Photo: Kayden Richards

Greetings!

Artifacts found on St. John teach us that the Arawak-speaking people known as the Taino lived in Cinnamon Bay, Coral Bay, Caneel Bay and Lameshur Bay as far back as a 1,000 years. Today you can see their stories encrypted in the petroglyphs down the Reef Bay Trail gifting visitors a sense of the power of this place.

More recent history includes tales of hardship in sugar factories, islanders who used conch shells and drums to communicate, and baskets woven by hand through the years. Giving life to the past and the future allows protected lands to ensure that generations to come can discover the same sense of awe we experience today.

As anyone who lives here, or visits here, knows, from the beauty of the ecosystems found uniquely on St. John to the inspirational stories of human endurance, there is so much to be protected here in Virgin Islands National Park.

This month we celebrate Virgin Islands History month and the revival of the Folklife Festival by the park, as well as the end of a record breaking sea turtle nesting season and a busy volunteer season maintaining trails.

Thank you for sharing our passion for preserving the natural and cultural resources in the park. You are the park's best Friend!

Warmly,

Tonia Lovejoy

Executive Director

Celebrating Virgin Islands History & Culture

March is Virgin Islands History Month. We invite you to take the opportunity to learn and explore the history and culture that shapes this beautiful place.

ST. JOHN VOICES

On St. John much of the cultural heritage practices, traditions, and arts are deeply connected with the natural resources including the use of local plants and animals and the physical spaces now defined by the park. Here, St. John is an oral history about Virgin Islands National Park and St. John. It serves to give voice to the heritage, culture and natural history as told by born St. Johnians and resident scientists.  

PASSING IT ON DOCUMENTARY

Passing It On is a record of the inspirational tales told by Virgin Islands culture bearers who have participated in the Folklife Festival through the years. From learning about the history of the Moko Jumbie from Mr. Yisreal Peterson to the ways in which Ms. Shandis B. Davis’ family maubi recipe gets passed along, you will be intrigued and inspired!

ANNABERG CULTURAL PROGRAM

Monday to Wednesday | 10am to 2pm



Annaberg is the park's most accessible historic site and a must visit for anyone interested in understanding the history and heritage of St. John. We welcome you to visit with St. John cultural ambassadors sharing bread making stories in the old cook house, information about the plants in the Annaberg gardens, and cultural crafts and music.

GUIDED REEF BAY HIKE

This 3-mile guided hike runs on Mondays and Tuesdays until the end of April. The hike includes culturally relevant discussion topics that relate the flora, fauna, and history of the island as visitors take this journey with a Park Ranger. 

This excursion includes a boat pickup at Reef Bay beach for departure back to Cruz Bay weather permitting.

Record Breaking Turtle Season

The last hatchlings of the 2025 nesting season have left the shores of St. John marking the official conclusion of the season. These hatchlings are part of a record breaking 3,862 hawksbill and green sea turtle hatchlings that have been documented this season!

Our thanks to the amazing crew of 75 trained volunteers who monitored 45 beaches across the island taking care of nests from June to February.

New Board Members

Kahlifah Powell and John Lyons have joined the Board of Directors of Friends of Virgin Islands National Park. They join an amazing team of volunteers who generously give of their time and expertise to provide governance and counsel to the organization.

In addition, changes to the Board include the appointment of Tammy Donnelly as the Secretary and the retirement of Curtis Penn who becomes a member of the Friends Honorary Advisory Board.

Power Swim Registration Half Full

Registration for the 23rd Annual Joe Kessler's Beach To Beach Power Swim which will take place on Sunday, May 24, 2026 closes on May 20 or when capacity is reached which in recent years has been in April. So if you are planning on joining us for the fun, register now! 

Participants choose their distance starting at Maho Bay beach and swimming to Cinnamon Bay, Trunk Bay, or the full 3.5 miles to Hawksnest Bay. 

Things To Do In The Park

Explore, learn or volunteer with us! With hundreds of seminars, hikes and volunteer opportunities on our calendar throughout the season, there is something to do almost daily.

MARCH EVENTS

• Annaberg Cultural Demonstrations | Mon to Wed
• Jaguars of Brazil | Cinnamon Campground Chat Special Guest | Mar 19
• Cinnamon Campground Chats | Mon to Fri
• Unique Turtle Boat Excursion | Second Fridays
• Reef Bay Guided Hike | Mon & Tues
• Maho Sea Turtle Info Table | Tues
• Francis Bay Bird Walk | every Fri
• Volunteer Trail Crew | Tues & Thurs
• Learn To Swim | Sat

News From The Park

FOLKLIFE FESTIVAL 2026

Virgin Islands National Park is excited to announce the celebration of the Folklife Festival Revival in recognition of the 250th anniversary of our nation. The Folklife Festival Revival will begin on March 27 on the Cruz Bay Ballfield adjacent to the visitor center from 9AM to 2PM and will continue on March 28 at the Annaberg Sugar Factory Ruins from 2PM to 6PM. There will be cultural demonstrations, vendors and culture bearers to engage with students and the public. The park is grateful for the partnership of the community, Ten Sleepless Knights, US Virgin Islands AARP, Starfish Market, Dolphin Market, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park and our dedicated volunteers.

CALL FOR VOLUNTEERS - Anyone able to volunteer and help out at the event should please contact viis_interpretation@nps.gov

Business Spotlight

Community engagement is key to our ability to protect and preserve our park today and tomorrow. We would not be able to do the important work that keeps our Virgin Islands National Park thriving for visitors and residents alike without the generous support of local businesses.

OCEAN SURFARI

Ocean Surfari donates tens of thousands every year in support of the work we do thanks to their Let's Make A Difference campaign. When anyone books specific trips or buys one of their special shirts, $5 is donated to Friends. In addition, they provide the boat and crew for the Guided Reef Bay Hike return trip and for our monthly Sea Turtle Snorkeling Trip at cost.

Thank you to the entire Ocean Surfari / Reef Surfari team for their awesome support. This is a true Partnership With A Purpose.

Local businesses interested in becoming an Affinity Partner or sponsoring our events and programs, should please contact Jennifer Stone at jstone@friendsvinp.org.



Shop online or stop by the National Park Visitor Center & Park Store in Cruz Bay which is open Monday to Thursday from 8:15am to 4pm and on Friday from 8:15am to 1:30pm. Proceeds support natural and cultural resource protection and preservation.

Field Guide Rash Guard

Turtle Sweat Pants

St John Voices Anthology

Commemorative Coin

Field Guide Rash Guard

Turtle Sweat Pants

Useful Numbers