Women's Service and Fun in Sunny St. John, Virgin Islands National Park, St. John, U.S. Virgin Islands

The Trip

Women in the Wilderness: Celebrating 40 Years of Women’s Outings

The Virgin Islands National Park (VINP) encompasses over 60% of the island of St. John, the smallest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, which makes St. John one of the least commercial of all the Caribbean islands. This mountainous island boasts a vast and diverse ecology, with more than 800 species of plants, 144 species of birds, and interesting critters like mongoose and hermit crabs. Tropical forests are ringed by white sand beaches and coral reefs full of colorful fish and exotic flora.

Join a long tradition of women in the wilderness as we celebrate 40 years of women’s trips Connect with nature, find camaraderie and trust in yourself as you camp at beautiful Cinnamon Bay on the north side of the VINP. Cinnamon Bay is located four miles from the Cruz Bay Ferry Terminal. Our tents will be just a short walk from the sands of Cinnamon Bay with its pristine turquoise water and one of the longest whitest beaches in VINP. Our primitive camp was established by the park service after the devastating hurricanes to help “The Friends of the Park” host service groups with the recovery work in the national park. Large platform tents are provided as well as a commissary/kitchen area, where we will prepare our meals. The beautiful bay and a small cay are just offshore, waiting for us to enjoy at the end of our workday. 

The Project

Our service projects may include trail maintenance, clearing vegetation, gardening, developing walking and hiking paths, or uncovering historic sugar plantation and mill ruins. We often hike to our worksites. Participants should be able to hike up to 5 miles a day, on uneven terrain, while carrying 20 lbs and performing manual labor in hot and humid conditions for up to 6 hours a day. We will work on projects for four days. At the end of each work day we will have time to enjoy the area and beach around Cinnamon Bay. On Wednesday participants will be free to explore choosing their own excursions like sailing, hiking, snorkeling(at your own expense) or just relaxing on the beach. On Saturday we will kayak in the East End and Hurricane Hole snorkeling over coral reefs and mangroves. Closed-toe shoes and work gloves are needed for our service work. Lightweight long sleeves, long pants, and a hat are recommended.

Day 1: The trip officially starts at the dock at Cruz Bay, St. John after eating lunch out on your own, we will meet at 2 p.m. on Sunday. The nearest major airport is on St. Thomas (STT). Ferries from St. Thomas to St. John leave hourly from Red Hook ferry terminal. There are many restaurants and small shops within walking distance of the ferry dock in Cruz Bay. Transportation to/from the ferry dock and our campsite will be provided by taxi. We’ll have a get-acquainted and orientation meeting and evening meal once we are settled at Cinnamon Bay. 

Days 2-3: Our dedicated to our service projects with the Friends of the National Park from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Afternoons are free for swimming, taking short hikes, or relaxing. Participants will be expected to help the leaders prepare and clean up our meals. Evening activities could include: beach walks, stargazing, reading, games, and Friends of VINP speaker(s). We will eat at the restaurant near our campground one evening. (At your expense)

Day 4: We’ll enjoy a full day kayak and snorkel tour including visiting Long Bay, Coral Reef National Monument and Water Creek. 

Days 5-6: Our dedicated to our service projects with the Friends of the National Park from 8:00 a.m. until 2:30 p.m. Afternoons are free for swimming, taking short hikes, or relaxing. Participants will be expected to help the leaders prepare and clean up our meals. Evening activities could include: beach walks, stargazing, reading, games, and Friends of VINP speaker(s).

Day 7: Free day to choose your excursion, maybe snorkel at different beaches on the island, a sail, cultural events at the National Park or hike. Dinner out at a restaurant of your choice. (At your expense)

Day 8: Time to pack up and tidy our camp, leaving by midmorning for Cruz Bay and the ferry back to St. Thomas. Departing flights from St. Thomas should be scheduled for 2:30 p.m. or later. 

The leaders will make every reasonable effort to meet the goals outlined in the itinerary. Please keep in mind that weather or other conditions beyond our control may cause us to modify the itinerary in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the group. Please be prepared to be flexible.

Getting There

Flights from the United States will go to Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas (STT). Ferry service from St. Thomas to St. John is provided hourly from Red Hook where you will purchase a one-way ticket to St. John for $8.15 plus an additional fee per piece of luggage. Most participants will want to arrive in St. Thomas at least one day early and overnight in Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas. The leader will provide further information about the ferries and lodging options in St. Thomas to participants in advance of the trip. Please do not make non-refundable travel arrangements until notified to do so by the tip leader. Participants are encouraged to purchase travel insurance to cover this adventure.

Accommodations and Food

We will be using Eureka Copper Canyon 12 tents provided by the park service. The tents are set on raised wooden platforms and are covered by a 20' x 16' shade tarp. The tents have vertical walls, six screened windows, and a 12' x 14' floor. Each tent has three cots. Participants will need to bring sleep sheets, a pillow, and towel. There is a shared bath house with toilet and cold shower. There will be a charging station for electronics. If you have auxiliary battery storage and/or a solar charger, please bring. 

We will work in teams to prepare our meals in the camp kitchen, which has a two-burner stove and a refrigerator. Participants will also work together to clean up after meals. Our first meal will be dinner on day one and our last meal will be breakfast on our departure day. The leaders will purchase and transport groceries from St. Thomas. Fresh fruits, vegetables, and fish may or may not be available for purchase on St. John, but we will try our best to create a mostly plant based healthy menu.

Trip Difficulty

Our work projects range from moderately strenuous to quite strenuous, and the heat and sun can be taxing. We’re expected to work 6 hours a day, potentially hiking up to five miles while carrying 20 pounds of equipment to/from our work sites. Rest breaks are taken at the discretion of each participant. No one will be expected to do more than they are comfortable with. The tropical environment, while beautiful, can be hot and humid, and there are biting insects and thorn scrub. Mechanical barrier protection is the best defense against insects as well as abrasion from plants, so long sleeves and long pants are recommended. 

A snorkeling introduction will be offered to those new to the sport, but all snorkelers should be competent swimmers. We will follow the buddy system at all times on trails and in the water.

Equipment and Clothing

Lightweight hiking boots/shoes, shorts, and T-shirts are good for walks and around camp. Long-sleeved shirts and long/zip-off pants are great for the work project. The climate is hot and humid and the sun can be intense. We will need to protect ourselves from insects and thorns while we work. A hat with a brim and heavy work gloves will be needed. If you would like to snorkel more than our kayaking day, snorkeling gear is available for rent in Cruz Bay, or you can bring your own. Each participant must bring water shoes for our day of kayaking, a daypack large enough to hold two liters of water, lunch, a windbreaker, and personal first-aid items. A more detailed packing list will be sent to confirmed participants.

References

Books: 

• Kaplan, Eugene H. Peterson, Field Guides' Seashores: Southeastern and Caribbean.
• Kaplan, Eugene H. Peterson, Field Guides' Coral Reefs: Caribbean and Florida.
• Karlsson, Gail, Learning About Trees and Plants St. John.
• Raffaele, Herbert, A Guide to the Birds of Puerto Rico and the Virgin Islands.
• Singer, Gerald, St. John Off The Beaten Track.
• Sullivan, Lynne, Adventure Guide to the Virgin Islands.

Conservation

Our trip to St. John will allow us to see the benefits of an island that is more than 60% national park. We will also see up close the devastation that two huge hurricanes in one season can do to a tropical island such as St. John. We will be working in the national park to help restore the miles of trails, beaches, and historic sites. Waters around St. John are threatened by lion fish invaders, and we will be on the lookout for this predatory fish during our snorkeling expeditions. Depending on speaker availability, we may learn about local environmental groups that are working to eradicate the lion fish and discuss how the hurricanes have affected their work or may learn about the area's flora and fauna.

Sierra Club National Outings is an equal-opportunity provider and when applicable will operate under permits obtained from U.S. federal land agencies.