Learn to love, and love to learn.

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:

1. Education — to offer experiential learning opportunities specific to cultural and natural resources that surround the local community.
2. Conservation — to promote awareness and expertise in conservation measures and sustainable development.
3. Research — to document and study both cultural and natural phenomena of the past and today.

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.

*2025 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Tauhani Araki Daniel Araya Mejías Thomás Campo Alzate Motiro Hiva Fredes Riroroco Pua Marama Lillo Pont Miti Henua Mella Ika Naima Morales Hey Vaitiare Pakomio Napuri Renga Roiti Pakomio Riquelme Merani Paoa Lillo Taimana Pate Oyarce Benjamin Poblete Román Trinidad Pascal Quinchel Aguero Puaheu Matarena Rioroko Araki Kami Uka Tukci Zuñiga	Staff Luisfe Gonzalez Pato Lagos Omar Monares Britton Shepardson
*2024 ATACAMA, CHILE*
Students Mateo Ramos Sánchez Haary Moya Micaela Cruz Estrella Cervantes Illari Calcina María Albornoz María Alvarado Margarita Ramos Miranda Lindsey Cortes Yharlyn Robledo Ambar Callegaro Matías Alucema Santiago Tejerina Pedro Schmider Maizú Altamirona Abarca Alejandra Zuleta	Staff Luisfe Gonzalez Mariana Homberger Paoa Omar Monares David Torres Valentina Wilkins Britton Shepardson
*2024 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Dorita Suarez Chavez Ermelina Calderón Pakarati Gabriel González Heirangi Olivares Hiva Iti Pakomio Hoa Laharoa José Pablo Ayala Correa Ma'aranui Enright Pakomio Mana Ora Teave Rapu Mana'u Mai Cardinali Manoa Boulineau Miru Pakarati Moana Tuki Pierotic Pamela Alejandra Figueroa Mora Repahoa Riroroko Teao Rocío Teao	Staff Mariana Homberger Paoa Valentina Wilkins Omar Monares Patricio Lagos Rocío Rupay Britton Shepardson
*2024 PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK, CHILE*
Students Silvana Cruces Valentina Vicencio Zapata Andrés Guzman Luz Gonzalez Mancilla Gabriela Maldonado Carlos Arriagada Isidora Contreras Renata Foitzick Amado Soto Fernando Ganga Luna Antonela Cadagan Josefa Valentina Vargas Benjamin Fuentes Jean Cruces Fernando Rivera	Staff Mariana Homberger Paoa Valentina Wilkins Omar Monares Antonia Rojas Britton Shepardson
*2024 SACRED VALLEY, PERU*
Students Mauricio Baca Cabeza Frank Baca Curillo Angel Valdes Alferes Gabriel Vera Quispe Alonso Montoya Marcavillaca Lexy Apaza Quispe Margarita Amezquita Sallo Azumi Ccanto Pumaccahua Mary Tatiana Lopez Shomara Cruz Lopez Jhojan Cusihuata Quispe Dayana Nicol Lovon Quispe Maryori Almendra Quispe Navarro Alison Valentina Montoya Kcana Juan Manuel Quispe Navarro	Staff Mariana Homberger Paoa Patricio Lagos Omar Monares Antonia Rojas Britton Shepardson
*2023 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Kio Tuki Vargas Hiva Atan Greindl Fernanda Mondaca Angélica Figueroa Martín Cuevas Manuel Aguilar Hitu Icka Mata'u Hugueño Araki Sindbad Manae Boulineau Vai Icka Villaroel Hanga Ika Roe Georgina Riroroko Javiera Ayala Correa Vicente Cifuentes Apetahi Quiroz Valenzuela Ukita Teao Sofiu Muñoz Javi Campos Arevalo	Staff Mariana Homberger Paoa Patricio Lagos Omar Monares Britton Shepardson
*2023 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Meri Icka Otero Tau ao Tuki Hey Anapuakatiki Tepano Gutiérrez Po-patiri Rivera Pakarati Miguel Duran Riroroko Nainoa Haoa Paoa Hanna Araki Hey Fernanda Mondaca Rodriguez Elisa Reinante Gutiérrez Rocío Vallejos Bermedo Tau a hiro Vera Rapu Sindbad Manae Boulineau Manurangi Castillo Pont-Hill Heinui Mardones Riroroko	Staff Natalie Hansen Morgan Mallek Omar Monares Shelby Morgan Sidney Rittershaus Britton Shepardson
*2023 PATAGONIA NATIONAL PARK, CHILE*
Students Silvana Cruces Valentina Vicencio Yonathan Baigorria Andrés Guzman Luz Gonzalez Mancilla Gabriela Maldonado Juan José Rodriguez Moreno Yanella Zapata Carlos Arriagada Amely Tiznado Soto Gabriela Salas Barria Sofia Riquelme Gutiérrez Analía Gaete Yeraldy Gallardo	Staff Natalie Hansen Patricio Lagos Morgan Mallek Omar Monares Shelby Morgan Sidney Rittershaus Britton Shepardson
*2022 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Isabella Vaikaranga Reyes Pakarati Marama Rangi Hetu'u Del Carmen Tepano Tikare Princesa Moulton Atán Alvaro Alexiz Espinoza Alvarez Nehe-Nehe Vaihoa'ata Pate Tepano Anastasia Vaihoa'ata Haoa Delgado Otea Araki Villaseca Baruc Ote Rangi Ta'ava Nui Tepano Tuki Daniel Atariki Gajardo Troncoso Moeto Vai Kikiri Roa Tuki Teao Hiti Rau Williams Morales Hey Mahorangi Atan Hotu Atariki Mejias Toui Rangi Quiroz	Staff Omar Monares Yilian Romero Britton Shepardson David Torres
*2022 SACRED VALLEY, PERU*
Students Mauricio Baca Cabeza Lexy Apaza Quispe Mikaela Marcavillaca Bujaico Angeles Vargas Alvarez Sharlim Azumi Ccanto Pumaccahua John Alexander Human Montoya Ssunmy Navarro Huanca Yannely Quispe Huanca Renato Berospi Huaman-Baji Piero Ramos Olivera Rodrigo Sallo Quispe Alonso Montoya Marcavillaca Jose Fernando Yucra Delgado Frank Deivid Baca Curillo	Staff Jamie Bellian Kaitlyn Bolland Brooklyn Christofis Omar Monares Britton Shepardson Andrew Svabik Max Willetts
*2019 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Ora'anga Araki Tau'a Hiro Atan Mahatu De Rycke Tavi De Rycke Anthony Germaine Aureka Hey Taharoa Huki Eiovani Icka Sebastian Lepiqueo Angela Lopez Kael Pakarati Uka Pakomio Moises Piña Isabella Reyes Motirohiva Soto Anae Tuki Hiva Oa Tuki Maurice Valdebenito Hangarahi Vasquez	Staff Beno Atan Gonzalo Droppelmann Katelyn Farnsworth Lindsey Lupercio Omar Monares Anthony Munkres Britton Shepardson Dale Simpson Ariane Starceski
*2018 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Ora'anga Araki Mahatu De Rycke Vicente Garviso Taharoa Huki Ovahe Ika Tawfik Lama Angela Lopez Leidy Martinez Hitirau Morales Kael Pakarati Mahina Pont-Hill Marama Ra'a Mata O'te Ra'a Nicole Rapu Eva Rougier Moana Tepano Maurice Valdebenito	Staff Erin Hancock Tristan Hess Sophia Jacobs Omar Monares Camryn Muller Bianca Quintero Britton Shepardson Mary Walsh
*2017 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Vicente Garviso Vicente Gonzalez Taharoa Huki Yumi Ika Mihi'ua Lagos Sebastian Lepiqueo Pola Manutomatoma Ki'ea Maripil Leidy Martinez Ismael Perez Fabian Poblete Juan Pablo Poblete Kamilha Poblete Marama Ra'a Magdalena Ramirez Motirohiva Soto	Staff Beno Atan Gonzalo Droppelmann Hangarau Ika Omar Monares Abrahim Pakarati Nilse Patuelli Kelsey Sullivan Natalia Villablanca
*2016 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Juan Luis Atan Mariana Homberger Taharoa Huki Mihi'ua Lagos Lizbeth Soto Motirohiva Soto Haukoa Tuki Grace Villanueva	Staff Catie Chiara Claire Dillon Gonzalo Droppelmann Chris Francis Omar Monares Angélica Sanchez Britton Shepardson Nicole Villacres
*2015 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Eduardo Arancibia Toria Calderón Catalina Gonzalez Kiara Icka Yumi Ika Katalina Isla Akivi Nahoe Kamilha Poblete Ietu Quezada Tea Pakarati Tiare Pakarati Franco Perez Ma'eha Te Ra'a Tahira Tuki	Staff Beno Atan Gonzalo Droppelmann Julia Godinez Maddie Ledesma Omar Monares Erin Mullin Ariki Nahoe Matt Petney Sara Sanford Britton Shepardson Dylan Shepardson
*2014 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Jannis Fuentes Hangarau Ika Carla Moncada Maori Pakarati Hana Paoa Franco Perez Iovani Tuki Jorge Tuki Tahira Tuki Teatahero Tuki Maurice Valdebenito	Staff Beno Atan Kelsey Briggs Gonzalo Droppelmann Tate Larrick Gina Pakarati Rocio Ramirez Britton Shepardson Dylan Shepardson Mahanua Wilkins
*2013 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Kiara Gonzalez Onetea Haoa Hangarau Ika Eva Pakarati Maori Pakarati Vistor Pakarati Franco Perez Jorge Tuki Makenon Tuki Nani Tuki	Staff Beno Atan Gonzalo Droppelmann Hannah Falvey Bruna Fornasier Gina Pakarati Kent Redell Britton Shepardson Mahanua Wilkins
*2012 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Kamila Astete Natalia Cifuentes Merahi Hey Tahira Hey Macarena Terongo Hamene Tuki	Staff Beno Atan Britton Shepardson Dylan Shepardson
*2011 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Nicolas Barrera Dani Henri Tahira Hey Toki Hucke Aron Rapu Soledad Salinas Macarena Terongo Hamene Tuki Elizabeth Valdivia Valentina Wilkins	Staff Rachel Gulbraa Britton Shepardson Dale Simpson
*2009-2010 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Claudia Aguilar Tokerau Hey Tupuna Pakarati Victoria Pakarati Marta Vigouroux	Staff Britton Shepardson
*2008 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Yemima Andrade Marisela Carrizo Mareva Cruz Teresita Manutomatoma Cristian Osorio Mayra Ramirez Vaihere Torres Javiera Tuki Veronica Tuki Marta Vigouroux Tiare Zuñiga	Staff Britton Shepardson Francisco Torres Verónica Vergara
*2005-2006 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Jose Atan Vaitiare Mejías Sebastián Poblete Johnatan Pont Vaihere Torres Violeta Tuki Veronica Tuki Ilanny Zárate	Staff Britton Shepardson Francisco Torres Verónica Vergara
*2003-2004 RAPA NUI, CHILE*
Students Irene Arévalo Turi Atan Makarena Barría Valeria Jara Camilo Johnson Yasna Monares Nikolás Pakomio Francisca Pont Vaitiare Rapu Samson Riroroko	Staff Britton Shepardson Francisco Torres Verónica Vergara

For more information on how to apply as a student or an intern, please email TEREVAKA.NET@GMAIL.COM.

Our projects culminate in user-friendly data, available to the general public.

Select a destination to view our work!

View all project data in our visualizer →

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:

• Curriculum development
• Cultural impact assessments
• Research design and implementation
• Community outreach and relations
• Conservation planning and decision analysis
• Territory/product scouting and assessment
• Expedition route development and scheduling
• Web-based data visualization
• Educational software and game development
• Employee scheduling optimization

Past projects have included:

Check out our photos and videos! They tell the story of more than a decade of unforgettable experiences...

Or access our publications:

• 2025 - Archaeology as Community Engagement: Journal of Polynesian Archaeology and Research
• 2023 - TAO Program Expansion: Journal of Polynesian Archaeology and Research
• 2022 - Digital Repatriation: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2021 - Applied Archaeology Empowers, Indigenous Peoples, Heritage and Landscape
• 2019 - Career Potential in Archaeology: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2017 - 3D Digital Modeling, Rapa Nui Journal
• 2015 - Engineering and Renewable Energy: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2015 - Archaeology, Conservation, and Toponymy: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2014 - Meeting Community Objectives: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2011 - Field Report: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2009 - Inland Statue Project: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2008 - Lichenometry on Rapa Nui: Rapa Nui Journal
• 2004 - Puna Pau Field Report: Rapa Nui Journal

Have a question about programs, partnerships, or volunteering? Send us a note and we’ll get back to you:

TEREVAKA.NET@GMAIL.COM.

President — Michael W. Graves, PhD
Michael has held professor positions at the University of Guam, the University of Hawai'i, and the University of New Mexico. Michael is now celebrating 50 years of experience in academic archaeology. He served as the Chair for the Departments of Anthropology at UH and UNM. He is also currently the Director of UNM's Alfonso Ortiz Center for Intercultural Studies.

Secretary — Mara M. Mulrooney, PhD
Mara has over two decades of archaeological research experience on Rapa Nui and in Oceania. She previously served as the editor of the Rapa Nui Journal and the Journal of Polynesian Archaeology and Research, and currently serves as Education Committee Chair on the Society for Hawaiian Archaeology Board of Directors. Mara is a principal and senior archaeologist at Pacific Legacy, Inc.

Treasurer — Gonzalo Droppelmann
Gonzalo is currently the manager of the Tawa Refugio in Chile. Gonzalo has held multiple positions in the world-renowned luxury hotel chain, Explora: first as their Director of Sustainable Development and more recently as their Explora Rapa Nui hotel manager. He is a pioneer on Rapa Nui in terms of merging commercial, community, and sustainability interests.

Director — Beno Atan
Within little more than a decade, Beno has built a career that began as a guide at Explora Rapa Nui and led to him becoming Metropolitan-Touring's Director of Research and Development in Ecuador, AmaWaterway's Director of Product Development in Colombia, and now the Managing Director of his own consulting firm, CraftedWays.

Director — Peter Suen, MA JD
Peter holds degrees in Computer Science and German from Middlebury College, a law degree from Stanford University, a computer science degree from Carnegie Mellon University, and an architecture degree from UC Berkeley. He is currently an architect at Fifth Arch and a Lecturer in Architecture at UC Berkeley's College of Environmental Design.

Founder & Executive Director — Britton L. Shepardson, PhD
With a BA in mathematics and a PhD in Anthropology, Brett has spent the last 20 years developing the Terevaka concept: to successfully merge the interests of local/indigenous communities with the goals of researchers and science to address issues in sustainable development. Until recently, Brett also worked as a professor at Northern Arizona University.