Buck Island Field Trip Update

The field trip to Buck Island to study/learn about the PreHispanic peoples is on!  So far we have 35 people(students and chaperones) going. The cost of the trip is going to be $20 for kids under 12 and $25 for kids over 12.  We will be going on MileMark Watersports glass bottom boat.  We need a minimum of 30 to go. If the pricing effects your plans, please let me know ASAP.  

I would like to turn the money into MileMark by August 20, 2012. If you are going, please contact me to make arrangements to either mail me the money or meet me somewhere so I can gather it all up and pay for the trip in advance.  

Remember, we will be gone from 8am until at least1:30/2:00 - you will need to pack lunch, snacks, drinks, good shoes for hiking/trail walking(although I will wear flip flops, so plan however you want), gardening gloves, and safety glasses. 

Please pass the word along!

Explore the Pre Hispanic Culture at Buck Island

Did you know people used to LIVE at Buck Island? Did you know there are archeological sites on BuckIsland that date back to Pre Hispanic Native People's? Would you like to see where those sites are, learn how to make some tools that they might have used, and explore some of the lesser known areas of Buck?

YES??

Details:
Monday August 27, 2012 at 8:00 at Green Cay we will go from there to Buck Island for at least 3 - 4 hours.  You need to bring food, water, hiking shoes, safety glasses, and gardening gloves.

What I need from you:
Amount of people in your group - divided by Kids(their ages), and adults.

What we REALLY need:

BOATS. If we can't get enough boats to take us out there from our group, we will not be able to do this. There is a possibility of renting a boat to go out(from MileMark), but then we may pay a fee per head. I will get a cost back to the group, but I think it wouldn't be much.

Also I will send out some reading if you want to go to this that might help you ask great questions to the NPS people.

EXCITING Field Trips for July, August, and September!

We have been offered some EXCITING field trips and kid activities opportunities during the Summer months. Some of these trips are free and some have a small cost associated with them. All of these trips have me super excited and pumped up. I hope you will be just as excited.  If you want to do any of these trips, please indicate which trip and how many students vs. adults in the comments section below.

Trip #1:

 July TBA(probably between the 15th and 23rd), 2012

Learning about Bush with Ms. Veronica Gordon at the St. George Village Botanical Gardens.

Ms. Gordon is our locally renown "bush lady". She is extremely knowlegable about bush and how to use it to improve your health, remove aches and pains, and where it origianlly came from. This is a great opportunity to come and learn from an expert.  In this informative field trip, we learn about our native bush, it's medicianal, homeopathic, and culinary properties. We will get to taste, touch, and smell real bush and enjoy a quiet morning at the Gardens.  Once the field trip is done, feel free to stay for lunch, art time, rambling, etc. The field trip will take about 1.5 hours. Cost is $2 per visitor(not including really little ones).

Trip #2:

mid to late August 2012

The Archeological wonders of Buck Island!

Did you know there are Pre Hispanic archeological sites hiding in plain sight on Buck Island?  I didn't and now we can learn about those sites, visit and explore them, PLUS make pre hispanic tools just like those first inhabitants on Buck Island did.  During this trip, students will visit Fort Christiansvaern and then take a trip out to Buck Island National Monument to explore those site we learn about in the fort.  This is a first come first serve trip. All ages welcome.  I NEED to know numbers ASAP so we can arrange for boats to take us out there and then get dates.  FREE


Trip #3


Reef Ranger Kids Program(ages 8-12) sponsored by the NPS. This program teaches boat safety, how to use flare guns, docking, anchoring, etc.  It is limited to 10 children per group. This is a 2 day program where kids spend it doing hands on activities related to water and boating safety, there is also an opportunity to go snorkeling at Buck Island.  This program is being held the 3rd weekend in July for two consecutive Saturdays, then again in August, and September. If you want more info or to register, please contact David at the NPS office.  FREE.


Trip #4(potentially)

Walking tour of Free Gut

Do you know where Free Gut is? Do you know what it is? I didn't..... Free Gut is an area where freed blacks lived during the colonial times. These free men and women built many of the structures that are part of Christiansted today, such as the Steeple Building, the Fort, the Old Post Office aka the Slave Market, etc. Out of Free Gut, the US got their first black millionaire, the first black US Ambassador, etc. This is a fascinating area that needs to be explored and experienced.  If you would like to see this tour set up, PLEASE leave feedback in the comments section and I will get it on the books. FREE


AGAIN, if any of these tours appeal to you, please let me know via the comments section of the blog.  In the case of the Reef Ranger program, please feel free to contact David at NPS yourself and set up your days with him.  If perhaps we have a HUGE group interest in this, I may be able to talk him into doing a 2 day mini class during the week during the school year.