11TH ANNUAL BEACH-TO-BEACH POWER SWIM

Transcription

1 august 2014 Preserve. Protect. Educate. 11TH ANNUAL BEACH-TO-BEACH POWER SWIM Swimmers in action during the 2014 Beach to Beach Power Swim. The 11th annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim was another resounding success. Of the 315 people who registered, 292 hit the water at Maho Bay on a beautiful Saturday morning to compete in the Friends signature endurance sporting event. Swimmers enjoyed excellent sea and weather conditions. The event consists of three simultaneous events: the Short Course, one mile from Maho Bay to Cinnamon Bay; the Intermediate Course, 2¼ miles from Maho Bay to Trunk Bay; and the Long Course, 3½ miles from Maho Bay to Hawksnest Bay. In all events swimmers could use masks, fins, and/or snorkels in a separate assisted category and the long course could also be done by relay teams. The finish at Hawksnest Beach was even more exciting than last year s amazing finish. This year the top two finishers in the men s long course and the anchor of the winning relay team finished within nine seconds of each other! Rex Tillius, now of St. John, won for the second year in a row with a time of 1:12: year old Matthew Mays of St. Croix finished second, at 1:12:52. And older brother Bryson Mays, who is a three-time event winner and current course record-holder, came in third at 1:15:38. Jamarias Washshah, a 16-year old newcomer to the event from St. Croix, came in first for the women at 1:21:23; in second place three-time winner Barb Crowder of Durham, NC and St. John, came in at 1:21:55; and Jill Mulany, from Monroe, CT, finished third with a time of 1:26:27. New course records were set in several events: in the women s Intermediate Course Jennie Bucknell of Australia set a new course record of 52:18; in the women s intermediate assisted course a new record was set by Mindy Michtner at 54:03; and the relay team of Bret Fraser, Gabriel Huen and Stephen what s inside! Beach-to-Beach Power Swim Tidings Notes Message from the Supt. New Deputy Superintendent SCA Summer Trail Crew Earth Day/Litter Stomp Downloadable App Archaeology in VINP Paddle the Park 2014 Eco Camps Recap Summer Intern Lila Uzzell Villas for the Park Program Kids Learn to Swim New Mailing Schedule President s Message Upcoming Events Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is dedicated to the protection and preservation of the natural and cultural resources of Virgin Islands National Park and promotes the responsible enjoyment of this unique national treasure. Please remember to reuse and recycle whenever possible. printed on recycled paper CONTINUED ON PAGE 7

2 Notes New L Esperance Hike! Virgin Islands National Park is pleased to announce the addition of a ranger-led hike along the L Esperance Trail. Recently added to the list of official national park trails, the L Esperance Trail and ruins are rich in history and vegetation, with much to see. The L Esperance hike is offered on Fridays only, so be sure to make your reservations now by contacting the Friends of the Park Store in Mongoose Junction at Jeffrey Matheny Scholarship Recipient We are proud to announce that Bridget Ousley is the recipient of this year s Jeffrey Matheny Scholarship. Bridget will begin studying Anthropology at Humboldt State University this fall. The scholarship will also be renewed for Krystal Lanclos, who is currently studying Biology at Elon University. Friends Voted Best in VI The Friends has once again been recognized as The Best Association in the Virgin Islands on St. John and as Best VI Souvenir Shop by the Virgin Islands Daily News readers. Be sure to visit the Friends Store in Mongoose Junction, or visit org where you can click on the store tab to shop online. We are humbled by this honor and appreciate the support of all those who voted for us. SAVE THE DATE! Coastweeks 2014: September 20th marks the beginning of VI Coastweeks. During this time, community members will remove trash and other debris from Virgin Islands beaches and coastal shores. Last year over 100 Virgin Islanders participated, and over 10 million pounds of trash was collected! For details on how you can participate, please call Karen Jarvis at MESSAGE FROM THE SUPERINTENDENT BY BRION FITZGERALD It seems like I am always leading off with news and updates on our employees and this article will be no different. By the time you read this, our two longest serving employees will have retired effective June 28th, each having served over 40 years. Ina Duncan is well known in the St John Brion FitzGerald community and worked as Administrative Assistant in our Maintenance Division. While most of our visitors and Friends would not have had any direct contact with Ina, the support she has provided to the park, its resources and employees has had a significant impact on our collective wellbeing. Next is Paul Thomas; many of you will have met Paul in his role as our Chief of Interpretation for the past 15 years. He has been the lead park contact with the Friends in so many of our interpretive and educational endeavors. Other long-time members will remember that Paul has held a variety of jobs here including those of Campground (Cinnamon Bay) and Boat Patrol ranger as well as Management Assistant. Over the course of these 40+ years Paul has been our leading advocate of all things related to the culture of the VI and his long involvement with every area of park operations leads us to consider him our Emeritus organizational historian. We will all miss these long term friends and co-workers and wish them both the best as they enjoy this well-earned rest. My plan is to let Paul have about a week off before we bring him back as a 40+ year volunteer! As I write this we have contractors on site beginning the remodeling of the restroom facilities here at Visitor Center and a much needed overhaul of the Cinnamon Bay Wastewater Treatment Plant. These two projects are fully funded by the user fees that visitors pay at Trunk Bay. As with the funding we receive via your support to the Friends, it is hard to imagine how we would operate without it. I thank you again for that support and hope that you will continue to see it as a critical link in our ability to protect and preserve these resources for future generations. Hikers explore the L Esperance ruins. 2 august 2014

3 what can you do? shop at your local farmers market NEW DEPUTY SUPERINTENDENT JAYNE SCHAEFFER Virgin Islands National Park welcomes Jayne Schaeffer as its new Deputy Superintendent. Having arrived on St. John in May, 2014, from the Intermountain Regional Office, Jayne is a 30-year veteran of the National Park Service. In 1980, in her second year of college at St. Cloud State University in Minnesota, Jayne left the flatlands of her native state to take a summer Jayne Schaeffer job at the YMCA of the Rockies in Estes Park, Colorado, a gateway community to Rocky Mountain National Park. It was her first visit to a national park and it would have a lasting effect on her career. After graduating with a BS in Recreation and Leisure Studies and Outdoor Education, she began her Park Service career in 1983 as a seasonal technician in the Protection Division at the Statue of Liberty. After staying long enough to become a permanent NPS employee, she took a position as an Outdoor Recreation Planner in the Midwest Regional Office in Omaha, where she met her future husband, Skip. Jayne transferred to Golden Gate National Recreation Area in 1987 and received a Masters degree in Landscape Architecture from the University of California, Berkeley in Following the California stint, Jayne and Skip moved to Colorado where Jayne worked on a variety of landscape architecture projects out of the NPS Denver Service Center, where she had the privilege of working on projects at many iconic parks such as Yosemite, Grand Canyon and Mt. Rainier. Her 30-year career has also included acting Superintendent of Pecos National Historic Park, New Mexico, and Chief of Facility Management for the Intermountain Regional Office. Now at Virgin Islands National Park, she hopes to help keep things moving forward, especially in the area of solar and other sustainable energy technologies, be active in the community, and continue to enjoy our splendid sailing opportunities that she and her husband became hooked on from earlier visits here. Jayne and Skip have been married for 25 years and have two dogs and a cat. They are enjoying Virgin Islands National Park and are beginning to feel the warmth and vitality of the people that call St. John home. I like the laid back nature of the place. I love this park and am enjoying getting to know the staff, says Jayne. The Friends is excited to work with Jayne, as she will surely be an asset to Virgin Islands National Park. FRIENDS SUMMER TRAIL CREW: CONSERVATION STARTS HERE 2014 Summer Trail Crew at the VINP Visitors Center in Cruz Bay. This summer Friends of VINP, in partnership with the Student Conservation Association (SCA), selected a group of eight Virgin Islands high school students age to participate in a six-week summer trail crew program. The focus will be on completing hiking trail maintenance, repair, and restoration projects within Virgin Islands National Park. Crew members will gain hands-on skills, learn to work with others as a team, and develop leadership skills. This will encourage them to connect with their park while having fun and earning money. In addition, there will be educational and recreational activities such as a kayak trip and two-day camping experience at Cinnamon Bay to round out the program. This year s crew leaders, Jean Bartholomew and Kara Connor, travelled from Seattle, Washington to get a taste of island style trail work. While both are experienced SCA crew leaders, this is their first experience in the Virgin Islands, and they have been enjoying learning and exploring St. John s natural resources and rich history in addition to their work with the students. SEMINAR SERIES 2015 Friends Seminars focus on promoting enjoyment of the park and understanding of St. John s rich cultural history. The 2015 Seminar Series will include many of our classic offerings and some new seminars as well. The schedule will be available in November, so please be sure to check the Friends website, for details. 3

4 FRIENDS OF VINP CELEBRATES EARTH DAY 2014! In honor of Earth Day, participants of the Friends Adopt-A- Beach program were asked to clean their adopted areas as part of an island-wide beach cleanup. The Adopt-A-Beach/Trail program encourages volunteer groups to adopt a site and become responsible for keeping it clean. If you are interested in adopting a beach or trail please contact Karen Jarvis at kjarvis@friendsvinp.org. The Friends would like to thank the numerous volunteers who made the Environmental Fair a success. A special thank you goes out to the Pan Dragons, Westin Resort and Villas, Concordia Eco Resort, St. John Rotary, Virgin Islands Department of Agriculture, Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John Ice, Starfish Market, and Freshwater Church for their generous support. Remember, make every day earth day! Students learn about lionfish at the environmental fair. The sun was blazing under a bright blue sky as the 2014 Earth Day Environmental Fair and Litter Stomp Parade took place on Friday, April 25th, at the National Park Ball Field in Cruz Bay, St. John. This year s presentations included (but were not limited to) an electric car, exhibits from Island Green Living Association, Jean-Michel Cousteau s Environmental Ambassadors program, Coral World Ocean Park, Blue Flag, CORE Lionfish education, Gifft Hill School s Earth Program students, Dr. Gary Ray of Virgin Forest Nursery (who gave out seedling plants), Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS), a sea turtle presentation by VINP s Laurel Brannick, and a mock dig led by VINP archaeology interns. Virgin Islands Waste Management Authority co-hosted the third annual Litter Stomp Parade. Students made signs containing messages promoting environmental awareness and responsibility and paraded through Cruz Bay to the fairgrounds. The top posters were selected and the winners received day passes for their entire class to visit Coral World Ocean Park on St. Thomas. The goal of these activities is to educate, inform, and inspire Virgin Islands youth and the community on the importance of preserving and protecting our land and marine environments and resources. The events were free and open to the public, and all St. John schools and families were invited. This year, over 500 St. John students attended the Earth Day Environmental Fair. The Environmental Fair is a great way to educate our local youth about the environment and issues that are a threat to their islands. It is also an excellent opportunity to expose St. John students, who generally don t have the ability to attend fairs in St. Thomas, to important environmental programs on other islands. NEW FRIENDS MOBILE APPLICATION UNDER WAY! Friends is excited to be developing a new mobile application to improve the visitor experience while visiting Virgin Islands National Park! The Friends App will help visitors explore flora, fauna, trails, beaches, and snorkeling. The App will also serve to make boating information and fishing regulations easily accessible. A guide to the natural and historical features of the park will be at your fingertips as you use this downloadable App to explore St. John and as a hiking companion. The App will be free of charge and will not contain paid advertisements just pure park information! Friends new App! We have completed the first stage of development and anticipate the completion of a prototype in the near future. To view the Friends App development plans in action and share ideas about features you d like to see, please visit friendsvinp.org/app. The App will be able to be downloaded prior to park exploration to ensure information is available within the park (where there may not be cellular service). We are currently seeking donations to complete development and launching of the Friends App. Please contact Karen Vahling at kvahling@friendsvinp.org to support this exciting new project. Together, we can make a difference in how people experience and understand our park and its valuable resources! 4 august 2014

5 what can you do? support eco-friendly businesses and initiatives NEW ARCHAEOLOGY RESEARCH PROJECT UNDER WAY! BY STEVE JANKIEWICZ, NPS ARCHAEOLOGY INTERN 2ND ANNUAL PADDLE THE PARK RACE SET FOR NOVEMBER 2ND Metal artifacts from Cinnamon. Steve Jankiewicz, archaeology intern and graduate student at Northern Illinois University has begun research on metal artefacts recently uncovered by NPS Archaeologist Ken Wild. The aim of the project is to investigate the origins, manufacturing technique, function and meaning of two metal artefacts recovered during excavations of the prehistoric site at Cinnamon Bay. Radiocarbon dating indicates the artefacts were deposited between AD 1100 and AD Further analysis will utilize non-destructive techniques including optical microscopy. Visual analysis previously completed by Ken Wild suggests the two metal artefacts are composed of gold. The objects are currently identified as a small gold/copper-mixed square pendant and a perforated gold disc that could have functioned as an eye inlay for carved wooden and beaded idols. This analysis will provide insight into the development of pre-contact interaction spheres and patterns of exchange in the region that incorporated St. John. Metal objects are an extremely rare resource recovered from pre-contact sites in the Caribbean (these objects comprise two of the three reported metal artefacts from indigenous sites in all of the Lesser Antilles) and this analysis will undoubtedly provide a clearer understanding of the role and distribution of particular metals in indigenous cultures throughout the Caribbean. Competitors off to a strong start at last year s Paddle the Park race. Celebrating the beaches and waters of Virgin Islands National Park, Friends is pleased to host the 2nd annual Paddle the Park, a stand up paddleboard race. Paddle the Park will be held on Sunday, November 2, 2014 at Maho Bay, on St. John. This year there will be three courses which include a short course from Maho Beach to the NPS floating fee station and back about one mile. An open course from Maho Beach to Whistling Cay and back about three miles, and for those adventurous paddlers, there will be an elite course from Maho Beach to Whistling Cay, then to and around Cinnamon Cay, back behind Whistling Cay and back to Maho about 5.5 miles. Last year over 50 paddleboard enthusiasts, including competitors from St. John, St. Thomas, St. Croix, and Tortola enjoyed beautiful sea and wind conditions as they paddled the breathtakingly beautiful turquoise waters of Virgin Islands National Park. Like last year, this year s race will be followed by a buffet lunch at the Maho pavilion and an awards ceremony where awards will be given to the 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place male and female finishers in each race. Registration will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd, and will continue through Saturday, November 1st. For more information, please visit or give us a call at

6 ISLAND KIDS ATTEND SUMMER CAMPS AT VIERS!! Eco Campers gather on the dock at VIERS. This summer, the Friends and Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) provided free educational summer programs for Virgin Islands students. In July and August, 162 local children between the ages of 7 17 attended summer camp sessions held at VIERS, located at Lameshur Bay on St. John s south side. Eco-Camps for children age 7 12 are designed to ensure that the campers enjoy themselves while learning about the environment through hands-on activities and lessons. VIERS and its educators help students identify what some of their daily responsibilities are in protecting, preserving, and conserving natural resources. Eco-Camps focus on coastal ecology through interactive activities and lessons. Science Camps allowed students, ages 13 17, to spend a week experiencing marine science with graduate students and university professors. Science campers had the opportunity to assist with research activities and learn about experiment design and marine biology, all while exploring beautiful Lameshur Bay. The camp was capped off with a snorkelling and boat adventure along the south side of St. John. PARK PERSPECTIVE WITH FRIENDS SUMMER INTERN LILA UZZELL Hello Friends! I am honored to be working for Friends of Virgin Islands National Park this summer. I am originally from St. John, but will be beginning my junior year at the University of North Carolina, Asheville in the fall, pursuing a degree in Environmental Studies. Attending college away from St. Lila Uzzell John has made me realize how lucky I am to have grown up exploring the natural wonders that St. John has to offer, due in large part to the preservation made possible by Virgin Islands National Park. By being immersed in a non-profit organization, the Friends has afforded me the opportunity to work towards preserving and protecting St. John. As the Friends summer intern, I will be working on several projects including snorkeler and boater awareness outreach programs, working with Laurel Brannick on the Learn to Swim program, and seeking the support of island visitors through a Villa Outreach program. Additionally, I will be assisting in the office, helping at the Friends Store and with VIERS summer eco-camps. I am grateful to be able to gain experience, broaden my perspective, and learn more about my island home through the Friends. Working among the Friends has shed a whole new light on St. John for me. I look forward to applying what I have learned from this experience to studies amid sustainable environmental practices, and hope to become involved in retaining St. John s beauty for generations to come. NEW VILLAS FOR THE PARK PROGRAM IS UP AND RUNNING Love staying on St. John and love the park? Now you can help preserve paradise just by choosing your next vacation rental through our Villas for the Park program! Villas for the Park partners make a donation to Friends when you select their property for your next stay through the portal on our website. These partners know the importance of protection, preservation and education in our park, and have agreed to give back, at no cost to you. Choose from dozens of villas in every size, location and price range and then relax knowing that your lodging has generated a donation to help our national park! Another bonus: when you fill in your address at the website portal, we will send you a FREE Family Membership to Friends, including valuable discounts with our Affinity Partners during your stay. So go villa shopping and plan your next trip now at It s a win-win for everyone and especially our park! 6 august 2014

7 what can you do? learn about VI National Park by participating in seminars LOCAL KIDS LEARN TO SWIM! BY LAUREL BRANNICK The park s Learn to Swim Program is a big hit with local kids! The boundaries of Virgin Islands National Park not only protect the terrestrial landscape of St John, but also extend out into its surrounding waters. The park s stunning marine habitats include coral reefs, sea grass beds, and the many creatures that inhabit them. We all have seen plenty of tourists enjoying these underwater wonders, but what about our local youth? Surprisingly, there are many island children who are missing out on exploring St. John s underwater environment because they are unable to swim. So, Friends of VINP, along with a few park employees and volunteers sponsor a Learn to Swim program at Trunk Bay each summer. Swim lessons have actually been happening for the last 20 years, but more recently, support from the Friends has enabled the purchase of much-needed equipment and the program has grown significantly. As a result, 60 children will participate in the program this year. Once they learn to swim, children are able to experience the Trunk Bay underwater trail, and most remark that is the most beautiful thing they have ever seen. The excitement on their faces when they see a tarpon, a turtle or a ray up close for the first time is rewarding, making it all worthwhile. While some children learn to swim during the course of one summer, and for others it may take a bit longer, one thing is clear this program is making a difference by increasing the number of children on St. John who can swim. If you are interested in helping out with the learn to swim program, contact Laurel Brannick at ext ATTENTION MEMBERS!! NEW ANNUAL MEMBERSHIP MAILING CYCLE STARTS APRIL 1, 2015 Friends of Virgin Islands National Park is converting to an annual membership cycle. As you know, your membership is currently based on your anniversary of joining the Friends. In the future, memberships will run from April 1st to March 31st of the following year. This conversion from monthly mailings will save time and money for important park programs and projects. Renew your membership now and you will receive FREE BONUS MONTHS of membership! We are paying it forward so you don t miss out on membership benefits such as the Affinity Partner discounts and Tidings newsletters. So why wait? Renew now online at and check out the 23 programs and projects that you are helping make happen! 11TH ANNUAL BEACH-TO- BEACH POWER SWIM CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1 Lichtner shaved a minute off the record and won with a time of 1:12:47. Full results of all races are available online at www. friendsvinp.org/swim The swim was followed by a beach party and awards ceremony at nearby Oppenheimer Beach which was attended by more than 200 swimmers, spectators and volunteers. Awards were given to the top three finishers and first place agegroup winners in each event/category. Special awards were also given to: the nine swimmers who have competed in all eleven Beach-to-Beach Power Swims; the youngest swimmers at age seven (Isabel Thill and Sofia Becerra) and the oldest swimmer, Martha Henderson (age 77). This year we were honored to have a group of eight swimmers from Australia and they were each given Magellan awards for having traveled the furthest. The success of this event is only possible thanks to the generous support of event s sponsors and contributors of goods and services, the diligent work of more than 120 volunteers, the dedication of Friends staff, and the collaboration of the National Park Service. Mark your calendars: the 12th annual Beach-to-Beach Power Swim will be Sunday, May 24,

8 august 2014 PRESIDENT S MESSAGE BY JOE KESSLER Over the years the Friends has increased our attention on island youth. Building on a modest, but important and very popular Eco-camp program, we now have programs that target school children throughout the year. We now enable about 2,500 student visits in the park annually for ranger-led activities and events. Virtually every student on St. John visits the park at least twice and about 30% of students on St. Thomas visit as well. Helping to nurture the next generation of conservation citizens is an important Joe Kessler part of our mandate. Local children are going to be the next environmental stewards of these islands and of Virgin Islands National Park. We feel that it is incumbent upon the Friends, and frankly all of us, to ensure that our youth are prepared for this responsibility. Our youth programs include: Three types of sleep away summer camps: Eco-camps provide a 3-day, 2 night experience for children ages 7 12, to stay within the park at VIERS to learn about marine and terrestrial eco-systems; Science Camp for older children, ages 13 17, that take the curriculum of the eco-camps further and provide the campers with an opportunity to interact with scientists at VIERS; and, a 5-day, 4 night Ranger-in-Training camp, also for older children. School Kids in the Park (SKIP) is a two-fold program: it provides small grants to teachers enabling them to do projects and activities that use the park as an educational resource, and enables field trips to the park for rangerled activities. The Earth Day Environmental Fair and Reef Fest provide a fun environmental learning experience. The fair is attended by almost all of St. John s school children. The Summer Trail Crew program provides an opportunity for eight VI high school students to work repairing park hiking trails each summer. These are paid positions and the crew members develop a responsible work ethic, as well as learn important technical, leadership, and team-building life skills. The Friends Scholarship program provides financial assistance to students studying natural sciences at the university level. These projects are only possible because of your support. Together we can make a difference and ensure the thoughtful and responsible stewardship of this beautiful island and awe-inspiring national park. To continue this good work, I hope that VINP and the Friends remain one of your philanthropic priorities. I look forward to seeing you out in the park! DIRECTORY FRIENDS OFFICE: FRIENDS STORE: FRIENDS info@friendsvinp.org VI NATIONAL PARK FRONT DESK: ext: 238 Coming events! VI Annual Gala: The 11th annual Friends Gala event will be held on February 7, Don t miss this elegant evening known as the best party on St. John! There will be live music, dancing, fabulous food, fine wines and champagne at Pam and Steve Deckoff s stunning home, Presidio del Mar. Paddle the Park SUP Race: The 2nd annual Paddle the Park standup paddleboard race will be held at Maho Bay on Sunday, November 2nd. Registration will begin on Tuesday, September 2nd, and will continue through Saturday, November 1st. For more information, please visit www. friendsvinp.org/news-a-events/ paddle-the-park or give us a call at Online Auction: The Friends Online Auction will be back again this year offering great deals on jewelry, artwork, vacation getaways and more! You can support Friends and find unique gifts just in time for the holidays. Invitations will be sent by . Auction dates are Nov. 15 Dec 7, 2014 and the web address is www. biddingforgood.com/friendsvinp. If you would like to make a donation, such as a vacation rental stay, goods or services, please contact Karen Vahling at kvahling@ friendsvinp.org. PO Box 811 St John, Virgin Islands ADDRESS SERVICE REQUESTED NONPROFIT ORG. U.S. POSTAGE PAID CRUZ BAY, VI PERMIT NO. 07