Building Brighter Futures Together
Some of the most meaningful traditions are not measured by how long they have existed, but by the lives they quietly touch year after year. At The Lodge at Chaa Creek, one such tradition returns every summer as children prepare to begin a new school year. While backpacks and school supplies are at the heart of the initiative, what truly brings everyone together is a shared belief that every child deserves to begin the school year feeling encouraged, supported, and excited about the future. Chaa Creek has proudly carried on its Chaa Creek Cares initiative that donates 5% of room revenue to community-first initiatives that help activities like this happen.
This year’s Back-to-School Initiative, held in partnership with The Laddie Foundation, welcomed families from the neighboring village of Corozalito for a day filled with laughter, games, snacks, meaningful conversations, and the simple joy of spending time together. Throughout the morning, children eagerly explored their new backpacks while parents, volunteers, and community members shared stories and caught up with friends and neighbors. By the end of the celebration, 38 primary school students had received backpacks filled with essential school supplies, helping them begin the academic year with confidence.
More Than Neighbors
For Chaa Creek, Corozalito has never simply been the village next door. It is a community that has grown alongside us for decades, and one that remains deeply connected to our own story. Many of our staff members call Corozalito home, while countless others have watched generations of children grow from curious youngsters into young adults building lives of their own.
That connection makes this annual gathering deeply personal. We have the privilege of watching these children grow up, celebrating their milestones and witnessing the remarkable young people they become. Each year, seeing familiar faces return just a little taller, a little more confident, and ready for another school year serves as a reminder that community is built through relationships nurtured over time.
The backpacks are important, but they are only one part of the day. Equally meaningful are the conversations shared between neighbors, the laughter echoing through the community, and the opportunity to spend quality time together. These moments strengthen friendships and reinforce the sense of belonging that has always existed between Chaa Creek and the Corozalito community.
A Legacy That Began with Gratitude
Long before the initiative became an annual community event, it began with a thoughtful idea from Chaa Creek’s Naturalist Guides. Having developed close relationships with families in Corozalito through years of living and working together, they recognized that preparing for the new school year could be a financial challenge for many households. Wanting to help, they began collecting school supplies and delivering them directly to local children.
What started as a modest act of kindness gradually evolved into a cherished tradition.
Over the years, that tradition was embraced and championed by Lucy Fleming, co-founder of The Lodge at Chaa Creek, whose lifelong belief in community-first tourism has shaped countless educational and social initiatives throughout Belize. Lucy has always believed that tourism should create lasting opportunities for local people. That success is measured not only by the experiences guests enjoy, but by the positive impact those visits have on neighboring communities.
Today, the Corozalito Back-to-School Initiative stands as another chapter in that legacy a reflection of decades spent investing in education, nurturing community relationships, and creating opportunities for Belize’s future generations.
A Shared Commitment with The Laddie Foundation
This year, The Laddie Foundation proudly joined the initiative, bringing together two organizations united by a common purpose: creating brighter futures for Belize’s young people.
Established to honor the life and legacy of Laddie Gillett, the Foundation continues to support youth through education, mentorship, sports, and community development. Its partnership with Chaa Creek reflects a shared understanding that lasting change begins by investing in children and ensuring they have access to the tools and encouragement needed to pursue their dreams.
Together, the initiative serves as a reminder that meaningful community development is built through collaboration, compassion, and a genuine commitment to helping others succeed. The morning event, held on a beautiful sunny July morning, was filled with games, including musical chairs, tug-of-war, lime and spoon, sack race, and even a friendly football match, as we move away from the FIFA fever of 2026! Winners of each game received gifts that were donated by Belizean businesses that joined the cause, such as Mirabs, Gitz, New Flags, Bowen & Bowen, NL’s Tortilla Factory, and Caribbean Chicken.
Every Guest Can Become Part of the Story
One of the most rewarding aspects of this initiative is knowing that our guests play an important role in making it possible.
If you are planning to visit The Lodge at Chaa Creek, we warmly invite you to consider bringing school supplies with you during your stay. Donations are welcomed throughout the year, not just during the back-to-school season, allowing us to continue supporting children and families whenever needs arise.
Whether it is a backpack, notebooks, pencils, crayons, calculators, rulers, or art supplies, every contribution becomes part of a much larger story. These supplies are carefully collected and distributed within our neighboring communities, helping children begin each school year with the resources they need to learn, grow, and dream.
It is a simple gesture that travels far beyond your suitcase and becomes an investment in Belize’s future. Contact us at reservations@chaacreek.com or our front desk manager personally in charge of this event, Lydia, at frontdeskmgr@chaacreek.com to donate.
Community-First Tourism in Action
For more than four decades, Chaa Creek has believed that tourism should leave destinations stronger than it found them. Protecting Belize’s extraordinary natural heritage has always gone hand in hand with supporting the people who call this remarkable country home.
The Corozalito Back-to-School Initiative is one example of what that philosophy looks like in practice. It is not defined by the number of backpacks distributed or photographs taken, but by relationships that continue to grow year after year. It is found in children who know their community believes in them, in parents who feel supported, and in guests who discover that their vacation can contribute to something far greater than memories alone.
As another school year begins, we celebrated 38 students who proudly carried home new backpacks, as well as the spirit of generosity, friendship, and hope that made the day possible. Together with The Laddie Foundation, our dedicated team, and the many guests who continue to support our community initiatives, we look forward to watching these young students continue to grow, learn, and one day help shape the future of Belize.
Thank you to Chaa Creek’s dedicated team that puts together the event, along with volunteers from the Laddie Foundation; it truly means the continuation of this legacy.