Camp Taveuni is located on Taveuni Island, the third largest island in Fiji and has the nickname “The Garden Island”… a name well deserved as it is the most lush Garden of Eden-esque place I have ever seen!!! 

The camp itself is devoted to eco- learning, environmental awareness, and service to others and the surrounding Fijian community. For example, one of their big initiatives is clean up and replanting the famed Rainbow Reef. We snorkeled an area of the reef, cleaning up debris, looking for invasive crown of thorn starfish (which eat the coral and are removed if found) and planting new plugs of corals to help rebuild that which was lost or damaged. Then, after the work, we just snorkeled to look at the most colorful corals and fish. It was glorious!!

Every day was full of meaning, learning, work, and fun! Students were engaged and enthused over the variety of activities and the deep connections made with the camp founders, Allen and Mary Burton, the camp manager , Salu, the local Fijian school kids, and local artisans in Somosomo village. 

The campsite itself is delightful, a rustic and peaceful little slice of the the South Pacific that the founders have built from scratch. You can see the care and planning in every part of the camp’s grounds. Everything from the bures and eco domes where we all stayed, to the homemade food cooked on site, and of course the swimming pool, was enjoyed by all. 

I just can’t say enough about how absolutely worthwhile this experience was, and I highly recommend it to anyone who might be looking for this type of student travel experience

Our Year 9 students had an unforgettable experience with Camp Taveuni during their immersion to Fiji. Engaging in hands-on activities like coral restoration, cooking a traditional Lovo, connecting with a local school, and providing community service at a nursing station, they gained invaluable insights into climate change, Fijian culture, and regional socio-economic challenges. This immersion not only deepened their sense of global citizenship and environmental stewardship but also created lifelong memories.
A journey of learning, growth, and connection!