Education | Tetiaroa Society

Education is a vital component of Tetiaroa Society’s mission. We want to use the island of Tetiaroa as a classroom for local and international students and community groups. The focus of this program will be the physical, biological, and cultural world of atolls and how it is possible to live sustainably on a small island.

Tetiaroa Society is presently working with teachers and administrators in French Polynesia to develop a curriculum and lesson plans for local students. Our aim is to also offer these resources to other interested schools, in other countries.

Our unique educational programs will teach the importance of sustainability and engage students in practical applications: hands-on discovery & inquiry science activities, and exposure to local culture and traditions. Students from elementary school through university, from French Polynesia or elsewhere in the world, are invited to join us in immersive and experiential educational adventures. Students will take away first-hand knowledge of biodiversity, sustainability, and cultural heritage. And they will bring home the tools of understanding and action which are essential if we are to sustain the natural beauty of our world.

We look forward to hearing from schools, universities, and educational facilities near and far about how they’d like to be involved with Tetiaroa Society.

What can you learn about on Tetiaroa?

Each of our educational experiences start with a historical, cultural, or traditional viewpoint, and offer activities which allow students to compare and contrast traditional technology with modern technology. We hope to encourage students to use innovative thinking and imagination to blend their knowledge of past and present technologies into future solutions.

our educational philosophy and methods

The general objective of our program is to enable students to understand the complexities of the relationship between humans and the environment. We aim to guide students towards a greater appreciation of sustainable development and its direct relationship with bio-cultural diversity.

We use interdisciplinary, project-based lessons, aimed at delivering a diverse balance of culture, science and language, ensuring that our program goes beyond "what we want to teach" to "how we want to teach it". We hope to engage students and teachers by encouraging free-thinking and sparking innovation. We are committed to modeling positive behaviors and mutual respect among all participants.

the outreach curriculum

Our curriculum has been designed to inspire students to ask questions, investigate systems, make predictions and design solutions. The curriculum emphasizes the child’s perspective in the process of learning and promotes project based, critical thinking, and collaborative work. Understanding is achieved through discussion and collaboration as a result of the combination of practice and conceptual explanations.

As part of the awareness-raising program for sustainable development and the protection and conservation of an atoll (Teti'aroa), students will be addressing issues of environmental concern, at levels well beyond the requirements of French Polynesia's educational standards. Students will develop an understanding of climate change, the impact of population, water management, energy sources, contamination, conservation, food production, health and nutrition.