Earth Day & Reef Fest!

Friends is proud to organize and present another youth education weekend at our 10th annual Earth Day and Reef Fest, April 19th and 20th.

The Earth Day Fair will be held April 19th at the National Park ball field in Cruz Bay from 9 am to 1 pm and have more than 20 educational exhibits and learning activities. The fair will kick off with a "litter stomp" parade from Julius E. Sprauve school to the fair grounds.

Then on Saturday, April 20th there will be a fee-free day at Trunk Bay from 12 to 5 pm with various exhibits and interactive activities all centered around reef preservation and conservation. There will be a free shuttle service from the Friends Store in Cruz Bay. Call 779-4940 for more details.

Eco-Camps a Success!

Friends sponsored Summer Eco-Camps were a massive success this year! 127 Virgin Islands youth attended one of six camps during July and the beginning of August. Thank you to all our sponsors who made this possible: Paul M. Angell Family Foundation, Lana Vento Charitable Trust, Disney Cruise Line, R&I Patton Goldsmithing, Anne Spychala Family Charitable Foundation, Starboard Investments, Glacial Energy VI, International Capital & Management Company, Rotary Club of St. John, VI-EPSCoR and the National Science Foundation.

Stay tuned for the Summer issue of Tidings, our newsletter, for a recap of all the fun!

New Website - Featured Article

Welcome to the NEW Friends of Virgin Islands National Park website!

virgin islands park We are thrilled to be able to share this new format with you. You can search by keyword, view events by month on our calendar, see updates from our Facebook page and so much more!

We hope that you find it a great resource for all things Friends related. We have designed it with you in mind, so please let us know what you think, and what you'd like to see! This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

UPDATE: THE FRIENDS OF THE PARK STORE IS BACK ONLINE! BE SURE TO STOP BY AND SHOP FOR ALL YOUR OLD FAVORITES AND LOTS OF NEW ITEMS TOO!

News from Trunk Bay

Blue Flags & Free Senior Passes

After over a year of planning, Blue Flags finally fly over four of our unique beaches across the Virgin Islands. Our very own Trunk Bay is the first Blue Flag designated beach in any US National Park! The Blue Flag program is an environmental award given to beaches and marinas making a special effort to implement sound management with respect to the local environment and nature, while also providing users with information on local environmental issues. In order to attain Blue Flag status, beaches and marinas have to comply with a number of strict criteria concerning environmental information and education, environmental management, safety and service facilities, and water quality.