By: Julius Gilbert, 11 years old
The following is a submission of one of our applicants to this year’s Chaa Creek Eco Kids Summer Camp.
Officially known as the Children’s Summer Camp Scholarship Program, the annual event gives 24 young Belizeans between the ages of 8 and 13 a chance to learn about their natural world through a mix of adventure, social interaction, fun and hands-on education aimed at instilling a sense of wonder and responsibility for the environment.
The Eco Kids are selected after submitting a 300 word written essay which is reviewed and shortlisted by the Chaa Creek scholarship committee with the winners going on to attend the summer camp.
Chaa Creek will be providing all lodging, three healthy meals and snacks each day, structured educational activities, arts and craft materials, tee shirts, 24-hour camp counselor supervision, and guided tours conducted by licensed naturalist guides.
Good luck potential Eco Kids!
Why I want to be an Eco Kid!
As an Eco conscious kid I practice conservation by doing things that should be done like if you are fishing you catch what you will eat, not what you don’t.
As an Eco conscious kid I practice solid waste management by not throwing trash all over the place and not picking it up.
As an Eco conscious kid I practice responsible tourism by not tramping on the Mayan ruins, the corals and on our coral garden.
As an Eco conscious kid I practice recycling by putting cans in the recycling bin and send it of to get recycled. When we go to the store and get plastic bags we reuse them for other things like garbage bags, and when we get boxes from the store we reuse them again for garbage.
I am very willing to be an Eco Kid because the environment is the most important thing to me.
When I get up in the morning I feed my dog and give him water then I eat my breakfast then I help rake the yard and use the leaves for a walkway for the tourist to see the bottom end of our caye, then I go to school.
Like I said the path is for tourists to see the end of the Caye. I want to help clean our environment so other people can appreciate it just like we do.