Greetings!

There is a particular beauty in the exhaustion that follows physical exertion be it from working on the trails, sifting sand on an archeology dig, or in the case of the image above, swimming in the 19th Annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim. At 8 years old, Jax who lives on St. John completed the one-mile swim from Maho to Cinnamon unassisted!

The event, one of the most beautiful open water swims in the world, had 350 swimmers supported by 130 volunteers on land and sea. Truly, the dedication of our volunteers and sponsors that make this event possible each year is awe-inspiring. Thank you for sharing our passion - and your heart and energy! You make it possible!

The Power Swim marks the beginning of our summer calendar of programs including Learn to Swim and the Youth Trail Crew. Additionally, our Sea Turtle Nest Monitoring and Protection program kicks off its new season with volunteer training just in time for World Sea Turtle Day on Thursday, June 16.

As you can see, we don't miss a beat even in the summer heat. We hope you don't either. Get out there, explore, and enjoy your park! We will see you out there!

Warmly,
Tonia Lovejoy
Executive Director
2022 Beach-to-Beach Power Swim
Congratulations to the winners and a big thank you to all swimmers, volunteers, sponsors and cheering crews!  You made the 2022 Beach To Beach Power Swim a huge success and a lot of fun!

Every Memorial Day weekend, swimmers take to the beautiful waters of St. John to raise funds for kids swim programs and marine conservation and education outreach! The 19th Annual Beach-to-Beach 2022 Power Swim took place on Sunday, May 29 with participants swimming from Maho to Cinnamon, or to Trunk, or the full 3.5 mile long course to Hawksnest!
2022 Power swim
Kavone Wyatt, the designer of the 2022 race logo with swimmers of all ages!
Membership Raffle Winners
The members of Friends of Virgin Islands National Park are part of an impressive network of people with a shared passion for protecting and preserving our park. Anyone who became a member during our May Membership Drive was entered into a cool raffle! Congratulations to the winners:
First : Larimar link bracelet and ring from Vibe Collection was won by Katherine Hooven of St. John, VI.
Second: Silver cufflinks and money clip donated by Vibe Collection was won by Walter Mugdan of Little Neck, NY.
Third: A gift bag from the Park store was won by the Lenling-Shircel Family of Towers Lake, IL.
World Sea Turtle Day
Thursday June 16
12PM AST

Let's Talk Turtles: Protecting the Sea Turtles of St. John Virtual Seminar!

Join the VINP Sea Turtle Program leaders, Willow Melamet and Adren Anderson for an update on the program and the challenges our sea turtle population face as we kick off the 2022/23 nesting season. This presentation will cover sea turtle life history and the work being done to protect these endangered species. Zoom call information will be sent to registered participants.
You can help protect these beautiful endangered species
on World Sea Turtle Day!

Toast for turtles at The Tap Room on June 16th! St. John Brewers will donate a portion of proceeds that day to Friends marine conservation work!
TURTLE PATROL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED!

Some 100 awesome volunteers patrol our beaches during nesting season! Join us! Volunteers for the 2022/23 season need to be residents of STJ and able to commit July-November for at least one early morning patrol per week on a set schedule. New volunteers must attend one training session. Returning volunteers are encouraged to attend the Saturday, June 18 session for a quick refresher and a Q&A session. Beach monitoring will begin July 1st. Please RSVP to [email protected]
Scholarship Applications Open
Matheny
Danielle Olive a former recipient of the Jeffery Matheny Scholarship is now a biologist with the Department of Fish and Wildlife in the Virgin Islands.
Friends of Virgin Islands National Park believes that the future of conservation on St. John and beyond resides in our youth and as such we offer a number of scholarship opportunities.

Applications for the Noble Samuel Scholarship and the Jeffrey Matheny Scholarship are now open. The deadline for applications is July 11.

Current recipients of these scholarships are
K'Janne' Alfred, Lila Uzzell, Caliyah Helliger, and Lyric Vacharat.
Explore, Experience, And Learn In The Park
Unique Sea Turtle Boat Trip
Sunday June 12
Hosted by Sea Turtle Program Co-ordinator, Willow Melamet, this unique experience departs both St.Thomas and St.John. Learn from an expert and make two snorkel stops in the Park. BOOK HERE.

Coral Reef Virtual Seminar
Our coral reef ecosystem faces a number of challenges! Watch this informative virtual seminar recorded during Earth Week on the state of our coral reefs, why coral reefs matter, and what each of us can do to help save our coral reefs including wearing reef safe sunscreen. WATCH HERE.
Caneel Bay Letter From Superintendent
A letter from Nigel Fields, Park Superintendent appeared in the Virgin Islands Daily News on May 19, 2022. Entitled Shaping the future of Caneel Bay together, the letter provides an update on the potential development and environmental cleanup at Caneel Bay.
Useful Numbers for Park Stewards