In TAO (Terevaka Archaeological Outreach) programs, we connect community with environment, the past with the future, and culture with science to help students grow into leaders—through field programs, research, and hands-on learning.
Terevaka, and our TAO programs, launched in 2003 as a volunteer program, with archaeologist Britton Shepardson trying to find a better way to balance scientific research and community engagement on Rapa Nui (Easter Island, Chile). TAO began to work with local high school students on the island to achieve three primary objectives:
By 2013, the world's leading expedition company, Explora, became a major ally of the program. Explora Rapa Nui regularly provides an area for the yearly educational campouts, as well as food and ground transportation, for TAO students and staff.
By 2015, TAO incorporated as a U.S. 501(c)(3) not-for-profit organization based in Flagstaff, Arizona.
By 2019, TAO had provided educational opportunities to more than 200 local students on Rapa Nui and internship opportunities for 20 interns from 5 different countries.
Between 2021 and 2023, TAO entered a new phase of expansion, aiming to serve rural and indigenous youth across an additional three locations in continental South America...
Today, TAO programs continue to thrive as we welcome more than 65 new students on a yearly basis (~70% indigenous).
Since 2003, Terevaka has offered experiential learning opportunities for local high school students in rural areas of Chile and Peru, as well as a competitive internship program for outstanding undergraduate and graduate students from around the world.
• High school students participate for two weeks, free of cost, in after school and intensive live-in experiences that combine explorations, classroom lectures, hands-on research and conservation initiatives regarding both cultural and natural resources, and team-building exercises.
• Interns take part in all aspects of the outreach program for four weeks, from project design to project publications. In many cases, TAO staff will work long, hard days. Interns will be expected to serve as role models, teachers, research assistants, and friends for local high school students. Interns will also help to guide local students in fieldwork, archival research, and computer work for organizing data. Interns will also serve as chaperones for the 10–20 local high school students that camp out for a two-week span.
Students and interns will have regular access to showers, bathrooms, a dining facility, and wi-fi.
For more information on how to apply as a student or an intern, please email TEREVAKA.NET@GMAIL.COM.
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From field science to cultural heritage, our approach blends mentorship, rigorous inquiry, and place-based learning. Students gain skills, confidence, and a sense of responsibility that extends far beyond the classroom.
TAO programs proudly partner with corporations, schools, and non-profits that seek meaningful community engagement through proven experiential learning practices.
To become a corporate sponsor for the program, or to open dialog about potential collaborative efforts, please email TEREVAKA.NET@GMAIL.COM
Did you know that experiential education programming is just one of our services? Terevaka also provides the following services in the education, conservation, research, and turism industries:
Past projects have included:
Check out our photos and videos! They tell the story of more than a decade of unforgettable experiences...
Have a question about programs, partnerships, or volunteering? Send us a note and we’ll get back to you:
TEREVAKA.NET@GMAIL.COM.
Every gift supports education, conservation, and research for our amazing students across South America!
It's as easy as a debit card, credit card, or sending a check payable to:
TEREVAKA
962 Lawrence Street
Madison, WI 53715
Terevaka is recognized by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) public charity.
Donations are tax-deductible to the fullest extent permitted by law.
Students don’t just gain skills in TAO; they gain belonging and purpose. They commit to cultural and environmental conservation. Our alumni lead projects, publish research, and mentor the next generation.
