2008 Woodie Awards
Showing Costa Ricans their rain forest
Students apply education to preservation
Zack Cinek
Issue date: 2/20/08 Section: Campus
Some children in Costa Rica lack easy access to the spectacular rain forests that make their country famous.
The Primate Conservation Club, started by Humboldt State University students, wants to help students at Piltas High School in Costa Rica see their rain forests.
Club leader Kat Fountain, an anthropology major, and club vice president Isabel Grande, a biology major with a minor in anthropology, wanted to do something to help primates here in Humboldt.
There was only one problem- humans are the only primates in Humboldt County, Grande said.
So Fountain and Grande began organizing the club, which just held the first meeting.
Previously in Costa Rica, Fountain was in the rain forest to research fruiting plants eaten by primates such as capuchin monkeys. While there, Fountain also met 12-year-old Costa Rican children who had not seen the rain forest.
"It upset and inspired me," Fountain said during the club's first meeting on Feb.12. About five people showed up for the club's first meeting, held in a dimly lit meeting room on the Humboldt State campus. Including Fountain and Grande, the club recruited about eight members in the week of its first meeting, and they want to attract more members.
Fountain wraps up her student days at Humboldt State this spring. Next semester, Grande will return to continue the Primate Conservation Club's quest to help high school students in Costa Rica.
Mary Glenn, Humboldt State anthropology professor, values the wonder of watching a monkey in the wild. When asked what it's like to see a monkey in its habitat for the first time, Glenn said, "It's amazing."
At the first meeting, members of the Primate Conservation Club talked about money-making possibilities. Options include selling soup and making t-shirts. The money raised will help the Primate Conservation Club achieve its goal of being an official nonprofit organization.
The Primate Conservation club currently runs as a grant writing operation. At this point, the Primate Conservation Club is working toward becoming an official nonprofit organization in Costa Rica. Paying a $400 fee to become an official nonprofit organization makes the club more appealing to grant givers. The club is open to the services of any interested grant writers, Fountain said.
The Primate Conservation Club, started by Humboldt State University students, wants to help students at Piltas High School in Costa Rica see their rain forests.
Club leader Kat Fountain, an anthropology major, and club vice president Isabel Grande, a biology major with a minor in anthropology, wanted to do something to help primates here in Humboldt.
There was only one problem- humans are the only primates in Humboldt County, Grande said.
So Fountain and Grande began organizing the club, which just held the first meeting.
Previously in Costa Rica, Fountain was in the rain forest to research fruiting plants eaten by primates such as capuchin monkeys. While there, Fountain also met 12-year-old Costa Rican children who had not seen the rain forest.
"It upset and inspired me," Fountain said during the club's first meeting on Feb.12. About five people showed up for the club's first meeting, held in a dimly lit meeting room on the Humboldt State campus. Including Fountain and Grande, the club recruited about eight members in the week of its first meeting, and they want to attract more members.
Fountain wraps up her student days at Humboldt State this spring. Next semester, Grande will return to continue the Primate Conservation Club's quest to help high school students in Costa Rica.
Mary Glenn, Humboldt State anthropology professor, values the wonder of watching a monkey in the wild. When asked what it's like to see a monkey in its habitat for the first time, Glenn said, "It's amazing."
At the first meeting, members of the Primate Conservation Club talked about money-making possibilities. Options include selling soup and making t-shirts. The money raised will help the Primate Conservation Club achieve its goal of being an official nonprofit organization.
The Primate Conservation club currently runs as a grant writing operation. At this point, the Primate Conservation Club is working toward becoming an official nonprofit organization in Costa Rica. Paying a $400 fee to become an official nonprofit organization makes the club more appealing to grant givers. The club is open to the services of any interested grant writers, Fountain said.
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