Greetings!

Last week, we lost a beautiful icon with the passing of Dr. Jane Goodall. Her passion for the natural world and dedication to conservation inspired me, and countless others. She believed in hope and in the potential in every individual to make a difference by doing and caring. May her legacy live on in all of us.

As we kick off the 2025/26 season this month, we embrace the privilege of working to help assure the Park's unique terrestrial and marine resources are protected, the Virgin Islands' cultural treasures in the Park are preserved, and visitors and community are connected to their Park through volunteerism and education.

We do this in a climate of challenge for public spaces and the people who work to conserve them including the current government shutdown. As a community space with no gates, Virgin Islands National Park is open and a skeleton crew are working on safety and basic services. Please help by carrying out your trash and leaving no trace on our beautiful beaches and trails. The Visitor Center and Park Store are closed but members of our team can be found at the kiosk in Mongoose Junction and will be happy to assist with questions.

Many of our educational and fundraising programs and events kick off in October. Join us for a seminar during Ocean Week, go for a bird walk at Francis Bay, volunteer on the trail crew, or sign up to be a Member! Whatever form your engagement and support takes, you make all the difference. Thank you!

Warmly,

Tonia Lovejoy

Executive Director

Ocean Week Seminars & Coastal Cleanup

Ocean Week on St. John is October 18 to 24, 2025 and includes a beach cleanup, school activities, and seminars on the wonderful marine world. Join us!

• Drunk Bay Coastal Cleanup | Saturday, Oct 18 | 9AM in Salt Pond parking lot.

• Polychaetes (marine worms) of the Caribbean Virtual Seminar | Monday, Oct 20 | 12pm | Free | Register via link in button below.

• Saving Endangered Coral In The Park Virtual Seminar | Tuesday, Oct 21 | 12pm | Free | Register via link in button below.

Seasonal Events Begin

Every season, Friends invites you to experience the gifts of Virgin Islands National Park through a series of hikes, seminars, demonstrations, boat trips, and more from October to June. 

This month, we kick things off with:

• Francis Bay Bird Walk every Friday morning starting October 3.
• Volunteer Trail Crew every Tuesday and Thursday starting October 21.

VI March Mosaic Project Celebration

Please join us for a community event on St. John to honor the powerful contribution of Alton Adams to these emerald isles with the unveiling of the Virgin Islands March Mosaic Project.

The event takes place on Saturday, October 18, 2025 from 4 to 6pm at Westin St. John Resort & Villas. Light refreshments and beverages will be served. The Virgin Islands March will be performed by Sing St. John's Ocama Youth Choir.

Please RSVP to Jennifer Stone at jstone@friendsvinp.org or (340) 779-4940 by October 13, 2025.

Villas For The Park Registration Open

Register today for our 9th Annual Villas for the Park Auction which will run for two weeks from November 14 to 28, 2025.

Spend an amazing vacation and make a difference in one of the fabulous places kindly donated by owners and managers! 

If you are in a position to donate a stay, please contact Jennifer Stone at jstone@friendsvinp.org.

School Kids In The Park Curricula

Attention all teachers on St. John and St. Thomas! The School Kids In The Park (SKIP) program aims to encourage educators to utilize the Park as a “living classroom” by facilitating visits to the Park and working to remove barriers that may limit students' participation like transportation costs.

Trip options and educational content for the 2025/26 school year are available. Please contact us to plan a visit for your class to the Park.

Learn To Swim

Free Saturday morning swim classes at Cinnamon start up again on October 11. All ages are welcome.

More than a safety issue being able to swim opens up a world of joy above and below the water as well as employment opportunities in the tourism and marine industries and areas like marine research and conservation. We believe that everyone on our island should be able to swim.

October Membership Drive & Raffle

Membership dues are an invaluable support to the work we do. As a special thank you for renewing or signing up for membership this month, you will receive a turtle adoption certificate as well as be entered into an awesome raffle!

The winner of the raffle will win a beautiful, handcrafted sterling silver sea turtle pendant with a larimar cabochon shell on an 18” nautical box chain. The pendant and necklace are valued at $646 and are kindly donated by Vibe Jewelry. A runner-up will receive an awesome canvas tote full of goodies from the Park Store that is managed by Friends valued at $250.

News From The Park

VISITOR CENTER & PARK STORE

The National Park Visitor Center & Park Store in Cruz Bay is currently closed. As soon as the government reopens, the regular hours will resume: Monday to Thursday from 8:15am to 4pm and on Friday from 8:15am to 1:30pm.

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.

VOLUNTEER T-SHIRT SPONSORS

We are blessed with hundreds of wonderful humans who volunteer at our events, walk our beaches for signs of turtle nesting, and help keep Park trails maintained and safe for hikers. In return, they receive our gratitude and a T-shirt. We extend a big thank you to this year's shirt sponsors:

• USVI Tourism
• 340 Real Estate
• Vibe Jewelry
• Paradise Lumber 
• Antares Properties 
• High Tide Bar & Seafood Grill
• St. John Hardware
• Cruz Bay Watersports
• T-shirt One



Shop For Good

The National Park Visitor Center & Park Store in Cruz Bay which also houses much of our inventory, is currently closed. During the shutdown, limited items can still be purchased online at www.friendsvinp.org. The items below are available. If you would like to check on availability of other products in our store during the shutdown before you place an order, please contact Ameir Sprauve, our store manager at asprauve@friendsvinp.org.

Hooded Rash Guard $55

Junior Ranger Tote $18

Large Green Turtle $25

Useful Numbers