Fiji: Marine and Environmental Field Studies

Arrive into Nadi Airport (NAN) and meet your Program Leaders who will be with you for the duration of the program. Head to the Eco-Lodge in rural Momi Bay and settle into your new home. Join the group for an orientation discussion about the week ahead, expectations for your adventure, and an introduction to local culture. You’ll have a chance to swim, snorkel, and relax at beautiful Natadola Beach. Participate in a formal sevusevu ceremony and begin learning the intricacies of cultural practices in Fiji. Wearing your new sulu, get to know the local staff over a bowl of kava.

Board a ferry and take a four-hour boat ride through the breathtaking Yasawa Islands. Call one of these tropical islands home for the next six days and explore the white sand beaches, crystal-clear waters, and lush surrounding hills. Live without electricity and sleep on cots in large safari tents only a few yards from the ocean. Enjoy a kava ceremony with the locals from Somosomo Village who will make you feel at home under the bright constellations of the Southern Hemisphere.

Explore and contribute to projects throughout the marine reserve established near your island home. Study the ridge-to-reef ecosystem while working on grassroots projects that focus on the distribution, diversity, formation, ecology, and conservation of the coral reef and surrounding environment. Interact with the local community by participating in a traditional Fijian dance called the meke and learn the craft of mat weaving from the village women. Immerse yourself in island life with snorkeling, kayaking, and hiking along the beautiful island of Naviti. Join your group for a post-service debrief in the evening, discussing what you experienced and learned through hands-on work in the community.

Finish service projects and visit with your new Fijian friends before saying farewell to the Yasawa Islands and journey back to Nadi. Enjoy some of Fiji’s best pizza before returning to the Eco-Lodge.

At the end of each program, students reflect on their experiences and the issues they engaged with, and talk about how to apply this new understanding to their own worlds. During or after their closing discussion, groups participate in Rustic Ties, a unique and powerful activity that allows students to capture the memories and learning moments of their program to process and share with their communities back home.

Explore Nadi and shop for souvenirs for your family and friends. Enjoy your final meal in Fiji with a view of the sunset before leaving for the airport. Your Program Leaders will take you to the airport for your departure as you say goodbyes and reflect on your adventure.