Greetings!

Do you know what clues a mother sea turtle leaves behind when coming ashore to lay her eggs? Our Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring and Protection volunteers do! They receive training ahead of their beach assignments to learn what signs to look for as they patrol our shorelines during nesting season. Currently, a total of 12 nests have been identified for protection this season, 4 of which have already hatched! 

We are proud to be helping advance the protection of these and other critically endangered species right here in our own backyard. It is a privilege and responsibility we take to heart. Similar to the nesting season for our sea turtles, there is a peak season for activities in support of the Park that are hosted by the Friends. We are currently in the midst of planning resource allocation and programming for 2023/24 with the Park team under the leadership of Penelope Del Bene who has begun a 120-day assignment as acting superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. 

We are also planning ways for you to enjoy your Park and give back. For example, you can register today to Paddle the Park at Maho Bay on Veterans Day weekend or donate a stay to become a Villa for the Park. In the coming weeks, we will have a full calendar of 2023/24 programs, projects, and events to share with you. Stay tuned!

I hope that you are enjoying the last days of summer with your loved ones. Thank you for being a supporter and friend of Virgin Islands National Park. I look forward to seeing you on St. John again soon. 

Warmly,
Tonia Lovejoy
Executive Director
School Kids In The Park Program
As the new school year kicks off, we look back briefly at last year's successes! In the 2022/23 school year Friends helped facilitate 51 field trips into the park affecting 755 students as well as five classroom presentations to an additional 80 students. Thank you to Friends members and supporters for making this important program possible!

The School Kids in the Park (SKIP) program encourages local educators to use the park as a “living classroom,” facilitates visits to the park, and works to remove barriers that may limit students’ participation by covering transportation costs and more. Working with the park’s interpretative rangers, Friends has enabled thousands of youth and their educators to establish a personal connection with their Virgin Islands National Park.
Paddle The Park Registration Open
Sunday, November 12, 2023

Registration for the 10th Annual Paddle The Park is now open! Friends of Virgin Islands National Park Paddle the Park event gets our season off to a fun start and raises funds for programs like turtle protection, mangrove research and restoration, and coral reef protection.

The three SUP courses start and end on Maho Bay Beach! This fun event is open to all ages and all skill levels so the whole family can join in the fun!
Call For Villas
This year marks the 7th anniversary of our Annual Villas For The Park auction that takes place in November!
 
This important fundraising event is made possible thanks to the generosity of hotel and villa owners and managers who donate stays! If you are in a position to donate a stay, please contact Jennifer Stone at jstone@friendsvinp.org. Thank you for supporting the Park!
News From The Park
Penelope Del Bene has began a 120-day assignment as acting superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park and Virgin Islands Coral Reef National Monument. Scott Simmons returns to his role as the park’s deputy superintendent. Del Bene has served as the superintendent of Biscayne National Park, located in South Florida, since 2019. 

NEW SIGNS AT ANNABERG
As part of Secretary of the Interior Deb Haaland's directive for an inventory of language used in interpretation across the National Park Service, new signage that tells a fuller story has been installed at Annaberg. The signage was updated in collaboration and consultation with a community engagement forum that included ancestral St. Johnians, Dr. Hadiya Sewer and Karen Samuel.
Business Spotlight
Community engagement is key to our ability to protect and preserve our park today and tomorrow. We would not be able to do the important work that keeps our Virgin Islands National Park thriving for visitors and residents alike without the generous support of local businesses. Here we highlight a business that regularly contributes to support programs that protect and preserve the natural and cultural resources in your park.
The Campground has become integral to much of Friends education outreach and youth programming. During season they host Cinnamon Campside Chats every evening from Monday to Friday. These fun free seminars ranged from turtles and crafts to history. On the youth front, they support and host our free Saturday morning swim classes, summer camp activities, and the Junior Ocean Explorers summer program. In addition, Cinnamon's Adrian Davis is a long time committed and engaged Board Member. Thank you Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground for your generosity and support!
Useful Park Numbers