Virtual Seminars
The Friends Seminars aim to educate and inform on subjects related to the protection, conservation, and preservation of the natural and cultural resources in the Virgin Islands National Park. Enjoy these recordings of past seminars.
Fauna of the Caneel Subwatershed
Recorded April 2026
This seminar is part of the Earth Week celebrations. Learn from experts about nesting critically endangered hawksbills, the rarely seen black crowned night heron, and the blue crust coral.
Summer Birds of St. John
Recorded April 2026
This seminar is part of the Cinnamon Campground Chats series. The presenter is former park ranger and major bird lover and expert, Laurel Brannick.
Understanding Jaguars
Recorded March 2026
This seminar is part of the Cinnamon Campground Chats series. This presentation is by guest speaker, Abby Martin.
Coral Reef Ecosystems
Recorded February 2026
This seminar is part of the Cinnamon Campground Chats series. Marine biologist and long time St. John resident, Jeff Miller shares is passion for these complex, fragile creatures and the challenges they face.
Mangrove and Coral Habitats
Recorded February 2026
This seminar is part of the Cinnamon Campground Chats series. This guest presentation is by Shelby Adkins.
Winter Birds of St. John
Recorded January 2026
This seminar is part of the Cinnamon Campground Chats series. The presenter is former park ranger and major bird lover and expert, Laurel Brannick.
Polychaetes of the Caribbean
Recorded October 2025 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Nancy Prentiss studied polychaetes (marine worms) on St. John for over 10 years. During that time, she discovered a new species of fanworm - Turbocavus secretus! Join us for this recorded virtual seminar to learn more about her work.
Saving Endangered Coral
Recorded October 2025 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Dr. Rebecca Gibbel and the rest of the CORE team have been hard at work cleaning and maintaining the coral nursery dome in Leinster Bay! The coral nursery has seen rapid growth this year, so tune in to learn more exciting updates from CORE.
YP Talk Series
Recorded May 2025
Learn about ocean swimming in the VI from a Power Swim GOAT! Marine biologist and ocean swimmer, Jeff Miller talks lessons learned in the waters around St. John.
USVI Wildlife Rehab
Recorded October 2024 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Dr. Samuel Eliades, Director of Research & Conservation at Coral World Ocean and Reef Initiative (CWORI) will present on the rescue and rehabilitation process at Coral World with extra focus on sea turtles.
Sea Turtles 101
Recorded October 2024 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Join Friends Education Specialist, Kaitlyn Cummings and learn about the Virgin Islands National Park Sea Turtle Program, the general life cycle of a sea turtle, the three turtles found in the US Virgin Islands, and the things you can do to protect our turtles!
Coral Ecosystem Threats
Recorded October 2024 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Jeff Miller is a retired fisheries biologist formerly stationed at Virgin Islands National Park. It’s a tough time to be a coral. Jeff shares his passion for the spectacular animals of the coral reefs and suggests ways you can help.
Conservation In The Virgin Islands
Recorded April 2024 | Virtual Panel
What does it mean to be a conservationist in the Virgin Islands? Protecting our place and building a healthy future. Join our esteemed panel as we explore the various lenses that we each bring to the field of 'conservation'.
Sedimentation Impacts on Yellowtail Parrotfish
Recorded October 2023 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Parrotfishes function as important regulators of marine algae in Caribbean coral reef systems through their feeding activity. This presentation examines the influence of sedimentation on the feeding and spawning behavior of Yellowtail Parrotfish (Sparisoma rubripinne) in the Virgin Islands National Park. Presented by Dr. Rick Nemeth, PhD, UVI.
Rescue To Reef
Recorded October 2023 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Rescue to Reef: A Novel Partnership for Coral Restoration in the U.S. Virgin Island. Presented by Dr. Marilyn Brandt, Research Associate Professor Center for Marine and Environmental Studies, this presentation will discuss the current state of U.S. Virgin Islands reefs, and how a novel partnership between Reef Response and Lovango Resort and Beach Club is working to protect and restore local coral reef resources.
Mangroves Matter
Recorded October 2023 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Mangroves Matter: A Spotlight on Mangrove Initiatives in the U.S. Virgin Islands. This talk covers what mangroves are, their global and local ecosystem services to us, what we are doing for our USVI mangroves, and why you should think mangroves are AMAZING (if you don't already). Presented by Lila Uzzell, Masters of Marine and Environmental Science (MMES) program, UVI
Sea Turtle Research In The USVI
Recorded October 2023 | Ocean Week Virtual Seminar
Learn about the sea turtle species and research being conducted in the USVI including the importance of monitoring nest populations, sand temperature, and genetic sampling. Presented by Katie Ayres, former Friends Sea Turtle Program Co-Coordinator.
Let's Talk Turtles
Recorded May 2023 | Virtual Seminar
Join the Virgin Islands National Park Sea Turtle Program team for an update on the program and the challenges our sea turtle population face as we kick off the 2023/24 nesting season. This presentation includes a review of the 2022 season report.
Birds of St John
Recorded January 2021 | Virtual Seminar
Community Matters Seminars 2022
This seminar series intended to sponsor conversations related to conservation, sustainable development, disaster capitalism, and environmental racism is made possible thanks to the support of the National Endowment for the Humanities, Community Foundation of the Virgin Islands and WTJX/NPR.
Reef Smart Virtual Seminar 2022
Recorded April 2022
Earth Day 2021 Student Seminars
Recorded April 2021
Let’s Talk Turtles!
Aluminum Can Recycling. How Does It Work?
Endangered Species Seminars 2021
Ocean Week 2021 Seminars
Ocean Week 2020 Seminars
Recorded October 2020.
