3-and 4-Year Old Cuties Visit North Ambergris Caye’s Lovely New Eco-Museum

In Belize, March is Child Stimulation Month, dedicated to celebrating and promoting early childhood education and development through activities.

This year’s theme is “Small Steps, Big Skills: Unlocking Early Potential”. And what better way to get kids excited about learning than a hands-on experience – an out-of-classroom adventure – to learn about history and their culture at the island’s newest attraction – the San Pedro Eco-Museum.

Two groups of kiddies arrived from Holy Cross School (see my posts about this amazing school over the years) on Thursday morning. Gorgeous Matachica Resort provided the transportation for all AND juices, apples and snacks for everyone.

It was sooo cool to see the kids light up as they learned about the history of Belize and Ambergris Caye. All piling into a traditional dug-out canoe like the Maya originally used to ferry salt and shells back to the mainland…touching the nets from the traditional fishing industry that sustained this island for so long…stirring the chicle pots and unwrapping pieces of bubble gum (what Belize’s chicle was originally used for)…tasting hunks coconut…arghing like pirates…oohing and ahhing over giant conch shells…seeing how corn was traditionally ground for tortillas…

Parents, aunts and uncles, grand and great-grandparents commenting to their kids – “my dad used to work on the mainland harvesting chicle” or “we used that palm to make thatch for our roof when I was little”…it was fantastic. And I was just there taking pictures. Here are some!

Mito Paz and his team have done such a fantastic job at the Eco-Museum and it is well worth a trip when you visit Ambergris Caye – the history of this island is so interesting. You can find out more information on their website and Facebook page (they do cooking classes as well!) HUGE thank you to Matachica for sponsoring all of this.

I love the progression of the name: Belize.

I don’t think is 100% known but the advancement from Peter Wallace – the buccaneer who is thought to have started the first British settlement in the country – is so interesting!

The history of Belize seems so…recent…so much part of daily life here. Because Belize is such a small country, perhaps. I know folks on the island with the last name Canul. I know many Guerreros – maybe direct descendants of Gonzalo Guerrero who landed/was shipwrecked on these shores 500 years ago. He integrated with the Maya population and had the first Mestizo children.

Ms Shawna, a elementary school principal in the States, was so good with the kids. And Mr. Mito is THE island historian.

If you are interested in history and/or like to ask 1000 questions, you’ll love this tour. (I love both those things)

Now, I need to check out the cooking class! I’ll try to wheedle my way in and report back. 🙂