You can start with picking up at least three things whenever you leave home. You could also participate in a scheduled clean-up activity once a month where you will gather trash in a group.

Donate to a Local Charity

It’s always a good sustainable way to help the community by giving items you don't use anymore - or, more precisely, trying to find new homes and owners for your old belongings. Other than the happiness of getting rid of your old stuff, the satisfaction you would feel for putting your share for the community would be amazing. The donation would give you a mixed feeling. However, most people just use charity shops to dispose of items they feel bad about discarding. Despite the fact that charity shops are overflowing with donations, only approximately 15% of what is donated is sold. If you're donating to your local community charity shop, make sure the item you donate is in the best condition. Ensure that it's not broken and absolutely clean and seasonally appropriate.

You can even contact them ahead of time to make sure what you're dropping off is what they really need right now. Although charity shops are a more convenient alternative, there are many other venues where you can give products to individuals in need. Look into joining a charity or donation group in your area. If you want to donate to kidney patients, you can head towards the national kidney foundation. It is a trustable charity for car donation in Utah.

How Can Donating Clothes Help the Environment?

You might be wondering how the donation of clothes can be sustainable. Recycling clothes, whether you believe it or not, helps the environment in an exact way as recycling plastic, bottles, or paper.

Giving of Your Time

If you don't have any money but have the passion for doing something for the community, then worry not, as you can also donate your time. Volunteering can take numerous forms, ranging from outdoor work to assisting with social media. It might be a long-term commitment or a one-time project as needed.

You can either assist in a well-established organization or work for a small local group; if not both, you can even work for an individual.

Conclusion

There are so many ways you can give and contribute to the community sustainably. You can start with the ways we have mentioned above!

4 Eco-Friendly Ways to Get Rid of Junk
By Regina Thomas

​Everyone needs to rid themselves of junk from time to time. You must be wondering how to get rid of things in a way that does not hurt the environment. Here are four ways to be friendly to the environment while still getting rid of old stuff. The paths to helping the planet while dumping junk are donating, selling, recycling, and reusing your old things.

Donate
Donating is a rewarding and honest path to getting rid of items you do not want to hang onto anymore. There is someone out there that desperately needs the thing that you want to toss in the trash. With a bit of extra effort, you can ensure that your junk makes it to that someone. You can do a lasting thing in someone's life merely by donating your used items to charity instead of throwing them away. Also, the environmental impact of this form of recycling can be tremendous.

Suppose you have a used car that you want to donate. You may be wondering how to find one of the reputable car donation charities. You do not want your car to go to a bogus charity. Donating a vehicle is both thoughtful and generous. It also saves you money on your taxes, which can be a boon. Still, the internet is full of false charities that will take your car without helping anyone. Do a little digging into the charity you are considering and consider the ramifications of your donation before you part with your vehicle. You need to ensure that you do not give more thought to getting rid of your junk than you do to your charity efforts.

Sell
Selling your old things can be a lucrative path to earning a little extra cash apart from work. Everyone has old items that they are not using anymore. The environment stands to gain from selling them to somebody who will still use them. You do not always need to spend more money to be friendly to the environment. Instead, you can sell your unused things to a home they deserve in this promising form of recycling. You might not know already, but reselling using items you are not using is a fantastic way to help the environment during this troubling time for nature.

Recycle
The most common idea people have about how to help the environment is also a fantastic way to get rid of your junk. Recycling helps the environment by reducing the number of new products that damage the earth going into circulation. You can do your part by putting your old junk items into the recycling system instead of the town dump. Many things you want to get rid of you can also recycle. If you put in an honest effort to learn about what you can recycle, you will find that you can get rid of a plethora of things while putting pollution in its place.

Reuse
You may feel it takes a herculean effort but reusing old things may be the most straightforward path to getting rid of old junk. If you have clothing that does not fit anymore, check if your family or friends have a home for it. If you want to remove clutter around your house, try putting some items into storage instead of the trash. You may find yourself nostalgic later for some of the things that you would dump today. Also, if you genuinely want to be rid of something, you may find that you know someone about to buy one at the store. You need to remember that one man's trash is another man's treasure.

You can make a fundamental change in the local and global environment by putting a genuine effort into positively rid of old things. Every little bit of help makes a difference to the state of the world, and helping the environment is no different. You can do your part to help the earth by donating, selling, recycling, and reusing old junk instead of parting with it. A bit of energy and effort into thinking about ways to get rid of things in an environmentally conscious way will help the environment more than you might imagine. If you actively try to help the earth, you will find that you have made a difference that lasts on it.

We are so honoured that our former intern, Brooke Novotky, and her TEAM UNLEASHED Suburban K9 has chosen KSTR as their charity to receive $1500 if they can win against the other teams in this STEP CHALLENGE!🏃‍♀️
It’s time to break out those walking shoes, the 2021 Suburban K9 Step Challenge is finally here!! 👟👟
The company has divided into four teams and these four teams are competing against each other for their non-profit organization. The team that has the most steps by the end of next 21 DAYS, will win the $1,500 check to donate to their organization!!!

HOW TO DONATE YOUR STEPS:
1. Screenshot Your Steps for the Day
2. Pick Your Favorite Team/Organization (TEAM UNLEASHED for KSTR)
3. Share That Screenshot and Selected Team in the Comments of their FACEBOOK Page!
4. Repeat!! (One Entry per Day, Each Day We Will Create a New Post for You to Submit Your Steps)

Thank you TEAM UNLEASHED for choosing KSTR! ♥️
Check out this great group offering amazing services with dog training.
https://www.facebook.com/Suburban.K9
https://suburban-k9.com/suburban-k9-gives-back