Welcome Letter

Dear Parents and Educators:

Earth Foundation, in conjunction with The Nature Conservancy, offers a unique opportunity for your students to get involved in helping to save two vital ecosystems through the Adopt an Acre project for rainforest conservation and the Rescue the Reef campaign for coral reef preservation.

The Nature Conservancy, it is the largest and oldest conservation group in the world. Forbes Magazine and USA Today rank it as one of the top charitable environmental organizations worldwide.

As the educational partner of The Nature Conservancy since 1992, Earth Foundation and thousands of our network schools have raised over $10 million (including matching funds) for rainforest conservation in 11 different countries and for coral reef preservation in the Florida Keys Marine Sanctuary, the Dominican Republic, Micronesia, Costa Rica, and Panama.

Our projects are designed to help students learn to be active participants in life rather than passive recipients. Students learn that they can change the world by working together and setting goals. Our network teachers say that it changes students' lives and gives them a positive focus.

We call it "character education in motion"; students call it "FUN"!
In fact, Nickelodeon featured our #1 school in the nation on "Nick News" in April of 1997. Our project was singled out by Nickelodeon because students were doing something positive to combat the destruction of the rainforest.
How does the project work? Network schools receive quality educational materials to help with their environmental studies. Each project kit contains both an interdisciplinary curriculum with hands-on lessons that promote critical thinking skills, and informative videos to take students "on a walk through the rainforest" or "on a dive into the deep blue sea."

After students have learned about the importance of the rainforest and coral reef, they and their families can help save these endangered ecosystems through the purchase of our environmental t-shirts, boxers and hats. Every 10 items purchased will save 1 acre in the school's name. In this manner, the average school saves 15 acres of rainforest!

But it does not stop there. Schools receive a Certificate of Adoption from The Nature Conservancy. Exceptional schools saving 20 or more acres/meters receive state and national recognition on our 20 Acre/Meter Club Poster that goes out to thousands of schools across the nation. In addition, 50 acre schools receive a 3'x5' personalized banner and a gift certificate for a pizza party! 100 acre schools receive a personalized etched glass trophy and are entered into a drawing for a free trip for one to Costa Rica for 10 days! 150 acre schools will receive a free trip for one to Costa Rica! This positive recognition gives students a true sense of achievement because they know they are the ones responsible for their school's success.

This year, the rainforest project will benefit Costa Rica's Osa Peninsula . Expanding agriculture, development, mining, logging and tourism threaten Costa Rica's last frontier. The Osa Peninsula is a sanctuary of lush rainforests that are home to scarlet macaws, jaguars, monkeys, pumas and sea turtles. Illegal logging, poaching and poorly planned development are endangering the forests while gold mining is causing severe water pollution and soil erosion. The Nature Conservancy and our other partners say we must act now if we are to save one of Earth's truly last great places.

So, don't look upon this as "just another fundraiser." It is our hope at Earth Foundation that our project will be one of the most memorable and learning-rich experiences for you, your students, and their families. Remember, your participation and support will engender a sense of community spirit and responsibility that will impact this generation for the rest of their lives.

Earth Foundation

If you are interested in having your school sell our t-shirts to Adopt Acres, click here to learn how to get started.