St. John Expedition | earthscience

Expedition to St. John, USVI

During spring school break Mr. Calderwood, Mr. Peneston, and Mrs. Peneston will lead a group of teens and parents on an expedition to explore the coral reefs and tropical ecology of the Virgin Islands National Park on St. John. We have led this trip several times. The entire expedition is a collaboration among our Expedition Earth Science program, two non-profit agencies and the University of the Virgin Islands. Camp Fire CNY Council operates Camp Talooli (the children's summer camp) and they are the direct sponsor of this expedition. Everyone will become members of Camp Fire and be covered by the agency's ethical guidelines, mission statement and insurance. Clean Islands International is a non-profit agency that manages the VIERS facility for the University of the Virgin Islands.

“To Do” List:

-Snorkel coral reefs and explore 10 beaches

-Swim with endangered sea turtles

-boat trip to uninhabited island

-Observe and photograph tropical fish

-Explore archeological ruins and petroglyphs

-Hike through tropical forests & deserts

-Iguanas and pelicans and palm trees...oh my!

-Live webcast from the beach back to Liverpool schools

-Give service to VIERS by helping to restore trails and buildings

Leaders:

Jeff Peneston: Camp Talooli Program Director, Liverpool High School Earth Science teacher. 2011 NYS Teacher of the Year. 28 years experience at Camp Talooli, 27 years teaching, leader of over 100 school trips and expeditions. New York State Master Teacher. Traveled to US Virgin Islands, Antarctica, China, Australia, Costa Rica, Uruguay, France.

Jan Peneston: Executive Director of Camp Fire USA Central NY Council, Director of Camp Talooli since 1986. Leader of many Camp Fire USA trips including the Grand Canyon, St. John and Adirondack canoe trips. Traveled to US Virgin Islands, Australia, Costa Rica, France, England, Ireland, Sweden.

Andrew Calderwood: New York State Master Teacher, Geologist, Liverpool High School Earth Science teacher. Co-creator of the Expedition Earth Science program and leader of over 100 student trips including the Grand Canyon and St. John. Traveled to US Virgin Islands, Namibia, South Africa, Costa Rica, Mexico, Iceland, England, France, and Canada.

Where:

The US Virgin Islands National Park preserves the tropical beauty of over half of the island of St. John. The park is covered by neo-tropical dry forest and desert ecosystems and the island is surrounded by some of the most beautiful and secluded beaches and coral reefs in the world. We will be camping all week at the Virgin Islands Environmental Resources Station (VIERS) . The University of the Virgin Islands operates this research station on a beautiful and remote beach.

Live Webcasts:

We will conduct 2 live webcasts from the field station on St. John so that the students can share what they have learned with students back in school. The students have formed teams and selected topics that they will explore while on the island. Teams will create short videos as part of their live presentations. 4th through 12th grade teachers can sign up their classes to participate in one of these live webcasts by contacting Mr. Calderwood by email.

Draft Itinerary:

Day 1 - Fly to St. Thomas USVI

Meet at Syracuse Airport @ 4:30am, depart 6:21am to Atlanta then depart 9:50am, arrive St. Thomas 1:31pm, Transfer by taxi & ferry to St. John and then taxi to VIERS at Lameshur Bay about 4pm.

Day 2 - First Day of Reef Snorkeling

Snorkel Little Lameshur Bay and surrounding reefs. Tour VIERS Marine Research labs and snorkel Great Lameshur Bay.

Day 3 - Ram Head Hike, Salt Pond Bay, Blue Cobblestone Beach & Drunk Bay

Morning hike to sunny, dry, south side of the island, hike through a desert to a remote beach then climb 200 feet above the sea to a view of the Atlantic Ocean from Ram Head Point. Snorkel a remote beach. Build a sculpture at Drunk Bay, hike back to VIERS, Evening campfire.

Day 4 - Hamilton’s Around the Island Tour

Hamilton Eugene is a native Caribbean islander. He will load all of us into his truck and share the culture, history & nature of his island. We will also have time for snorkeling, lunch & shopping. (bring money for lunch, and snorkel gear)

Day 5 - Big Boat Trip Day.

Depart from VIERS by motorboat to snorkel and explore a range of marine habitats that can only be reached by boat including a deserted off-shore island and a mangrove lined bay. Evening Campfire

Day 6 - National Park Service Project Day.

We will volunteer for half of today with the Friends of the VI National Park. We will help to restore the 19th Century ruins of the Lameshur Bay plantation and we will work to improve the National Park trail to Yawzi Point. Afternoon snorkel at Lameshur.

Day 7 - Reef Bay Hike

Hike 3 miles downhill, history of sugar plantations along a slave trail, pre-Columbian petroglyphs at the waterfall, tour sugar mill ruins. Swim at Reef Bay then hike 1 mile back to VIERS and another swim at Little Lameshur Bay. Evening campfire.

Day 8 - Hike to Leinster Bay, Waterlemon Cay, Brown Bay and Skinny Legs

Snorkel the coral gardens all the way around a small deserted island with lots of starfish. Then hike across St. John to Coral Bay for lunch at a burger place. (4 mile hike, bring money for lunch, hiking shoes & at least 2 liters of water)

Day 9 - Francis Bay & Mary Point.

Relax under the maho trees on this beach and then snorkel the shallow sea grass beds for green sea turtles & southern sting rays. We will then snorkel out to Mary Point in search of octopus and moray eels. (Bring 2 liters of water).

Day 10 - Live Webcast Day!

This morning and afternoon we will present two live webcasts back to our classmates in school. Each of our teams will present 5-8 minute presentations and 1-2 min videos to share the science or history topic that they chose to study this week.

Day 11 - Travel home.

Depart VIERS at 9:00am by taxi, ferry transfer to St. Thomas, taxi to airport. Arrive at STT airport by 12:30. Depart at 2:39pm to Atlanta, Depart 8:30pm to Syracuse. Arrive home at 10:47pm.

Who Can Join This Team:

Camp Fire Central NY Council is a nonprofit agency whose mission statement is: “Camp Fire builds caring confident youth and future leaders”. For over 65 years that mission has guided the programs of the council’s own Camp Talooli in Pennellville. This Camp Fire expedition is organized under that mission statement and history and is directed using best practices set forth by Camp Fire and the American Camp Association. All youth, adults and leaders on this expedition must become members of Camp Fire USA and agree to follow the behavioral standards of that organization. Camp Fire membership is very inclusive. On previous trips, most of the participants have been high school students but about one third have been parents, grandparents and younger children.

Everyone on this trip will function as part of a team. We will travel, eat and explore together under the leadership of Mr. and Mrs. Peneston and Mr. Calderwood. We will complete a half day service project for the national park. The experience of the team will depend on the actions of each member. All members will also be required to complete a Camp Fire health/permission to treat form. For more information about Camp Fire check out www.campfireusacny.org/

To request an application, contact Jan janmp@campfireusacny.org Office 463-8799.

Cost & Booking Conditions:

A completed application and $400/person deposit is required to register for this expedition. This money will be used to pay deposits on airfare and lodging. The remaining payments are due on 10/1 ($600) and 1/1/15. If you need to cancel, Camp Fire will attempt to refund as much of the payments as possible. Some portions of the fee such as payments made for airfare and housing are not refundable. The projected cost of $2400 is based on housing groups of members in single gender rooms. Married couples and families who need double or special occupancy may need to pay a supplement. Our current fee estimate is subject to revision if airline and fuel costs change unexpectedly.