Earth Day celebration unites students and community at the National Park Ball Field
By Kwaniqua Monsanto | Special to The Daily News | April 23, 2026 | ST. JOHN — The National Park ballfield buzzed with energy Wednesday as hundreds of students gathered for a lively Earth Day celebration dedicated to environmental awareness and community pride.
The event, hosted by Friends of the V.I. National Park, drew 400 students from Julius E. Sprauve School, St. John Christian Academy, Gifft Hill School and St. Thomas’ Joseph Sibilly Elementary School. They participated in a variety of hands-on activities designed to connect them with the island’s natural resources.
As part of the Earth Day, celebrated nationally on Wednesday, local organizations set up 20 booths that offered interactive environmental demonstrations as children explored the importance of conservation and the role they play in protecting St. John’s unique ecosystem.
The event also served as a reminder that St. John’s strength lies in its people — especially its young learners — who continue to honor both the land and the legacy of the islands.
The fun included a Litter Stomp Parade led by the V.I. Waste Management’s Litter Critter, and a National Park Service Junior Ranger Award ceremony was held for fourth graders.
A highlight of the event was the booth operated by the St. John Historical Society, where Weldon Wasson and Kathy Hilliard greeted visitors and shared that the nonprofit will resume activities in June. The group’s mission is not only to preserve the history of St. John but to safeguard the artifacts that tell the island’s story.
Their presence underscored a powerful message woven throughout the day’s celebration: caring for the environment and preserving cultural heritage are deeply connected responsibilities.
The Friends’ Earth Day activities will continue today with a Drunk Bay Coastal Clean Up. Volunteers should meet at 9 a.m. at the Salt Pond parking lot . Individuals are asked to wear closed-toe shoes as the beach is very rocky, a hat and to bring lots of water. Gloves and bags will be provided.
There will also be a virtual seminar on the Fauna of the Caneel Subwatershed from 1 to 2:30 p.m. on Friday. The seminar will feature a variety of experts presenting on sea turtle nesting, blue corals, rarely seen birds among others found in the Caneel subwatershed. To register, visit https://friendsvinp.org/earth-day/.
