Today, 25 campers took the trip, and our news team joined them. Courtney Menzies has this story.

Runaway Creek Nature Reserve is a few miles of the Coastal Highway, but home to one of Belize's most protected habitats. Its 6,000 acres houses hundreds of species of mammals, birds, and other animals.

And almost every year, kids with a love for nature and conservation are given the chance to explore the reserve as a part of the Belize Zoo's Conservation Camp.

The reserve, which is normally closed to the public, opens its doors for these students as part of the educational mandate, as the coordinator explained today.

Wilber Martinez, Coordinator, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation
"We have three main pillars at Runaway Creek. The first one is to do research, we have conducted research with primates, felids, which are the big cats, and also tapirs. The second pillar is to do environmental education so this is what we're trying to link with the research and also with the education that we would like to transfer that information to the younger generations like for exampled the campers that came into Runaway Creek."

And while the reserve got its name because of the maroons that sought shelter in the caves after fleeing their slave owners, the artifacts inside date back to ancient Maya civilization.

The first cave comes equipped with its own "guardians" - faces carved into the stone, while the other depicts drawings of the Sun God.

Wilber Martinez, Coordinator, Foundation for Wildlife Conservation
"We have approximately 40 caves in Runaway Creek and we have two very important ones. The first one is Guardians of the Cave which we have found petroglyphs. Petroglyphs are information or paintings, carvings on the wall that represents a face so we have Guardians and the other cave is the Painted Cave and Painted Cave is very important and interesting because it's the first cave that was discovered in Belize and 9th in the Mesoamerican world. It depicts a jaguar and that jaguar according to the archaeologist transforms himself into the sun but it has to go to the underworld, which is called Xibalba, and on the following day it comes out as the sun. So we bring the young campers here so at least they can have appreciation of archeology, ecology, and the environment of Runaway Creek."

Jamal Andrewin-Bohn, Conservation Program Manager, The Belize Zoo
"It really gives the campers a unique look into the different aspects of the landscape. Yeah, we're here to talk about conservation but this landscape has a lot of history, has a rich socioeconomic and a sociocultural aspect to it, apart from the wildlife that we now study and research and protect, there's the cultural value that has to be safeguarded as well."

And for those at the Belize Zoo, and the Tropical Education Center, this week long summer camp is done with the hope that the children will be more mindful of conservation as they grow older.

Jamal Andrewin-Bohn, Conservation Program Manager, The Belize Zoo
"What we hope is that when they go home, when they leave camp, that they're all a bit more mindful of what it takes to be a steward or a conservationist, even in terms of a mindset, not necessarily, we don't expect all of them to jump into this field when they finish high school or when they finish their studies, not everyone will become a zoologist or a wildlife manager or ranger but if their own fields, even if they get into different professions or occupations, into business or any other field, that they will still use those skillsets, those expertise to influence more conservation actions in their areas and that's ultimately what makes these programs work, I mean the people like ourselves that do the work on the ground, we can only do so much, we need the support of different stakeholders, we need people to be able to promote it for us."

And already, some of these kids are thinking about their future, like 12-year-old Anginelle Escalante, who's spending her second summer at the camp.

Angienelle Escalante, Student, Hummingbird Elementary
"It was really interesting and fun, the bats on top, that was really interesting to see, and then when we saw the skulls of animals."

"I think camps like these and conservation are important because all animals keep a certain balance in nature and if some aren't there then there's just like this off balance."

"It's a fun way to learn about the animals, they give you facts and trips we have, and everything is fun."

Courtney Menzies:
"What is your favorite part about the camp?"

Angienelle Escalante
"My favorite part would be when we get to feed the animals at the zoo, that's my favorite part, that little interaction."

Courtney Menzies:
"So you love animals?"

Angienelle Escalante
"Yes."

Courtney Menzies:
"Do you feel like when you grow up you'll want to go into this type of work?"

Angienelle Escalante
"Yes, actually I would like to be a vet when I'm older, and I'm kinda thinking around that."

Sentiments broadly shared by the 25 campers taking part in this year's event.

The campers also received an introduction into creative arts today. During the rest of the week, they'll be engaged in an observational study about the animals at the zoo, as well as a night tour to see the nocturnal habits of the animals, and a canoe trip to study aquatic species such as hicatees.