Fiji Leadership Challenge

ITINERARY

Day 01 - Tuesday
Depart the USA
All of Rustic Pathways scheduled group flights to Fiji depart from Los Angeles.  Our carrier is Air Pacific - Fiji's national airline.  The flight each week is non-stop to Nadi International Airport and is escorted by a Rustic Pathways Flight Leader. The flight departs LAX in the evening and takes about 10 hours.  During your flight take the time to get to know other students, get some sleep in preparation for your arrival in the South Pacific, relax with a movie or two and start to settle into the easy-going and friendly nature of the Fijians and their legendary hospitality. 

Day 02 - Wednesday
In transit
Today is "lost" as you cross the international dateline, but don't worry too much… you will get it back on your way home!

Day 03 - Thursday
Bula!  Welcome to Fiji!
You will immediately be greeted by our Rustic Pathways staff and begin you Leadership Challenge program.  Orientation will take place on a stunning white sandy beach in tropical Fiji style.  Spend the morning discussing your program, getting to know your group and swimming in the Pacific Ocean.  After lunch it will be time to head to Pacific Harbor, the adventure capital of Fiji and your home for the next two nights while you learn valuable leadership skills. If you have never heard of leadership activities before, senga na lenga (no worries) for you will be briefed by your trip leader.
During the evening, you can unwind from your busy day with a dip in the ocean that is literally right outside your door, a friendly soccer match on the beach or simply watching the sunset over the calm Pacific waters. You can be guaranteed a good night sleep tonight!

Day 04 - Friday
Low and High Ropes Course
Today the official Leadership Challenge begins and you will test your skills, communication, and trust with your group at Fiji's first High and Low Ropes course.   Here you will learn the meaning of team building as you work though obstacles on the ground and thirty feet in the air.  Get ready to test your limits and learn more about elements called the “Flying Fijian” and “Islands in the Sky”.  The day will not be all challenges though, in the evening you will have a chance to play some volleyball on the beach and enjoy yet another picturesque sunset. 

Day 05 - Saturday
Giants, Wizards, and Elves!
Since you will be designing the activities and daily program within the schools you visit whilst in Fiji, this morning will be spent going through possible curriculums, group activities, debriefs and take home messages that you want your students to get out of their experience. Some of the skills that you learn include how to use low ropes elements, critical thinking games, spotting, icebreakers and problem solving activities.  If you have ever seen MTV's Real World vs. Road Rules or Survivor then you have seen the various competitions that go on between teams and individuals.  These challenges are based off of various leadership games. Learn the skills necessary to enhance student confidence, increase communication and build team trust.  By the end of the morning you will be able to explain games such as Giants, Wizards, and Elves to the Human Knot like you were explaining a sport like soccer.

In the afternoon you will head back to Nadi, with a stop at Natadola beach along the way for some time to relax, swim in the ocean or take a horseback ride along the beach.

Day 06 - Sunday
Malakati Bound
This morning you will depart the main island and head towards your new home at beautiful Nacula Island.  The boat ride out to the island will take you past over 20 other islands before you reach Nacula.  Once you arrive, you will receive a tour of Malakati village, enjoy a tropical lunch and meet some of the students that you will be working with over the next few days.  This village is located right at the edge of the island so don't be surprised if you see children playing in the ocean when you arrive.

Days 07 to 08 - Monday to Tuesday
Leadership in the Classroom
Over the next two days you will put all you have learned to the test by organizing activities with the local village school.  During your time with Fijian students you will teach them various team building activities.  It is an amazing transformation to watch students go from being shy and quiet individuals to discussing problems, thinking through the activities you designed and coming up with their own solutions.

Each evening after school there is time to go for a walk on the beach, start a bon fire, go fishing or hike up the largest hill on the island to watch the sunset.  Spend some time with a local family talking about their life in Fiji or playing more games with some of the local children.  On your last night in Malakati the villagers perform a traditional Fijian dance called the Meke.  Makalati is truly an astonishing place and you will never forget the people that you have met here.
    
Day 09 - Wednesday
Exploring Fiji's Underwater Caves
Today is your last day in the islands and you have a chance to visit one of the most well kept secrets in Fiji.  About a 45-minute boat ride from Nacula Island is an island that is home to Fiji's only underwater caves.  Climb up and into the mouth of a giant rock formation and fromthere swim in a pool of clear water.  If you want to be adventurous you will have a chance to swim under one of the rock formations and into a much larger cave.  Don't worry, you only have to hold your breath for a second and you will enter the cave.  This is one of the most beautiful spots in Fiji and very few people other than the locals get to experience it so get ready for an amazing adventure.
After your cave experience, head back to Nacula Island where you will have lunch and then depart for the mainland.  Tonight you will be able to enjoy some of Fiji's best pizza before heading back to your hotel.

Days 10 to 11 - Thursday to Friday
The Eco Lodge and Your New Projects
Welcome to your new home at our Eco Lodge Base.  Get ready for two days of excitement with your group and more excited Fijian students.  Over the next two days you will head into some of the Fijian schools on the mainland.  Each day is designed entirely by your group and you have the ability to play games, work on critical thinking projects or use our portable low ropes course.  Play various ice breaker games with the students or challenge their trust with the notorious Trust Fall.  Every activity that you pick to do with the students will be received with a smile.

In the afternoon there is a chance to participate in the activities with the Eco Lodge.  Everyday there are new activities planned and it could involve a soccer game, swimming in the pool, learning the traditional art of henna or just hanging out with all the new friends you will meet.  Students from Sun, Sand and Service will also be at the base so spend some time exchanging stories from the day. There will also be various night activities planned after dinner.  One night might involve a show with traditional Fijian dances.  Another night you might find yourself back in time at an 80's dance party.  The possibilities of fun are endless, and the staff at the Eco Lodge are always coming up with new and exciting forms of entertainment.  You will be sure to return home with many new stories about the exciting nights.

Day 12 - Saturday
Optional Activity Day!
Today is your optional activity day!  Take this day to do any activity that excites you.  You can choose to go island hopping, scuba diving, or conquer your fears while skydiving!  This Saturday is up to you, so take the bull by the horns and enjoy this day of relaxation.

Day 13 to 16 - Sunday to Wednesday
Leadership Initiatives
Over the next few days continue to use your leadership skills with various groups of school students and continue on your community development project.  The local communities are excited to be working with Rustic students and you will be amazed at how excited the students get when you arrive.  For your community development project you will be working with locals deciding on a project that will help various aspects of their daily life.  This could include designing a chicken coup, an art project, or agriculture project.
Rustic Pathways is also seeking to directly help the communities we serve with donations of items that are too expensive to be purchased by Fijian organizations or unavailable in Fiji.  The donation lists have been created by Fijians for Fijians.  We would like to encourage all students who participate in this program to bring with them some of the items on the donation list.  These items will be donated by each group at the site where they are most appropriately needed.  This will greatly expand the resources these schools, hospitals, villages and homeless shelters need to operate effectively.  

Day 17 - Thursday
Something to take home with you!
Well your two weeks in Fiji have flown by like a dream and you should now be well and truly entrenched in Fiji and much of what this easy-going island nation is all about.  Today is a chance to do some much desired shopping for souvenirs.  You will get the chance to explore town and the local handy craft market for gifts and reminders of your time in Fiji.  If you are departing to the USA tonight, after a final meal with your group, you travel to the airport and bid Fiji farewell (until next year perhaps).  You will be escorted to LAX with a Rustic Pathways Flight leader.  For those students who are continuing to another Rustic Pathways program in Fiji or overseas, depending on the trip you are continuing on to, you will commence your next program this morning, or stay overnight at the Eco Lodge and commence your new program the following morning.

Extending your adventures in the South Pacific.

Rustic Pathways programs connect easily and if you would like a week of relaxation after two weeks of service, then there are a plethora of programs to choose from.  If you would like to add a bit of a thrill factor to your trip then add on a week of scuba diving with Learn to Dive in Fiji (non certified divers) or Diver's Dream (certified divers).  Want to experience a different area of Fiji?  Then head up to the highlands and work on a micro-financing program with a Fijian village during the Growing Within program.  The possibilities of summer excitement are endless.

An Important Note about Schedule Changes:
Rustic Pathways reserves the right to change, alter, or amend the daily itinerary for this trip at any time. Changes can be made for various reasons including changes in flight or program schedules, changes in the schedules of various external tours incorporated in our trips, the addition of new activities into a trip, or the substitution of an old activity for a new activity. The itinerary shown here provides a good outline of the anticipated daily schedule for this program. As with any travel program, some changes may occur.

 

 

Fiji Leadership Challenge

In addition to the general Fiji Islands packing list available at www.rusticpathways.com/packinglists  all students should review the following information specific to the Fiji Leadership Challenge program:

• Please make sure you have the following items with you:
  • Twin sheet (fitted), pillow case and light blanket or sleeping bag
  • 4-6 short-sleeved shirts or nice t-shirts for service projects
  • 1-2 long skirts (females), nice shorts (males) for service projects
  • Flash light or head lamp

• You will have the option to have your laundry washed at the base house. (Approx $10 a bundle).

• Many of our service programs include work in schools, where uniforms are typically mandatory and other professional facilitates. For this reason, students are expected to wear appropriate attire when involved in service projects and we ask that students do not wear tank-tops during service. This means that for the vast majority of the program, students will need to wear sleeved shirts or nice t-shirts. In addition, female students should be prepared to wear skirts or pants that cover their knees. 

Donations for Fiji Island Service Projects

Students on our community service programs will visit kindergartens, elementary and high schools and rural village health centers during their time in Fiji. We have undertaken the support and renovation of libraries in many of the schools we visit and provide basic school supplies whenever possible to ensure that students have the tools they need for their education. At rural health centers and in villages, we work to provide basic medical items that are often in short supply to the general public.  If you would like to provide additional support to these efforts, donations are greatly appreciated. Below is a list of items identified through consultation with local institutions which are particularly needed.   If you have questions about donations for Fiji please contact ann@rusticpathways.com. 

Schools Donations

Sport Needs

1. soccer/rugby/volleyball balls
2. Nets for soccer/volleyball
3. ball pump
4. indoor board games
5. Card games
6. Rugby boots or soccer shoes

Library Needs

1. Story books
2. Educational DVD’s-CD’s , Tapes
3. Educational Magazines

Classroom Use

1. Any teaching material – pictorial poster boards for charts
2. science equipment
3. blackboard erasers
4. chalk
5. Newsprint
6. whiteboards
7. motivational stickers
8. stamps
9. 3x5 index cards

Computer Room
1.  Computer Donations
We are working to donate computers to schools throughout Fiji, where most children have never had access to a computer before. If you are interested in finding about more about this initiative or donating a new or used computer, please contact Ann Fuller at ann@rusticpathways.com.
       2.  Educational software

 

Music and Art Classes

1. Music instruments
2. Music cassettes and CDs for Kindergartens and primary schools
3. Art materials-paints, paint brushes, glue, scissors, construction paper, white paper
4. Scissors

 

Donations for children’s personal use

1. Backpacks
2. White collared shirts for use with school uniforms
3. shoes
4. pencils/pens
5. erasers
6. portable pencil sharpeners
7. folders for homework

Teacher Resources

1. Phonics Cards
2. Phonics Activity Books
3. Audio Video Aids – Rhymes and Jingles
4. Elementary books on tape- with books

First Aid for schools

1. first aid kit
2. bandages

 

Medical Donations
This list includes items that are readily available at you local drugstore/pharmacy and will be donated to rural village health centers.

• Pain Relievers (Tylenol, Motrin or Advil or generic versions)
• Children’s Tylenol
• Antacids (Tums, Pepcid)
• Anti-diarrheals (Imodium)
• Pedialyte or Gatorade powder
• Prenatal Vitamins
• Anti-biotic ointment (Neosporin)
• Hydrogen peroxide, betadine, alcohol swabs or pads
• Gauze (4x4 pads, regular and non-stick, and Kerlix)
• Bandages
• First Aid Tape
• Ace bandages
• Slings
• Medical Gloves
• Face masks
• Thermometers
• Linens (twin bed and standard pillow cases, white)
• Microscopes, stethoscopes, blood pressure cuffs
• Crutches, canes

 

• A Special Initiative: Rustic Pathways is seeking to directly help the communities we serve with donations of items to support schools, health centers and other local organizations.  Donation lists have been created by the local schools and communities with whom we work and we encourage students who participate in this program to bring 2-5 items to donate along with them. These items will be donated at the site where they are most appropriately needed. You can find the list of suggested items HERE (Optional).

 

Fiji Leadership Challenge – FAQ

1 - What will the accommodation on this trip be like?
During the first segment of the trip, students will stay in a Village called Malakati on Nacula Island.  Rustic Pathways has rented out local houses and girl participants will be in one and males in another.  There are showers and flush toilets for the students use.

Students then spend two nights at Seashell Resort.  Here students will be living in hotel type rooms with boys and girls separated.  There are hot showers, flush toilets, a pool and waterslide on the property.

For the second week of the program, students will live at the Rustic Pathways Eco Lodge and will be sleeping in dorm style bures with six to eight students per bure.   Boys and girls will be places in separate bures with one same sex counselor per bure.   The Eco Lodge has a main house with a swimming pool and small fitness center where the students can hang out after their daily program activities.

Showers will be heated by solar power and flush toilets are in the bures.

2 - Will the students be drinking bottled water?  
Students can purchase bottled water but will be supplied with safe drinking water at each location.

3 - What kind of food will we be eating?
The food will be cooked for the students at all locations.  There will be a fix of traditional Fijian food which includes chicken, rice and various vegetables along with some western favorites.  Please let us know in advance if you have any special dietary needs. 

4 - How many girls and boys are usually on this trip?
The average trip load is 60% girls and 40% boys.

5 - How does this program connect to other programs?
Other trips will be running out of the Eco Lodge, so you can easily connect to multiple programs within Fiji.  If you would like to continue your stay at the Eco Lodge you can sign up for Learn to Dive in Fiji or Sun, Sand and Service. This program connects easily with other programs in the South Pacific, as well as our other countries.  Students who will be coming from or going to other countries will fly to and from Nadi, Fiji. 

6 - Will there be a flight leader to this country?
Students travelling on our group flights from Los Angeles will fly to Nadi, Fiji and will be accompanied by a flight leader.

7 - How long is the flight to this country?
From Los Angeles to Fiji is 10 hours by air.

8 - Do we need to get visas for this program?
US citizens do not need a visa for entry as a tourist into Fiji. On arrival into Fiji, immigration will issue US citizens with a tourist visa for entry into the county. No prior arrangements for US citizens are needed

9 - What immunizations do we need for this trip?
Rustic Pathways does not make recommendations regarding immunizations. We strongly suggest that you consult with a travel doctor or your family physician regarding immunizations before you travel. You can also find more information on the websites of the Center for Disease Control (www.cdc.gov) or World Health Organization (www.who.int).

10 - What costs are not included on this trip?
Optional activity list in U.S. Dollars
Skydiving - $400.00
Para-sailing- $80.00
Banana Boat - $20.00
Golf – $100.00
Island Hopping – $95.00
Horseback riding - $10.00
Scuba Diving (depending on certification level) - $100 - $120
Water skiing - $50.00
Surfing - $100.00
There are also weekend side trips for students that are staying at the base house for more than two weeks.  The cost of these programs range from $370 to $500.