The Eco Kids Camp 2011 was comprised of 24 children from all over Belize who received a chance to visit Chaa Creek for an entire week to learn about Belize’s Biodiversity, the Ancient Maya, Traditional Healing, Land Conservation, Solid Waste Management, Responsible Tourism, and Belize Wildlife.

SUNDAY July 31, 2011 – This morning began like the seven before it as 24 sleepy headed eco-campers rallied to the 6:30 wakeup call and gathered round the fire hearth to commence their daybreak muster of liven up songs before breakfast.

SATURDAY July 30, 2011 – Wildlife includes all non-domesticated plants and animals, and fortunately for Belizeans, in Belize we are surrounded by nature. Today the Eco Kids learned about how important wildlife is and why they need to protect it.

With tourism growing around the world, communities are now realizing that they need their local wildlife not only for healthy ecosystems but because it provides great economic benefits.

FRIDAY July 29, 2011 – Today’s theme for the day was Responsible Tourism and Chaa Creek managers all participated in giving the eco kids a little lecture on the lodge’s ecotourism model and why responsible tourism is such an important feature for Belize.

THURSDAY July 28, 2011 – Solid Waste Management was the theme for the day and Chaa Creek’s Senior Naturalist Guide Brion Young decided to base the topic around the importance of the three R’s: REDUCE, REUSE and RECYCLE!

Meet Chaa Creek’s Eco Kids Camp 2011 councilors! From left to right they are: Salome Oliver, Shahira Mushcamp, Erin Manzanero, Jacquelyn Britt, Levi Baldwin, Jackie Fabro, Lorenzo Gonzalez and Peter Liang.

WEDNESDAY July 27, 2011 – The theme for the day was Land Conservation and after breakfast the councilors and eco kids headed to Chaa Creek’s Maya Organic Farm to learn directly from Mr Mick Fleming how to do composting, natural fertilizing, weeding, planting, watering and harvesting.

TUESDAY July 24, 2011 – Today’s post involves a journal of four eco campers that are bunk mates. In the picture from right to left, the eco campers are Elias Alamina from Belize City (Belize District), Alex Atkinson from San Pedro Columbia (Toledo District), Jaron Pakeman from St Paul Village (Belize District), and Giovanni Pinelo from Benque Viejo del Carmen (Cayo District).

MONDAY July 25, 2011 – Nothing sets the mood of the day better than an early morning hike and that’s exactly what the eco campers did today as they trekked to learn about the ancient Maya that once inhabited the area that now makes Chaa Creek.

SUNDAY July 24, 2011 – The morning wakeup call was at 6:30AM but with all the excitement, the eco kids were already up from before 6AM. The theme of the day was Biodiversity and Conservation which meant that a lot of hiking and exploring would be involved in today’s itinerary.

SATURDAY July 23 2011 – Today, twenty-four children from all over Belize arrived at Chaa Creek to commence this year’s Eco Kids Camp 2011.

The eco councilors alongside the camp sponsors, the Fleming family greeted the happy kids at 3PM for a quick orientation at the Macal River Camp which will be their home for the next eight days.

Yes, the competition entry essays have all been submitted and carefully read, and the winners have been selected. And now, 24 very lucky young people aged between eight and 13 years old will be taking part in an incredible opportunity to experience, up-close and personal, Belize’s beautiful natural environment while learning about how to help preserve this stunning national treasure and ensure its survival into the future.