Programs and Activities

The Friends funds, supports and implements projects and activities that further the protection of natural resources, preservation of cultural resources and enhancement of environmental awareness.

Each fall, the Superintendent of Virgin Islands National Park submits a prioritized list of needs to the Friends' Board of Directors. Given limitations of federal funding for the Park - it typically meets only 70% of the Park's budgetary needs - Friends' support is often the only way critical natural resource protection, cultural preservation and environmental education activities can take place.

The Friends' Board carefully considers the projects in the Park's Support Request. Those projects that are approved, along with Friends-initiated projects that the Board chooses to undertake, constitute our annual project plan. This year, 2007, we have committed to another ambitious and challenging project plan that will contribute to making Virgin Islands National Park a model of natural resource protection and cultural preservation. This year's program is projected to cost almost $400,000.

While the Park's priority needs vary from year to year, a number of projects have been closely identified with the Friends and we seek to support them each year. These include Annaberg Cultural Presentations, Trail Maintenance, Eco-camps, the Folklife Festival and Cultural Theater Presentations. Most notable is our long-term support for Archeology in Virgin Islands National Park and these efforts are documented here in considerable depth.

Click here for detailed information about the Archeology program.

Volunteer

The Friends promotes volunteerism and community involvement in the Park and many of these projects offer excellent opportunities for St. John residents and visitors alike to volunteer and get personally involved. Click here to see current volunteer opportunities.
 

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Recent (FY 2006) Accomplishments

Eco-Camps for Virgin Islands Students — Each year, Eco-Camps allow about one hundred 8-14 year old students to spend three days surrounded by Virgin Islands National Park. They study marine and terrestrial ecosystems through hiking, snorkeling and discussion. Funds: $20,000 annually. Donors include Disney Cruise Lines, Texaco Caribbean, Inc. ICC Prosser Foundation and private donors.  Click here to see the Final Report for 2007 Eco-Camps (a .pdf file)

Park Study Grants — This fund provides grants to teachers, ranging from $250 to $500 each, for a good idea – a good idea on how to utilize Virgin Islands National Park as a living classroom capitalizing on the spectacular natural and/or cultural resources of the park. Teachers can use the park to bring alive the study of natural and applied sciences, and cultural history, and give children a hands-on experience in studying these subjects.
 

CULTURAL PRESERVATION

Cinnamon Bay Archeology Dig – Outstanding pre-Columbian artifacts have been discovered at this major archeological site located at Cinnamon Bay beach. These priceless artifacts were in danger of being washed out to sea as the beach erodes away. The Friends provided over 10,000 hours of volunteer time for this project, which is a model for public/private partnerships. Funds: $300,000, 85% contributed by an individual donor, 15% from other contributions.

Folklife Cultural Festival – Since 1996, the Friends has sponsored the annual Folk Life Festival during Black History Month at the Annaberg Sugar Plantation. This well-attended event features cultural demonstrations from the plantation era as well as African song, dance and storytelling. Funds: $10,000 annually, from Virgin Islands’ businesses and general funds.

Annaberg Cultural Demonstrations—Annaberg Plantation is the premier cultural destination in the Park. Our continuing support assures that local artisans are available to demonstrate historic gardening, cooking, basketry and storytelling to enhance the visitors’ experience. Funds: $20,000 annually, from Virgin Islands’ businesses and general funds.

NATURAL RESOURCE PROTECTION

Student Trail Repair Crews – Young environmentalists from the Caribbean, working with the Student Conservation Association come to St. John to assist the Park in improving 5-8 miles of hiking trails each summer, and learn about the Park’s ecosystems. Funds: $105,000 from an anonymous foundation.

Moorings Installed to Protect Habitat – 200 overnight boat moorings were installed in eight Park bays to protect sea grasses, turtle habitat and coral reefs from damage by boat anchors. In 2004-2005, Friends funded the installation of an additional 75 moorings for day-use, storm refuge, dive sites, and fishing within Coral Reef National Monument. Total expenditure to date on this activity has bee in excess of $400,000. The Park now operates a fee collection system that will fund mooring maintenance and installation of additional moorings.

Boater Outreach Project -  This project was to develop and distribute instructional and cautionary materials to instruct boat operators, particularly of small powerboats, where and how to anchor in the waters of VI National Park and VI Coral Reef National Monument.  The laminated maps and flyers were distributed to the boat charter and rental companies on St Thomas, St John and Tortola. They are prominently displayed at the marinas and on each boat.  Additionally there is a sticker on each boat reminding boaters to use care in dropping their anchor - "Look below before you throw".

SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

Supported three research projects on coral health. One project studied the impact of African dust on coral, and two projects studied White Pox disease and its impact on coral reefs. More than $45,000 has been raised for these activities. Disney Wildlife Conservation Fund has been the principal donor.

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FY 2007 Projects and Support Needs

Actions speak louder than words and our Board of Directors recently approved an active, ambitious and challenging program plan for 2007 projected to cost about $400,000. This includes new projects proposed by the Park, projects that have previously been approved but not yet completed, and new Friends-initiated projects. Many are projects that have grown to be closely identified with Friends support and, of course, there are many new projects as well.

Members wishing more information, or wishing to become involved with any of these projects, are welcome to come by the office or call. We invite members who are particularly interested in one of these projects to consider being a special sponsor of the project. Please contact Karen for more information.

This year’s plan includes the following projects:

ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION
 

Eco-Camps for Virgin Islands Students ($20,000) — The Friends is offering continuing support for on-going educational projects such as the Eco-Camps, which prove to be very successful and much-needed for youth in the Virgin Islands community.

Friends Scholarship Fund ($5,000) — To encourage study in fields related to natural resource protection and management at the university level, this scholarship will provide tuition assistance and summer internships for 2 students.

Parks as Living Classrooms ($5,000) — Teachers in local schools will be encouraged to make use of the Park in teaching science, local history, culture, crafts, ecology, conservation, etc. through the availability of grants ranging from $250-$500. Activities supported by this fund will help build a sense of stewardship for the Park’s natural and cultural resources, while developing/reinforcing a conservation ethic among St. John children.

Transportation for School Park Visits ($3,000) — The Friends will support costs to facilitate public school classes to participate in National Park programs such as visits to historic sites, the archaeology digs, Reef Bay hike and Annaberg.

Earth Day Environmental Fair ($1,500) - Children’s fair celebrating Earth Day and teaching VI youth about the importance of conservation and the environment.

CULTURAL PRESERVATION

Cultural Demonstrations ($5,000) – Every year, the Friends supports the local artisans at Annaberg demonstrating traditional ways of living on St. John. Such demonstrations and storytelling enhance the visitors’ experience.

Archeology Artifact Preservation ($30,000) - Assist in the preservation of the thousands of artifacts uncovered in the archeological digs by supporting material purchases, stipends and location costs of interns, and organizing volunteers.

Museum Exhibits for Cinnamon Bay ($43,000) - Support for the development of museum quality exhibit space within the archeological research setting at Cinnamon Bay Greathouse/warehouse, and showcase the history of St. John through a chronological time line using objects in the Park’s collection and through graphic illustration.

Historic Structures Preservation through Computer Graphics ($5,000) — There are more than 500 historic structures in the VI National Park, of which only 24 are being maintained. The remainder are being covered by vegetative growth and will eventually be reduced to ruins. This project will “virtually preserve” these sugar plantation era buildings utilizing a 3D computer aided design (CAD) program and geographical information systems (GIS) to map these structures for the historical record.

Folklife Cultural Festival ($10,000) In celebration of Black History Month, the Friends continues to support this well-attended cultural event.

Hassel Island — Continuing effort to restore the Creque Marine Railway area to allow the site to be safely visited while promoting community involvement in the further restoration of Hassel Island.

Theater Performance ($10,000) —Weekly, January through April, at Cinnamon Bay Amphitheater, Carabana Ensemble will perform “Dear Anna/Dear Peter”, which tells the love story of Peter VonSholten, Governor to the Danish West Indies, and his slave mistress Anna Haggard. It is believed this relationship played a role in emancipation for the enslaved people.

Resource Protection Moorings ($100,000) — Install storm refuge moorings in Hurricane Hole for approximately 50 boats. This is the last phase of this project.

SCA Trail Crew ($30,000) - Each summer the Friends continues to host a group of young conservationists to help maintain the various hiking trails on St. John. A mixed crew of young environmentalists from both the Virgin Islands and the continental US will assist the Park in improving 5-8 miles of hiking trails this summer while learning about the Park’s ecosystems.

Scientific Research ($15,000) — A pilot project to explore the relationship between water currents and coral bleaching/disease. The test hypothesis is that bleaching and disease are less severe in areas with high currents.

Post-Mortem Degradation Study ($13,500) - Study of the encrustation/recolonization and bioerosion of dead coral, a natural substrate of which there is a known time and cause of mortality.

Adopt a Beach/Trail Program ($1,000) — Foster community involvement and sense of stewardship by helping maintain the Park’s beaches and trails

SPECIAL PROJECTS

Accessible Trails ($71,000) - Investigate the possibility of creating accessible trails for individuals with impaired mobility. The Cinnamon Bay Loop Trail and the Francis Bay Trail are under consideration as a trial site.  As a part of the Park's 50th Anniversary, Friends commissioned an exhibit to acknowledge the vital role of philanthropy in establishing our National Park system, a garden exhibit at the Visitor Center.

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Seminars

Each year the Friends offers an extensive series of seminars. The seminars educate and inform visitors to St. John and island residents about the natural and cultural resources of this unique national treasure. All seminars leaders are acknowledged experts in their fields and are eager to share their knowledge with others.

The series runs from January to April, generally on Wednesdays and Saturdays. The seminars are educational, fun and affordable. Members enjoy discounted seminar fees and all proceeds go to support Park programs.

See the seminar summary

Your feedback on seminars is always appreciated.  If you have any suggestions or comments on ways we can improve the program, please let us know.  Also, if you can recommend an idea for a new seminar or refer someone who has the talents to teach a seminar related to the natural or cultural resources of St. John, we are open to suggestions.  Please call Kristen at (340) 779-4940.

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