Friends Of The Virgin Islands National Park

Programs: Education projects funded and implemented projects and activities that furthered the greater environmental awareness and stewardship of the resources of virgin islands national park such as field trips for children and adults, summer camps for children, small grants for teachers, and environmental awareness activites for children. During this period: earth day environmental fair -organized & implemented annual earth day environmental fair for st. John school children & visitors. Learn to swim -provided supplies, equipment & volunteers to the park's learn to swim project conducted at trunk bay each summer. Nps centennial & vinp 60th anniversary celebration -commissioned a rockefeller/sprauve/stick monument which was installed at the philanthropy pavilion. Scholarship fund -provided 3 scholarships to students studying in natural science fields at the university level. School kids in the park (skip) -the project funded five small (500 max) grants for teachers to use vinp as a teaching/learning resource and provides transport for ranger-led field trips into park for 850 children. Snorkeler & boater awareness -provided stickers, posters & information tags to bare boat charter companies and companies that rent snorkel gear to help educate their customers on proper anchoring and snorkeling practices. Summer camps -provided for 120 children to attend the 3 day eco-camps and 24 children to attend 4 day science camp at viers. Friends app -produced and launched an app to inform visitors and other interested parties about the activities and resources of vi national park. Educational waysides -to provide educational waysides on cultural history themes. Donor/member education -kept donors, members and the general public informed of park news and issues through a newsletter and website.

cultural resource preservation projects funded and implemented projects and activities that furthered the protection of cultural and historic resources such as living history demonstrations, preservation of historic artifacts, interpretation of historic sites and presenting cultural programs. During this period: archeology & heritage program -continued support for the archeology & cultural heritage program, including support for interns and associated costs for implementation. Cultural evening at cinnamon bay -through a weekly program at cinnamon bay provided visitors with a history of the "african drum", such as its use as a communication tool, and the different beats used in music. Folk life festival -the 2017 festival will celebrate its 26th anniversary of the event with a focus on the islands' rich cultural history. Historic stabilization -stabilized masonry structures at annaberg and denis bay. Hassel island ethnographic documentary -produced a 30 minute film on the recollections of former inhabitants and workers on the island. Hassel island workshop -construction of the workshop was scheduled to begin september 15th and postponed due to the hurricanes.

natural resource protection projects funded and implemented projects and educational activities that furthered the protection of park natural resources including coral reefs, beaches, wild life, vegetation, maintenance of hiking trails and control of lionfish. During this period: coral reef education & protection -this pilot project enabled the viis/vicr to educate visitors to the park and monument on the status, trends, significance and threats facing our corals and coral reefs. Lionfish response & educational outreach -this project supported core's for efforts to reduce lionfish populations in virgin islands national park and vi coral reef national monument. Sea turtle monitoring & protection -this project supported the park's efforts to monitor & protect the endangered sea turtle populatin in virgin islands national park. Summer trail crews -this project employed 8 st. John/st. Thomas high school students for 6 weeks during the summer to work on park trail improvements & maintenance. It included environmental education activities. Trails program -maintained & repaired 27 miles of park trails using volunteer service groups and "walk-up" volunteers. Land preservation -purchased the 11. 8 acre parcel 1, maho bay quarter for eventual inclusion in vi national park. The land was purchased in january 2017; conveyance of the property to the nps is still underway. John head road improvement -paved the lower portion of the john head road to reduce the runoff into maho bay. Maho parking lot improvement -pave the parking lot at maho bay with a previous surface to reduce runoff into the bay and optimize parking in the lot. Project was to begin on september 5th, but was postponed due to the hurricanes.