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Greetings!

"I am certain that when the dust of centuries has passed over our cities, we, too, will be remembered not for our victories or defeats in battle or politics, but for our contribution to the human spirit.” Keynote speaker, Mr. Robert Stanton, 15th Director of the National Park Service and Superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park (1971-1974) ended his inspiring presentation at our recent Annual Meeting with this quote by John F Kennedy.

It is good to be reminded how much the magic and beauty of nature feeds our very human souls. At the end of the day everything we do to protect and preserve natural and cultural resources serves us collectively and individually.

The Annual Meeting kicked off with long time Board Chair, Andrew Rutnik handing over the reigns to newly elected Chair, Audrey Penn. I would like to personally thank Andy for his support. His hard work and commitment to Friends is noteworthy. Looking to the future, Audrey Penn brings a wealth of knowledge and passion to the position. She is a St. Johnian who grew up alongside the park, worked for Friends for five years, and is a long standing Board member. Please join me in congratulating her!

The next big event in a busy season of sea turtle nesting, trail clearing, hikes, seminars, school trips and swim lessons is our Annual Gala which is an important fundraiser. There is still time to show your support and win some great prizes in the online auction and raffle.

Thank you for sharing our passion and love for Virgin Islands National Park!

Warmly,
Tonia Lovejoy
Executive Director
Photo by Kayden Richards, Friends Photographer-In-Residence: (left to right) Bob Stanton, Park Superintendent Nigel Fields, Friends Board Chair Audrey Penn, St John Administrator Shikima Jones Sprauve, Friends Executive Director Tonia Lovejoy, and Senator-At-Large Angel Bolques Jr.
Annual Gala Raffle & Silent Auction
Our Annual Gala takes place this Saturday, February 4. It is an important fundraiser to support protection and preservation work in the Virgin Islands National Park. If you would like to show your support there are lots of great prizes to be won in the raffle and online auction!
  • Online raffle tickets will be sold until 9AM (EST) on Saturday, February 4.
  • Online Auction bidding closes on Thursday, February 2 at 3pm EST.
Winners will be notified the week of February 6! We invite you to participate and join in the fun for a great cause wherever you are!
Caneel Comment Period
The National Park Service released an Environmental Assessment for the Redevelopment and Management of Caneel Bay at Virgin Islands National Park. The proposal contains two options for future development and the public is invited to comment in person at scheduled meetings or in writing for 30 days beginning January 20, 2023.
Turtle Nesting Season
Sea turtle hatchlings
The Sea Turtle Protection Team with the support of volunteers are still patrolling a small number of beaches as the current nesting season comes to an end. There are currently 6 hawksbill nests still incubating!

Total nest count this season is 24: Hawksbill 20 nests, green 2 nests, leatherback 2 nests. In all 1651 hatchlings have made it to the sea. The most recent excavation of a nest that hatched last week revealed 27 lively little ones who were released at sunset. 
SEA TURTLE BOAT TRIP

Join the Turtle Protection Team for a Unique Marine Exploration & Sea Turtle Boat Trip on Friday, February 10 (and every second Friday through June). The boat does pick ups and drop offs on both St. Thomas and St. John and the trip includes two snorkel stops. This trip is made possible thanks to the support of Ocean Surfari.
Teacher Resources & School Trips
Using the Park as a living classroom! Explore the resources on our website for lesson planning ideas and teaching resources about sea turtles, archeology, and cultural heritage.

Or plan a visit! So far this school year, Friends has led 23 Field Trips to the Park and made 4 classroom visits reaching over 400 students from St. John and St. Thomas. Subjects have ranged from sea turtles, coral preservation and archaeology to voluntourism, conservation, and photography.
Things To Do In The Park
This season Friends has a full schedule of seminars, hikes, demonstrations, boat trips, and volunteer opportunities with something going on every day from Monday to Friday until the end of June 2023.

Event and volunteer information and more as well as a full calendar of events is available on our website. Many of these events are free but still require registration.

Follow us on Facebook or Instagram to get regular reminders and updates on happenings and events!
New Friends License Plates
Friends is introducing new license plates featuring the endangered sea turtles found in our waters. These new plates replace the existing Trunk Bay plates which will expire on December 31, 2023. Per the Bureau of Motor Vehicles all current Friends plates will be invalid after that date so holders must change to either the new plates or VI plates. 
Useful Park Numbers