Embracing Eco‑Tourism: The Heart of Camp Mákemáke & Mákemáke Farm

colerj
Oct 3
4 min read

In an age when screens and schedules often dominate childhood, there’s something immensely healing and transformative about stepping into the nature‑infused world of Camp Mákemáke and Mákemáke Farm. Here, eco‑tourism isn’t a buzzword—it’s the lens through which every activity, lesson, and memory is shaped.

What is Eco‑Tourism, and Why It Matters

Eco‑tourism is travel (or in our case, immersive stays) that seeks to minimize environmental impact, support conservation, and foster respect and understanding for local ecosystems and cultures. Unlike mass tourism, eco‑tourism aims to:

Educate participants about local ecology, sustainable practices, and conservation
Support local communities, farmers, and small businesses
Promote stewardship of natural resources, biodiversity, and cultural heritage
Offer authentic experiences that deepen one’s connection to place

At Camp Mákemáke & Makemake Farm, these aren’t lofty goals—they are living practices.

The Roots: Makemake Farm, a Sustainable Family Operation

Makemake Farm, nestled in the Maule region of Chile, is more than just the setting for camp—it is the foundation of its ethos. For over a decade, this family-run farm has cultivated organic blueberries, blackberries, apples, and more, with a deep commitment to sustainability and ecological health.

Some ways Makemake lives its eco‑values:

Organic farming: No synthetic pesticides or GMOs. The soil is nurtured using biodiversity, composting, and natural cycles.
Animal integration: Pigs (not for consumption) help build nutrient-rich soil, bees produce honey, and various farm animals are part of the ecosystem.
Water quality & native habitat: The orchards are irrigated with mountain water, and the farm is sheltered by native forests. Local wildlife, from forest birds to frogs, thrive around the farm.
Local outreach & education: Beyond producing fruit, Makemake runs organic farming workshops, school partnerships, and community programs to spread sustainable practices.
Artisanal products: The farm turns its harvest into products like organic blueberry vinegar and blueberry powder—with no additives, just pure, sustainable processing.

In other words: Makemake doesn’t just host an eco‑camp—they are an eco‑farm.

Composting & Worm Farming: The Magic Beneath Our Feet

At Camp Mákemáke, campers experience the power of composting firsthand. Food scraps, garden waste, and animal bedding are turned into nutrient-rich soil through a dynamic composting process, aided by our thriving worm farm. These worms transform organic matter into humus, the dark, fertile soil that feeds the orchards and gardens.

This hands-on experience teaches campers that waste can be a resource, and soil is a living system essential to healthy ecosystems. It’s a lesson in cycles, care, and the interconnectedness of life.

Reserva Centenario: Restoring the Native Bosque Esclerófilo

One of Makemake’s proudest environmental achievements is the creation of Reserva Centenario, a 15-hectare wildlife reserve dedicated to the restoration and protection of Chile’s native bosque esclerófilo, a Mediterranean sclerophyll forest.

The hikes in the reserva always start with a visit to El Abuelo Peumo, an ancient and revered peumo tree, a symbol of the forest’s resilience and heritage.

This unique ecosystem is home to endangered native trees like quillay, litre, boldo, and peumo, and provides sanctuary for local wildlife including foxes, owls, reptiles, and numerous bird species.

Reserva Centenario is more than a forest—it’s a living classroom where campers hike native trails, observe biodiversity, and learn about ecological restoration and conservation firsthand. Our own passionate and inspiring organic farmer, Alberto García-Huidobro, guides most of the hikes and farm operations, sharing his deep knowledge and love of the land.

This rewilding effort helps build climate resilience and preserves vital watersheds, showcasing the powerful impact of stewardship and long-term care.

Camp Mákemáke: Eco‑Tourism for the Next Generation

Camp Mákemáke is a sleepaway summer camp for children aged 6 to 14 (with programs extending to 17) hosted right on the farm. It combines classic outdoor fun with immersive, hands-on environmental education, fostering a deep connection with nature and community.

Camp activities include:

Watersports like kayaking, river tubing, and stand-up paddleboarding
Farm chores such as feeding animals and harvesting fruit
Sustainability workshops on composting, soil science, and worm farming
Forest exploration in Reserva Centenario with flora and fauna observation
Arts and crafts, including tie-dye and eco-art projects
Community time with evening fires, storytelling, and reflections in the Log Circle
Relaxation in hammocks, free play, and creative downtime

Why Eco-Tourism with Kids Matters

At Camp Mákemáke and Makemake Farm, eco-tourism is about more than low-impact travel—it’s about planting seeds of awareness and habits that last a lifetime.

Children leave camp having:

Grown their own food
Observed ecosystems in action
Helped reduce waste through composting
Explored native forests and wildlife
Developed a deep respect and connection to nature and community

They don’t just learn about sustainability—they live it.

Join Us!

Camp Mákemáke runs during the Chilean summer with limited spaces (54 campers per week). Sessions include food, equipment, and transportation options. Outside summer, the farm hosts school groups, youth programs, and workshops year-round.

Final Thoughts

The need to reconnect with nature and understand our role within it has never been more urgent. At Camp Mákemáke and Makemake Farm, we aim to foster this connection through hands-on experience and stewardship, encouraging young people to become thoughtful caretakers of the environment.

As Jane Goodall once said, “What you do makes a difference, and you have to decide what kind of difference you want to make.” Her remarkable legacy continues to inspire us to nurture respect for all living things and to act with purpose. It is in this spirit that we continue to build a place where children learn not only about nature, but about their potential to positively shape the world around them.