Greetings!
As the philanthropic partner of Virgin Islands National Park, the Friends works hard to meet our Park’s needs today, and to prepare for needs tomorrow. This takes planning, wisdom, patience, an abundance of hope — and love. For the 2023-2024 season, we are committed to raising nearly $2 million dollars to fund legacy park programs on land, by the sea, and in the community.
We dive into this season with visiting volunteer service groups working alongside the trail crew; a busy turtle nesting season; the start of SKIP (School Kids In The Park) trips and Learn To Swim sessions; a full slate of seminars and hikes to engage residents and visitors alike; and a number of fundraising events. Year-end donations are the foundation for the season ahead and your support matters!
Just imagine if every visitor to the Park donated $1 each time they enjoyed a day on a beautiful beach or a hike with an incredible view as its reward!
In my end of year appeal letter I write of the solace that nature gifts us. Whether it is found walking along the beautiful white sandy shore of Trunk Bay or up on Peace Hill overlooking the extraordinary blues of the Caribbean Sea, pausing to breathe and take in nature's beauty allows us to be reminded of its healing powers.
I wish for you and your families the time to stop and enjoy the world outside this holiday season and thank you for considering us in your end of year gifting.
Warmly,
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Tonia Lovejoy
Executive Director
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The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park Impact Report for our financial year ending on September 30, 2023 is available.
We encourage you to take the time to read about our collective success. As Friends Executive Director, Tonia Lovejoy writes in her letter: "There is a blessing embedded in every gift we give and receive. Your support and generosity reflects a love for Virgin Islands National Park and for those who call St. John home. On behalf of the Friends, I encourage you to review this Impact Report with a sense of pride – YOU make all the difference!"
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Hikes, Seminars & Demonstrations |
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Friends runs a seminar program of over 100 events from November through June. Explore and learn about Virgin Islands National Park through a series of hikes, nature & culture seminars, boat trips, turtle talks, and more.
There is something going on every day from Monday to Friday! These fabulous opportunities to learn and engage with the gifts of the park are, for the most part, free and open to all.
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CULTURAL DEMONSTRATORS AT ANNABERG
Monday to Wednesday | 10AM to 2PM | November to June
Annaberg Plantation is the park's most accessible historic plantation site and a must visit for anyone interested in understanding the history and heritage of St. John. We welcome you to visit with St. John cultural ambassadors demonstrating bread making and local flavors in the old cook house, the plants in the Annaberg gardens including medicinal uses and more.
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Personal Legends By Kayden Richards
Book Signing & Presentation
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Friends invites you to join us for a book signing and presentation by Kayden Richards, Friends Artist-In-Residence on Saturday, December 9 from 4:30PM to 6:30PM (Presentation is 5PM) at St. John School of The Arts.
A visual documentary of Virgin Islanders, “Personal Legends” seeks to honor the strength and wisdom passed down through the ages, celebrating the triumphs and tribulations that have molded Virgin Islanders into the remarkable individuals they are today.
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This project is made possible thanks to a grant from the Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands with funding provided by the National Endowment for the Humanities. The grant was applied for, and managed by, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park as a part of their Artist-In-Residence program that aims to help young Virgin Islanders explore and develop their creative talents. The program assists the artist by promoting their work, offering mentorship, and providing work experience and financial support. The Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is committed to enriching local talent, investing in preserving Virgin Islands culture, and connecting young creatives to the Park. |
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Advocating For Responsible Boating |
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Virgin Islands National Park and Coral Reef National Monument includes thousands of acres of submerged lands so boaters constitute a high percentage of park visitors and guides.
Friends marine outreach last month included an information booth and a presentation to charter crew by Willow Melamet, the Turtle Program Co-ordinator (pictured) at the USVI Yacht Show staged by Virgin Islands Professional Charter Association (VIPCA)
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Coastal Planting & Tree Giveaway |
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Nurturing and growing plants and trees is core to the building a path to a sustainable healthy future. The trails crew kicked off the season with the first three volunteer service groups on island this season -- Soultrak, Conservation Volunteers International, and American Hiking Society -- volunteering time planting on Cinnamon and Maho bringing the number of trees planted along the north shore in the past three years to over 700. This coastal planting is essential to combat erosion and replace lost foliage lost in 2017.
On Giving Tuesday, Friends took the opportunity to pay it back and thank all of our supporters with a Community Tree Giveaway that included native plants and fruit trees grown in the Friends nursery.
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VOLUNTEER ON THE TRAILS
Join the trail crew on Tuesdays and Thursdays and help maintain trails, clear ruins, plant trees, and remove trash! Work locations and meeting times are posted on our facebook and instagram every Monday. This is hot, sweaty satisfying work. Thank you as always for the incredible support we receive helping maintain the 27 miles of trails and 30 historical ruins in the Park!
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The Friends 10th Annual Paddle The Park SUP event took place on Sunday, November 12 at Maho Bay. 42 paddlers aged 10 to 68 took to the water paddling one of three courses: short (1 mile), open (2.7 miles) and elite (5.5 miles). It was a beautiful day with some challenging wind and current conditions around Whistling Cay for the longer courses. Adam Quandt from STT was the fastest 5.5 mile Elite course finisher coming in at 1:17:35 as compared with his 2022 first place finish of 1:06:05.
Thank you to everyone that made Paddle The Park a great success! The paddlers who sweated it out and still finished with smiles; the 40 volunteers including a crew of school kids putting in community services hours, who make this event possible; and the 49 sponsors who ensure that that Paddle The Park raises funds for conservation work in the Park.
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Thank you to everyone who bid in the 7th Annual Villas For The Park Auction and Fundraiser! The auction was open for bidding from November 10 to 24. In all 40 villas, hotels and apartments on St. John, St. Thomas, and St. Croix were generously donated.
We wish all the winners a great visit to these Virgin Islands!
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Our thanks to the owners and managers of these amazing places: Aahana Grande Bay Resort, Astral Villa, Banana Tree Villa, Bananakeet, Bombalassy Villa, Catch 'n Keep Cottage, Coral Caribe Villa, Cruz Bay Boutique Hotel, Desert Rose Villa, Dream Come True, Fish Tales Cottage, Gaia's Pearl, Garden By The Sea, Into The Mystic, Just Add Rum, Lily Villa, Lime Time, Lots of Knots, Lovango Resort & Beach Club, Marketplace Suites, Mystical Mermaid, On A Clear Day, Paradise Carest, Rebecca’s Fancy, Reef Break Vista, Rainbow Hideaway, Stonehouse, Sunnyside Villa, Sunset Ridge Villa, The Fred Boutique Resort & Spa, The Green Iguana Hotel, The Hills St John, The Other World Villa, Villa Adagio, Villa Circe, Villa Dal Mare, Wharfside Village Hotel, and Windcatcher Lavender Hill. |
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Work to remove asbestos-containing material (ACM) at the Caneel Bay Resort site within the Virgin Islands National Park will begin in early 2024. This first phase of environmental cleanup at Caneel Bay will focus on removing asbestos-containing debris from 2017 Hurricanes Irma and Maria. On-site work will be conducted pursuant to NPS’s delegated authority under the Comprehensive Environmental Response, Compensation, and Liability Act (CERCLA). Current information about the NPS environmental cleanup efforts at Caneel Bay will be available at https://www.nps.gov/viis/caneelbay.htm
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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. |
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Our thanks to the awesome St. John Brewers team who show up at every Friends event. They generously donate hundreds of cans of their award winning craft beers and sodas to Paddle The Park, the Beach to Beach Power Swim, and the Annual Gala, and send in a team to provide manpower. In addition, they donate gift certificates to fundraising events whenever we need them. Stop by The Tap Room, their place in Mongoose Junction!
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