Virgin Islands National Park - School Field Trip Programs (U.S. National Park Service)

outline map of St. John showing numbers for locations of Ranger-led school field trips

NPS

Virgin Islands National Park school field trips offer opportunities for students to explore the rich cultural and natural resources of the Virgin Islands.

Standard Programs -- The programs listed here are the most often requested. We would also be happy to accommodate a special request you may have. For example: we'd be happy to arrange for a program that would fit content benchmarks & standards. Please note: program lengths do not include transportation to and from the site. Numbers on the map refer to descriptions below.

Three girls are at a rocky seashore in Virgin Islands National Park. They are carefully pouring seawater over a sea urchin in their hands, to keep it healthy, while they examine it.

NPS

These students are keeping a sea urchin, called a "sea egg," moist while they examine it out of the water.

(1, 2) MANGROVE & SEASHORE WALK

Locations: Leinster Bay (1) or Lameshur Bay (2)

Round-trip time: 1.5 hours

Description: Students will explore our coastal habitats: the rocky seashore, mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Through the walk, by hands-on discovery, they will learn about the many plants and animals that live in these important ecosystems. Intricate relationships that exist between the different habitats will be discussed. Students need to wear shoes suitable for walking in the water. Hats, sunscreen and water to drink are also suggested

Lind Point Trail in Virgin Islands National Park goes through a dry tropical forest, with both broadleaf plants and cacti.

NPS

Both broadleaf vegetation and cacti grow along the Lind Point Trail.

(3) DRY TROPICAL FOREST HIKE

Location: Lind Point

Round-trip time: 3 hours

Description: This hike starts behind the Cruz Bay Visitor Center. It passes through the dry forest environment where students will see a variety of plants and animals, including insects. There is also an overlook of Cruz Bay and St. Thomas on the trail, which eventually ends at Honeymoon beach. Wear walking shoes and bring plenty of water.

Two students are looking toward the top of a kapok tree, while resting their hands on the buttress of the tree.

NPS

The students are looking toward the top of an old kapok tree.

(4) REEF BAY HIKE

Location: Reef Bay TraiL

Round-trip time: 4 hours

Description: This hike takes students down a 3-mile trail into the Reef Bay Valley, where the oldest, biggest trees on the island are found. Learn about the plants and animals of this moist tropical forest and the people who used them. Reef Bay has remains from Danish sugar plantations and Taino rock carvings. Students need to wear good hiking shoes and bring lunch and drinks. This activity involves taxi and boat transportation. Contact the Park for the current cost of this field trip, and to ask about Friends of the National Park support to cover the cost.

The view is through the door of a sugar plantation ruin, showing another ruin and vegetation in the background.

NPS

(5) CINNAMON BAY WALK

Location: Cinnamon Bay Nature Loop

Round-trip time: 1 hour

Description: Beginning and ending at Danish sugar plantation ruins, this half-mile loop passes through a moist tropical forest dominated by bay rum trees. The class may choose to stay for a picnic and a swim in this area after the activity.

A cultural practitioner demonstrates cooking on a stove in the kitchen of a 200-year-old Danish sugar mill plantation in Virgin Islands National Park.

NPS

cultural demonstration of cooking on a 200-year-old sugar plantation stove

(6) ANNABERG RUINS TOUR

Location: Annaberg Sugar Factory

Round-trip time: 2 hours

Description: Travel back in time to the most extensive Danish sugar factory on St. John. The ruins include a windmill, horsemill, boiling house, garden and enslaved laborers’ cabins. On certain days cultural demonstrators are at the site. This area is part of a Fee Demonstration program. Please request a fee waiver for any educational program.

Special Programs -- Many seasonal programs also occur in the Park throughout the year that may be of interest to teachers. Below is a list of these special programs.

Folklife Festival

Held every year during the month of February to celebrate Black History month. This 3-day festival occurs at Annaberg Plantation. The events include crafts, music, cooking, storytelling, and other cultural demonstrations.

Earth Day

During the month of April the Park coordinates some special activities to celebrate Earth Day. In the past, recycling contests, special hikes and games have been a part of this celebration.

Bird Watching

The Park conducts bird watching hikes during the fall and winter. Students can find migratory birds with the help of a Park ranger and then report their sightings on the Internet to a national sister shorebird program sponsored the U.S. Fish & Wildlife service.

Coast Weeks

Participate in a world-wide effort on your island to clean up our beaches and coast. Students adopt a beach, collect the trash they find and enter the information about the trash on data cards. This even occurs during the months of September and October.

Archaeology

When archaeology projects are occurring in the Park, students can schedule a trip to visit the site and actually work as an archaeologist for the day. Call to find out about possible projects that may be scheduled.

Evening Programs

For groups staying at the Cinnamon Bay Campground, evening slide shows can be arranged. Special topics may be requested. If the clouds stay away, there’s very little light pollution, so our dark skies are beautiful!

For Teachers:

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