Eco Kids Camp Day 7: Belizean Wildlife & Final Farewell
We’ve made to the last day of camp. It felt like just yesterday the eco kids had arrived.
It was a misty morning with grey clouds above, hearing the birds echoing throughout the jungle.
The eco kids woke up and got ready for the morning muster with Mr Levi as he explained the last day of activities. By now the campers knew almost all the songs from their song books. With excitement they took turns picking songs that would guarantee a bit of teasing and laughing. One of their favorite lines from the song Shine Eye Gyal was a “A shine eye gyal is a trouble to man.” Singing this song they pointed at each other bursting out loud in laughter.
There after the troopers stormed the dining hall to have breakfast, the camp’s kitchen served a combo of pan cakes, french toast along with eggs and beans. It sure was a tasty meal that made the campers happy. Sitting at their tables you could hear some of them recounting the earlier day’s adventures and what they enjoyed the most.
With their empty plates and tables cleaned, they began with their last arts and craft projects. They made hand bags out of old news paper and strings. Back home they will be able to use their bags when going grocery shopping instead of using plastic bags that has become a problematic by pollutants in our parks, streets, and yards.
After putting awat their beautiful hand bags they grabbed their journals and began studying notes from all the educational activities the days prior. It was time to play a game of Jeopardy. Different columns with points from 100 – 500 were placed under each category with questions underneath; Biodiversity, Ancient Maya, Land Conservation, Solid Waste Management and Traditional Healing. The campers went at each other brain storming what they learnt until all the questions were picked. After the final tally their was a tie between the Jaguars and the Toucans. Eventually it was settled with a game of Rock, Paper, Scissors at which the toucans came out on top.
The time had arrived for the last presentation at the Belize Eco Kids Summer Camp 2019. For this presentation the kids marched to conference room at the lodge, presenting was Ms Sarah from the Belize Raptor Center.
Ms Sarah spoke about the importance of protecting raptors and the special role they play as natural pest control. She then brought out three raptors so the kids could get a close up look at the wonderful birds. The eco kids were amazed as they brought Maya an orange-breasted falcon, believed to be the world’s fasted animal.
There after Ghost, a barn owl was showed to the kids. Ms Sarah explained various myths the some people have about barn owls giving them a bad rep. One of the myths was people believing that the barn owl flew away with children.
They last raptor to be brought out was a beautiful spectacle owl named Luna. The children admired here bright yellow marble eyes as she stared at them.
The presentation finished with the kids taking turns labeling the body of a falcon.
There after the little troopers had lunch at the lodge and later went to the eco pool for the last day of splash fun.
That evening the campers got ready for supper back at camp. They sat with all the tables joined together for the final supper. Every one enjoying their barbecue with cake for dessert. But this time it wasn’t Levi’s cake, this cake was in celebration of birthdays, Jayden’s and Sean’s. There after they all formed a circle and played some classic games and rehearsed their songs and skits for the next day’s final act. With music playing and glow sticks out it was party time. They took turns on the dance floor until it was time for bed.
That marked the end of the best week of the year at the Belize Eco Kids Summer Camp 2019. What an immense privilege to spend a whole week in the jungle with twenty three other kids having so much fun learning and collecting memories that will last a lifetime.
More photos of day 7:
Photos courtesy of Nadir Price Photography