CRUZ BAY — Island residents and student groups are set to celebrate spring as Friends of Virgin Islands National Park gears up for Earth Day 2017.
Event Coordinator Karen Jarvis recently announced the annual celebration will be held Tuesday, April 18 at the NPS ball park in Cruz Bay. The day begins with the Litter Stomp parade of students from Julius E. Sprauve School to the park, located next to the VINP Visitor’s Center.
The environmental fair follows on the park grounds. Officials from the VI Energy Office, the University of the Virgin Islands, Get Trashed St. John, Island Green Living Association and Caribbean Solar are expected to be on hand.
About 180 students from St. John public, private and parochial schools took part in the event last year.
Participants were also treated to the performance of an original, environmentally conscious poem by students from Gift Hill School. This year, students will show off their original artwork at a Litter Stomp Poster Contest.
Jarvis said visitors to the fair, “can make a difference by taking the green initiatives to your home, school, workplace, and community.”
The fair will focus on the fields of natural and cultural resources, renewable energy, recycling, reef preservation, and environmental education. Those who attend can learn about archaeology on St. John, local seeds and crafts, crush recycled cans, alternative energy sources, and help document numerous ways to keep St. John pristine for future generations
Organizers say the parade is set to begin at 9 am, followed by the environmental fair from 9:15 am to 12 Noon. Judging for the poster contest starts at 11:30 am.
Those who are interested in staging exhibits or businesses who would like to support the 2017 Earth Day event are asked to call Friends of the Virgin Islands National Park at 340-779-4940.
FVINP would like to highlight and thank this year’s event sponsors: Rotary St. John, Virgin Islands Audubon Society, Coral Bay Organic Gardens and St. John Valet Waste.