“Belize’s spectacular Barrier Reef, with its dazzling variety of underwater life and string of exquisite islands—known as cayes (pronounced “keys”) is…one of the richest marine ecosystems on Earth, it’s a paradise for scuba divers and snorkellers, the incredible coral formations teeming with hundreds of species of brilliantly colored fish.”

“Caye Caulker—Go barefoot on the beach, eat delicious, inexpensive meals and snorkel the Barrier Reef offshore; this relaxed island has everything for a perfect Caribbean vacation…Life on the cayes is supremely relaxing, tempting you to take it easy in a hammock, feast on seafood and sip rum punch as the sun sets.”  --Excerpts from “The Rough Guide to Belize”

Although I can attest to the truth of these descriptions about Caye Caulker, clearly the authors have never visited the island with 31 Belizean kids in tow.  For one week in July, 4-H conquered the Caulker with our first ever National 4-H Environmental Camp.  Myself and 3 other Peace Corps Volunteers (official title: 4-H Youth Agents), Micah, Jerry and Jamie, began working on this camp last December.  With the help of 3 other PCVs, the Belize Red Cross, a grant from an environmental NGO, generous donations and support from the 4-H Headquarters in Belize, EZ Boy Tours and many other individuals, we were able to provide a unique experience for the kids in our 4-H Clubs.  Although Belize is only about the size of Connecticut, many kids have never left their region.  This trip to Caye Caulker was the first time to a caye for most of the children.  We exposed the kids to one of the most beautiful aspects of their country, and taught them about the importance of environmental conservation to protect that beauty, as well as basic First Aid, kayaking and snorkeling.

            So much happened that I can’t even begin to summarize it in an article short enough to keep your interest.

Highlights:

1. Snorkeling on Belize’s Barrier Reef—the kids’ enthusiasm was contagious and it really was an once-in-a-lifetime experience for some.
2. Watching the kids from Progreso freak out about the sea water’s saltiness, which is vastly different than Progreso Lagoon’s brackish water.
3. Listening to 10 year olds rap about saving the environment.

Things I learned:

1. If the water smells like rotten eggs, don’t drink it.  Mixing it with watermelon juice isn’t a good idea either.
2. Boys left unattended during night hours can wreak a lot of havoc with just one tube of Colgate toothpaste.
3. Any changes to T-shirt designs by the T-shirt printing company should be proofread to prevent mistakes like “Envirmental Camp.

This camp was one of the most rewarding and successful events of my first year in Belize.  And I slept for 15 hours straight when I got home.  Can’t wait till next summer!