The School Kids In The Park (SKIP) program aims to encourage educators to utilize the Park as a living classroom by facilitating visits to the Park and working to remove barriers that may limit students' participation like transportation costs. These trips to the Park offer options for your class to explore and learn in the park and include beach talks about sea turtles, visits to the Annaberg historic district, bird walks, nature and plant walks, and hiking the National Park Service Network to Freedom trail in Leinster Bay. Field trips and classroom visits will be led by a National Park Service Interpreter or Friends Educator.
Network To Freedom Hike
5th-12th grade | Leinster Bay Trail | 3 hours
Themes: history
Trip Description: Guided hike on Leinster Bay trail to the Murphy Great House. The hiking trail is about 3 miles out and back. The trail is slightly shaded with uneven terrain and 250 ft elevation gain. This area is part of the NPS Network to Freedom Program, which honors, preserves and promotes the history of resistance to enslavement through escape and flight.
Preparation: Sturdy, closed-toe shoes (no Crocs or slides), 1.5 liters of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection, rain gear during rainy season or on rainy days.
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with a guided tour of Annaberg.
Ram Head Guided Hike
5th-12th grade | Ram Head Trail | 3 hours
Themes: history, 1733 African Revolution
Trip Description: A Park Ranger will introduce you to the meaningful history of Ram Head, including events of the 1733 African Revolution. The trail is 2.5 miles out and back and is rocky and steep in some areas with little to no shade.
Preparation: Sturdy, closed-toe shoes (no Crocs or slides), 1.5 liters of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection, swimsuits if staying after to swim, rain gear during rainy season or on rainy days.
History & Heritage Of Annaberg
Pre-K-12th grade | Annaberg Historic Site | 1 hour
Themes: history, culture
Trip Description: Explore Annaberg, enjoy a cooking presentation from Ms. Olivia Christian in the cookhouse ruins, and explore the Annaberg garden with Mr. Charles Jackson to learn about native plants and their medicinal uses.
Preparation: Closed-toe shoes (no Crocs or slides), 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection, and rain gear during rainy season or on rainy days.. Annaberg has many bees and wasps, so have an epipen on hand if needed.
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with Leinster Bay, Network to Freedom Hike.
Learn About Sea Turtles
Pre-K-12th grade | Hawksnest Beach | 1.5-2.5 hours
Themes: sea turtles, marine conservation, data collection and management, research, biology, rehabilitation, measuring, weighing/scale use
Trip Description: Join our Friends educator for an interactive discussion about sea turtles, their environment and the issues facing their species today. Become a sea turtle biologist for the day with activities like nest protection and stranded sea turtle response. Have your students done a sea turtle trip before? We have new activities and a more data and skill-oriented curriculum for repeat or older students. Ask for more details!
Preparation: 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, mineral sunscreen and sun protective clothing, beach attire.
Leinster Bay Seashore Walk
Pre-K-12th grade | Leinster Bay Trail | 1 hour
Themes: marine resources, conservation
Trip Description: Join retired Ranger Laurel Brannick on a walk along the Leinster Bay shore and into the mangrove flats. Learn about the marine and natural resources along the beach and shore, and their importance to our ecosystem.
Preparation: Waterproof shoes (Crocs), swimsuits, 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, mineral sunscreen and sun protective clothing
* Not available during winter swell season.
Francis Bay Bird Walk
Pre-K-12th grade | Francis Bay Boardwalk | 1 hour
Themes: birds, natural resources
Trip Description: Join retired Ranger Laurel at the salt pond at Francis Bay (~.25 mile) and learn about local birds and other plants and animals that live around the salt pond, mangroves and seashore.
Preparation: Closed-toe shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection
*Trip Tip* The best time to take this trip is Nov-Apr, when there are more birds at the pond.
Cinnamon Bay Interpretive Loop Trail
Pre-K-12th grade | Cinnamon Bay | 2 hours
Themes: history, plants
Trip Description: Hike the Interpretive Loop trail (~.25 mile) through the shaded forest and the Cinnamon Bay Plantation ruins. Learn about the history of the area and the local vegetation.
Preparation: Closed toe shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection, rain gear during rainy season or on rainy days.
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with a tour of the Friends of the Park Plant Nursery & Learning Lab.
Volunteer With The Trail Crew
8th-12th grade | Virgin Islands National Park | 4 hours
Themes: volunteerism, community service, history, natural resources
Trip Description: Join the Friends trail volunteers in the field, maintaining ruins, clearing trails, picking up trash and debris, or assisting in our native planting projects! Projects will vary based on what work needs to be done in the park at that given time. Learn about history, the natural and cultural resources in the park, as well as the importance of volunteerism, community service, and conservation.
Preparation: Closed-toe shoes (no crocs or slides), long pants, 2 liters of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection. Trail work is hard work in the hot sun! Be prepared to use tools to cut vegetation such as catch and keep and acacia.
Friends Nursery & Learning Lab
Pre-K-12th grade | Cinnamon Bay | 1-2 hours
Themes: plants, conservation
Trip Description: Join a Friends Educator for a tour of our native plant nursery located at Cinnamon Bay. The nursery grows native plants, non-native fruiting plants, and rare, endangered plants. Learn about issues affecting the island such as coastal erosion, and the restoration projects happening in the park to protect endangered species. A planting activity can be arranged if we have the resources at the time.
Preparation: Closed-toe shoes, 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, sun protection.
*Trip Tip* Combine this trip with a guided hike on the Cinnamon Bay Interpretive Loop trail.
Animals On The Reef
Pre-K-12th grade | Hawksnest Beach | 1.5 hours
Themes: marine ecosystems, conservation, ocean animals, invertebrates, and vertebrates
Trip Description: Join a Friends educator for an interactive discussion about ocean animals found on Virgin Islands reefs including sharks, corals, grazing fish, and more! End the day with beach activities.
Preparation: 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, mineral sunscreen and sun protective clothing, beach attire.
Learn About Climate Change
Pre-K-12th grade | Hawksnest Beach | 1.5-2.5 hours
Themes: climate change, agriculture, indigenous peoples, data collection and management, temperature, measuring, weighing/scale use
Trip Description: Join our Friends educator for an interactive discussion and activities around climate change, the impacts of climate change in the Virgin Islands, or the use of agriculture to sequester carbon. This offering can be customized to have multiple sessions. Ask for more information!
Preparation: 1 liter of water per student, lunch/snacks, mineral sunscreen and sun protective clothing, beach attire.