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Hannah Eckert

Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Drunk Bay

Off the Beaten Path: Exploring Drunk Bay 1

Good morning and Happy CARNIVAL!

As a resident of this beautiful island, I love spending my days off beach hopping along the North Shore, but every now and then, I really enjoy stepping off the beaten path and doing a little exploring. A couple of weeks ago, on a picturesque, sunny day, a few friends and I drove out to the southeast part of St. John. 

We parked at Salt Pond and walked down the short trail to the beach. I love this area of St. John, because it has a different climate and altogether feel that distinguishes it from the rest of the island. Whereas the north side and closer to Cruz Bay tend to be lush and green, walking the trail to Salt Pond beach reminds me of the deserts found in Utah and Arizona. Cactus and frangipani line the path and the soil is reddish brown, very different from the powdery white beaches of Trunk Bay. 

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Reclaiming Paradise: St. John’s Mangrove Restoration Project

Reclaiming Paradise: St. John’s Mangrove Restoration Project 2

Tucked away near Annaberg and Leinster Bay is a collaborative initiative between the National Park Service, Friends of the Park, and Iowa State University. Students and community members alike have been hard at work revitalizing the local ecosystem by planting mangrove saplings around the existing Annaberg salt pond. 

When Hurricane Irma struck in 2017, a majority of the mangroves were destroyed, and a once thriving coastal forest was almost completely wiped out. Since October of this past year, Friends of the Park employees and Iowa State University students have been restoring this area. What are sometimes referred to as “rainforests of the sea”, mangroves protect our shorelines from erosion, maintain a biodiverse marine life, and encourage carbon sequestration, all vital to the balance of a healthy ecosystem here on St. John. 

Read moreReclaiming Paradise: St. John’s Mangrove Restoration Project

Friends of the Park Celebrates 20th Anniversary Power Swim

Friends of the Park Celebrates 20th Anniversary Power Swim 3

Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park is celebrating the 20th anniversary of the Power Swim, hosted annually during the last week of May. The Power Swim was created to support sea turtle protection, marine conservation, and youth swimming programs. This is one of the nonprofit’s biggest events of the year and a kick off to the summer season.

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Stuff Depot this Saturday (4/29) in Coral Bay

Stuff Depot this Saturday (4/29) in Coral Bay 4

Good morning, good morning! 🌞

Spring is in full bloom (if your sinuses didn’t already let you know) and you might be feeling an urge to start spring cleaning. Instead of taking your old things to the dumpster, bring them to Coral Bay’s Stuff Depot next week.

Next Saturday, on April 29th, there will be a community wide yard sale, coined “The Stuff Depot” from 9am – 12pm at Oasis in Coral Bay. The Stuff Depot is a triannual event hosted by the Coral Bay Community Council to help reduce the amount of waste that ends up in the landfill and to repurpose forgotten/unused items around your home. Community members can either donate their items to the CBCC directly or sell them at the Stuff Depot independently.

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Friends of the Park’s Annual Earth Week Kicks off April 15th

Friends of the Park’s Annual Earth Week Kicks off April 15th 5

Good morning, good morning! 

Every year on April 22nd, Earth Day is celebrated across the globe as more than 190 countries come together to promote environmental awareness and take conservation action. Whether on a large scale advocating for national policy or on a smaller scale participating in local trash cleanups, Earth Day unifies people from all walks of life to protect what we all have in common – calling the Earth our home. 

Earth Day was originally created in 1970 by Wisconsin junior Senator Gaylord Nelson, Congressman Pete McCloskey, and activist Denis Hayes in an effort to bring environmental awareness to college campuses. They chose April 22nd because it fell between spring break and exams. College students protesting against careless industrial practices such as toxic waste mismanagement gained National attention, leading to the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency.

Friends of the Park’s Annual Earth Week Kicks off April 15th 6

Soon after, laws such as the National Environmental Education Act, Clean Water Act, and the Endangered Species Act were created. Over fourty years ago, Earth Day activism pioneered environmental awareness and exemplified how important it is to teach the community, especially our youth, how to protect our planet for future generations to come. We’re still fighting the good fight, and the annual Earth Day is our reminder. 

Read moreFriends of the Park’s Annual Earth Week Kicks off April 15th

Health and Environmental Impacts as the Annual Saharan Dust Returns to the Caribbean

Health and Environmental Impacts as the Annual Saharan Dust Returns to the Caribbean 7

Good morning, good morning!

The annual arrival of ethereal sunsets and a light, hazy fog is coming to the Caribbean a little early this year. Deriving from the Saharan desert in Northern Africa, a massive plume of dust is expected to bring its haze within the next few weeks. Typically not seen until May or June, the Saharan Air Layer, or SAL, will be making its first appearance on the northernmost tip of South America by today. By next week, small clouds of dust and sand will begin to coat the Lesser Antilles.

Health and Environmental Impacts as the Annual Saharan Dust Returns to the Caribbean 8
Taken from a previous NSJ article “Sahara Dust Settles Over St. John”

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Love City Creates Mosaic Mural in the Park

Love City Creates Mosaic Mural in the Park 9

Good morning! With Spring right around the corner and St. Patrick’s Day coming up, this is my favorite time of year.

St. John has been a hub of activity lately. A couple of the highlights were the English Caribbean’s Women’s Fast-Pitch Tournament Qualifier at the National Park Ball Field and next to it, the community driven art project bordering the newly constructed playground. If you were in Cruz Bay last week, you may have stopped by the park to watch the softball games or helped to piece together the mosaic mural being created on the two walls encircling the kids’ playground.

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A Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach

A Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach 10

Good morning! Peak season is upon us, and I know most visitors will be looking for some unique, outdoorsy activities to do on St. John. I went crystal kayaking at Maho a few days ago and highly recommend it!

A Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach 11

Having lived on St. John for two years, you would think I’ve done everything this beautiful, small island has to offer a million times over, and yet I am still pleasantly surprised by the amount of fun activities that I find on my days off. Recently, I spent the day at Maho, one of my favorite beaches, and tried the crystal kayaking and paddleboarding offered at Maho Crossroads.

Read moreA Unique Lens: Crystal Kayaking and Paddleboarding at Maho Beach

Love City Yoga – A Growing Practice on St. John

Love City Yoga - A Growing Practice on St. John 12

One of the most important aspects of a community is the accessibility to health and wellness. Practicing yoga – whether at home or in a class, has a multitude of health benefits such as reducing stress, improving cardiovascular health, increasing flexibility, and encouraging mindfulness. It also creates a space to build community and share a collective energy through practice.

Love City Yoga - A Growing Practice on St. John 13

Certified instructor and creator of Love City Yoga, Corey Thomas recognized the need for organized, consistent yoga classes on island when she moved here from St. Thomas, four years ago. She started Love City Yoga last season, bringing much needed weekly classes to the Island. I went to one of the first classes, and it’s been beautiful to watch Love City Yoga grow over the last year.

Read moreLove City Yoga – A Growing Practice on St. John

Shwayze, Shred is Dead, and Since JulEYE to headline VI Jam Festival 2023

Shwayze, Shred is Dead, and Since JulEYE to headline VI Jam Festival 2023 14

With March fast approaching, our favorite music festival is right around the corner!  The 5th annual VI Jam Fest is less than a month away, hosted by the Windmill Bar + Moe of Lightbrush and Christie & Andy of Cruz Bay Music.

The event is held on the first week of March – dates are 2nd – 4th, and tickets are for sale at https://vijamfest.brownpapertickets.com.

Read moreShwayze, Shred is Dead, and Since JulEYE to headline VI Jam Festival 2023