In September / October this year we took a group of twenty-one Year 10 and 11 students plus 3 teachers to The Island Classroom/ Camp Taveuni for the first time, for just over a week as an immersion experience.
Our goal was to learn more about Fijian culture and look at the impact of climate change on the Pacific Islands. We were certainly enabled to do that as a result of Allen Burton’s facilities and connections.
Camp Taveuni is a comfortable, no fuss, eco-dwelling with amazing views and wonderful hospitality. It served our needs and helped us experience the culture with some comforts available.
Allen Burton, who owns and runs The Island Classroom/Camp Taveuni, was a very hands-on host who helped lead us through the booking process and development of our itinerary with great detail and care. He was always available to help and to speak with me and our group, including parents, at sessions at home before we left. He ensured all activities were safe and made changes when necessary.
Throughout the experience he guided us in our activities, arranging transport, meals and guests.
He is friendly, engaging and easy to work with. His family and local staff who help run the business contribute a great deal to making it a homely experience that is full of learning and integrity.
We gained great insights throughout our immersion as a result of Allen and his team, as well as many local guides and hosts. We were lucky to experience many different things including snorkeling and village life, as well as having a great deal of time to experience the local natural beauty of waterfalls and vegetation.
Just a few quotes from our students about what they learned:
How kind, caring and selfless everyone who lives there is.
You don’t need money to be happy as shown through all the Fijians. They were happy all the time yet they had so little.
How climate change and our actions here in Australia affect people all around the world, but especially in the Pacific Islands.
We will definitely be going back, and I highly recommend Camp Taveuni to those considering it.
I would be happy to discuss any aspects with interested parties moving forward.
In recommending The Island Classroom/Camp Taveuni to you I thank Allen and the team for a truly eye-opening, educational, community-focused and enjoyable immersion. We thoroughly enjoyed and appreciated our time there.