Let’s face it, St. John is an incredible vacation destination. Beautiful beaches, incredible hiking, breathtaking overlooks, amazing dining options…But, when it comes to evening activities, there is definitely a lack of options for families or for those who don’t enjoy spending their night time hours at the bar. Well, Friends of Virgin Islands National Park and the folks at Cinnamon Bay are providing an incredibly fun AND educational solution to that problem with their new Cinnamon Bay Campground Chats series!
Starting this week, this dream team collaboration of Cinnamon Bay Beach and Campground and Friends VINP are offering FREE seminars in the evenings that will provide participating visitors and residents with an array of informative talks about the nature, culture and history of St. John.
The seminar schedule is as follows:
- Sea Turtle Talk with VINP Sea Turtle Monitoring and Protection Program Managers, Adren Anderson & Willow Melamet
- Learn about sea turtles and other St. John marine life
- Every second Monday (Beginning March 28) – 5PM-6PM – Cinnamon Raintree Café
- Traditional Arts & Crafts with cultural ambassador Delroy “Ital Anthony
- Learn to make a traditional broom with Tyre palms with the incredibly knowledgeable Ital!
- Every Tuesday – 5PM-6PM – Cinnamon Raintree Cafe
- Night Sky Program with NPS Ranger Mark Whitefoot
- Viewing the night sky through a telescope and learning about the stars above
- Every Wednesday – 8:15PM-9:15PM – Cinnamon Bay Beach
- Archaeology at Cinnamon Bay with Virgin Islands National Park Archaeology Team
- Learn about historical discoveries, unearthed at Cinnamon Bay
- Every Thursday – 5PM-6PM – Cinnamon Rain Tree Café
- Cultural Drumming with St. John legend Eddie Bruce
- Learn the history, development, and role of drumming in the lives of Afro-Caribbean people
- Every Friday – 5PM-6PM – Cinnamon Raintree Café
As mentioned, the seminars are free, but capacity is limited and registered guests will be given priority (registration is here). Oh, and if you’re headed that way, make plans to stay for an amazing dinner at the Raintree Cafe! And maybe a walk on the beach afterwards? In my mind, any one of these seminars, followed by an outdoor dinner in the magical atmosphere of Cinnamon Bay and an evening stroll in the sand sounds like an absolutely PERFECT evening 🙂
What a fabulous idea! Something the whole family can do together. Love it!
so any word when the cottages will open up?
Glad you got this going again with new topics . Thank you! Mark Whitefoot knows his stuff! So does Ital!
We went for the roast beef dinner which is every Friday night and it was delicious! Opens at 5:30
This is wonderful!
I was so sad as they slowly disappeared before the hurricanes!
And cooking in the stone ovens with Matti. I cannot remember her name but her stores were wonderful. We always too brownies and an old pan to bake them in to share,
Your ideas of different nightly posted topics is awesome. Is the ampatheater gone?
I wonder if someone would teach some CARIBBEAN or South African chant, dances for children, sing alongs. Keep sharing that wonderful culture!
Thank you
Matti Marsh! What a marvelously gracious teacher. The brownies baked in a flash in the oven.
This is wonderful!
I was so sad as they slowly disappeared before the hurricanes!
And cooking in the stone ovens with Matti. I cannot remember her name but her stores were wonderful. We always too brownies and an old pan to bake them in to share,
Your ideas of different nightly posted topics is awesome. Is the ampatheater gone?
I wonder if someone would teach some CARIBBEAN or South African chant, dances for children, sing alongs. Keep sharing that wonderful culture!
I so miss the evenings when “Inner Visions” Reggae Band would play at Cinnamon Bay and around St John before the band was no longer due to health issues. Can still buy their CD’s and re-listen to those wonderful sounds.
Inner Visions Reggae Band
Core members:
Phillip “Grasshopper” Pickering (lead vocals, guitar, percussion)
Alvin “Jupiter” Pickering (backing vocals, bass, percussion and Grasshopper’s
brother)
Akiba “Mr. Snooze” Pickering (vocals, keyboards and one of Grasshopper’s sons)
Aswad “Hollywood” Pickering (drums and another of Grasshopper’s sons).
Such talented group! Miss them so much.
Stayed in cabin #10 prior to Hurricane was great!