The highly sought after Green Globe worldwide certification is considered to be the “International Standard for Sustainability” and is granted only after a rigorous auditing process against recognised benchmarks and carbon footprint calculations. The Lodge at Chaa Creek has once again been awarded the Green Globe Certification “as a mark of quality, sustainability and climate action,” according to Green Globe.

The Lodge at Chaa Creek’s Guest Services Manager Ben Awe and Marketing Representative Lorenzo Gonzalez attended the groundbreaking ceremony of the Cayo Welcome Center which is a part of the Cayo Destination Management Plan, a subhead of the Belize Sustainable Tourism Project (STP).

A Belize Tourism Board project that is well on its way and has been exceeding expectations is the My Back Yard Show. Emaun Hyde, the young and vibrant host travels to several locations in Belize featuring the many attractions and activities that are available.

Today’s picture of the day is the Common Pauraque scientifically known as Nyctidromus albicollis. They are known as the masters of disguise since they can camouflage themselves well to blend in with their habitat.

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.

Today’s picture of the day is the female Striped Basilisk scientifically known as the Basiliscus vitatus. These creatures are commonly encountered in the vicinity of aquatic habitats and will occasionally run for short distances across the surface of the water, hence the famous nickname the Jesus Christ Lizard.

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.

Quick, think of a sun-suffused Caribbean beach. Belize come to mind? Probably not. But it should.
The country is certainly on American Airlines’ radar screen. The carrier is running a seat sale to this northernmost of Central American countries just now. Book and buy no later than Aug. 8. Travel out by Nov. 10, and return no later than Nov. 17.

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).

My job as Global Ambassador is to help Belize to shine on the world stage of tourism, to assist BTB in reaching its strategic marketing goals, and to position Belize as a leader among tourism destinations worldwide. Ladies and gentlemen, Belize is “Nature’s Best Kept Secret,” and it is time to let that secret out! Let the world to discover this country’s treasures, along with Belize’s sustainable tourism leadership in protecting these treasures for future generations of Belizeans and travelers who come to enjoy this wonderful country.

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.

Residents and visitors on Caye Caulker, Belize, take life at a slower pace. Holly Firfer reports for CNN.

Today’s picture of the day is that of the Central American Agouti and its scientific name is Dasyprocta Punctata. The Central American Agouti prefers tropical habitats such as Belize and is widespread in Mesoamerica and South America. The one in this picture blends in harmoniously as a local resident of Chaa Creek’s 365 acre private nature reserve and it is very much at home inside cavities of fallen rotted trees!

The primary focus of the workshop involved training in the utilization of an educational publication entitled “A Teacher’s Resource Guide to Maya Archaeology, Ecology and Tourism of Western Belize” produced by the Belize Foundation for Conservation with support from the U.S. Peace Corps and the Ministry of Education. This resource guide was first introduced into Cayo District schools after the first workshop in November of 2003 and since then over 80 Belizean teachers have benefited from the training.