Cuc Phuong Camp 2024 is one of the programmes that is being implemented with a variety of activities to bring the forest closer to youth.

According to organisers, participants at the event will have a chance to experience the vast nature by witnessing fireflies at night, wading through streams, hiking through the forest, and visiting thousand-year-old trees in just one week. They can meet local Muong ethnic people and explore their food, games, musical instruments, and culture as well as learn about animal rescue and conservation work. Through joining these activities, they will learn skills such as teamwork, forest navigation, survival skills, and basic cooking.

Tran Quang Phuong from the park’s Environmental Education & Services Centre said this is the third year the park has organised the summer camp. Themed "Exploring Cuc Phuong's treasures," this year's edition will help students discover many valuable aspects of the ancient forest, such as its vegetation, wildlife, local culture, and archaeological traces, he said, adding that the programme has received positive feedback from campers and their parents.

Phuong went on to say that this is an opportunity for children to experience various skills, thus spreading love for nature and awareness of nature conservation among the community.

Tran Khanh Duy from Ho Chi Minh City shared that what impressed him the most was experiencing the work of animal rescuers and caretakers. Although the job seems simple, it requires a lot of love for animals, he noted.

The programme has brought about many meaningful experiences, Duy said, adding that he hopes that it will continue to be held to help spread the love for nature and raise awareness of forest protection among children and the community.

The Cuc Phuong National Park has established a "tourism ecosystem" with various programmes and products, through which, the forest is perceived as a "living museum" and a "big school" where students and visitors come to learn and explore.

Special attention has been paid to educational activities that enhance knowledge of the environment and nature, such as visiting the ancient people’s cave, seeing ancient trees, bird watching and conquering the peak of Silver Cloud Peak, which is dubbed the "Roof of Cuc Phuong". These tours have left an unforgettable memory on visitors over the years.

Director of the Centre for Sustainable Development Tran Anh Tuan, who initiated the Nature Experience programme, said Cuc Phuong boasts a diverse flora and fauna and a collection of special spaces and conservation areas that offer parents and students many interesting experiences. When visiting the park, students will understand the silent work, hear untold stories, and see things not available in books or mass media. They will meet, experience, and listen to the stories of the animals, empathising with the animal rescue and conservation work, thus contributing to spreading the message of protecting animals.

According to Do Hong Hai, Deputy Director of the park's Environmental Education & Services Centre, it is time for Cuc Phuong tours to focus not just on visits but also on imparting knowledge and messages through well-integrated activities.

In the near future, the park will continue to implement various experience education programmes tailored to different age groups to transmit the love for nature and awareness of nature protection to everyone, he added.