homepage - outings - national - brochure - 12408a

The Trip

Please note that the trip dates have changed from what was originally published. If you have questions, please contact us.

St. Croix is in many ways a paradox. It is home to a large oil refinery, a rum factory, rolling hills and tides, and nesting sea turtles. There is some tourism, but St. Croix, the largest of the U.S. Virgin Islands, is quieter than St. John and St. Thomas. Its farmers strive for sustainability, but they are not there yet. The island imports about 95% of its goods. Once it was known as the "Breadbasket of The Caribbean." St. Croix is ringed with stunning beaches and its tropical waters are full of life -- all in the shadows of an aluminum smelter and the only casino in U.S. Virgin Islands.

The east side of the island is dry and desert-like, and grows cacti. The west side features "rainforests" with strangler figs and baobab trees.

Its history is one filled with contradictions. Christopher Columbus, on his second voyage in 1493, came upon this island and named it Santa Cruz (Holy Cross). Sighting the village at Salt River Bay, he sent a boat ashore to meet the natives. The Spaniards met a canoe with Caribs and a fight ensued. One Carib and one Spaniard were killed. This was the first documented skirmish between Europeans and New World natives.

Sugar was once king but harvested through the bitterness of slavery. In fact, the neighborhoods are still called "estates" from the plantations of the 1800s. For a long time the island was the Danish West Indies. Then the United States purchased the island in 1917 for its strategic harbors, not agriculture. We will explore some ruins remaining from this era and visit the towns. Our trip will combine the sweat and work boots of a service project with the saltwater therapy of no shoes, no shirts, and no worries.

We stay at Ridge to Reef Farm, home of the Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute (VISFI). VISFI promotes permaculture farming practices through a variety of classes and on-farm internships. VISFI models sustainable practices in all ways: off-grid power, water storage and conservation, compact housing, and agricultural methods that can be sustained. At VISFI, you are part of the natural environment: living and farming in 'nature.'

The Project

During our stay we will work and learn on the farm. We will complete various projects from trail construction to farm improvements. Last year we cleared land of invasive species and saplings for a community garden in the nearby town of Frederiksted. On some afternoons and our two days off we will have ample opportunity to explore this tropical paradise. Our explorations will include almost daily beaching and snorkeling as well as historic sties and a botanical garden.

We must be flexible as the organizations we are working with may have other projects and priorities arise before our trip begins. We will use two passenger vans to shuttle participants to beaches, the eastern side of the island for a work project, and the town of Christiansted.

Itinerary

Day 1: Arrive in the afternoon at the Henry E. Rohlsen Airport, where we will pick you up and make the journey to the Ridge to Reef Farm (VISFI), which is on the western part of the island. About 5 p.m. we will gather for introductions and a trip and farm orientation. Our first dinner will follow in the community center with our first sampling of slow food.

Day 2: Our first full day at the farm will be the initiation to the work projects. Following lunch we will tour the farm and check out some local ruins. Dinner will be at the farm.

Day 3: We will continue our farm service assignments. After lunch, we will visit a local beach letting the surf massage those office ligaments, tendons, and muscles that solely get a work out at a keyboard, microwave, or water cooler. We'll eat dinner at the farm. Evening activities are low key; stargazing, reading, games, hammock time, and conversation are a few examples.

Day 4: Today is our first full day on island time. No chores, no sweat, and mostly no shirts. We will visit a botanical garden. In the afternoon, we will travel to the easternmost point of the United States, Point Udall. The view and ocean mist are island ideal. After a short hike we will spend the afternoon on an isolated beach. Dinner will be at a local restaurant

Day 5: Back to work on an all-day project with a local environmental organization. We will return to the farm for dinner.

Day 6: Another day off. We are off to Buck Island National Monument, an underwater cache of reefs and sea life, for a morning boat ride and snorkeling outing. Upon our return to Christiansted we will explore the town and the local historical sites before our dinner out. There will be plenty of time for souvenir shopping.

Day 7: Today we go back to our service projects, but only for the morning. In the afternoon, we will travel to Cane Bay for snorkeling and beaching. This will be our final dinner on the farm.

Day 8: Today we'll pack up and clean our cabanas as we prepare to leave by mid-morning. Departing flights from St. Croix should be scheduled for 11 a.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 will cause us to modify the itinerary in order to ensure the safety and well-being of the group. Service projects are subject to change, depending on the demands of the organizations we'll be working with.

Getting There

The most direct way to get to St. Croix is to fly into Henry E. Rholsen airport via San Juan, PR or St. Thomas. Major airlines fly into St. Croix, and other regional carriers, such as Cape Air, provide regular service. There is also direct service to St. Croix from Atlanta and Miami.

Participants traveling from outside of the Eastern Time Zone may need to arrive in the islands one day early and spend the night in San Juan, Puerto Rico; Charlotte Amalie, St. Thomas; or Frederiksted or Christiansted, St. Croix.

Accommodations and Food

We will have single-bed, four-person cabanas at the Ridge to Reef Farm (VISFI), an off-grid, sustainable farm located in the moist, tropical forest on the west side of St. Croix. The cabanas are rustic with no running water or bathrooms. Outhouses are centrally located. Cold showers are available. Meals, including vegetarian-friendly dishes, are prepared and enjoyed in the Community Center. Morning farm chores are an integral part of our experience. In addition to growing a variety of fruits and vegetables, chickens, rabbits and sheep are raised here. Participants can try their trumpet skills with a conch shell and see if they can get the resident donkey to reply. The kitchen staff prepares breakfasts and dinners, while we are responsible for packing our bag lunch to take to our work or play site. We will share in the dishwashing and housekeeping responsibilities. On two nights (days four and six) we'll have dinner at a local restaurant (not included in trip cost). Our first meal will be dinner on day one and our last meal will be breakfast on day eight. The food is farm fresh and features local delicacies harvested before each meal.

Trip Difficulty

This trip is suitable for folks who like a challenge both working on a project and exploring offshore reefs. Participants should have some camping experience and be in good physical condition to enjoy this trip. Our work projects range from moderate to strenuous, but the heat and sun are taxing. The tropical environment -- while beautiful -- is hot, humid, and contains biting insects and thorn scrub. Team work is essential, safety paramount, and no one is expected to perform beyond his or her physical capabilities. Help is always available, and a positive attitude and friendly cooperation are better assets than brute strength.

Our hikes will normally be less than five miles, with some significant elevation gain. Swimmers should be competent and stay with the group. We will always use the buddy system when engaged in water sport activities.

Equipment and Clothing

Lightweight hiking boots, long pants, and a T-shirt should be suitable for most work projects, but others will require a long-sleeved cotton shirt for protection from sun, bugs, and thorns. Also, bring a hat with a brim and heavy work gloves. Lightweight hiking boots are also recommended to hike on some of the trails. Open-toed shoes are not permitted on the work projects. Last year we were not pestered by insects.

Each participant must bring his or her own day pack and bottles for water. The birding is interesting, so participants may want to pack binoculars. A more detailed equipment list will be sent to confirmed participants.

The Buck Island trip includes snorkeling gear. But, if you plan on snorkeling on other days, you should bring your own gear.

There are plenty of supermarkets, souvenir stores, and convenience stores throughout the island.

References

Websites:

• http://www.sgvbg.org/
• http://www.visitusvi.com/stcroix/homepage?gclid=CJiEy5_UtagCFY2G5godhWMgBA
• http://www.stcroixtourism.com/
• http://www.stcroixthisweek.com/

Conservation

The Virgin Islands Sustainable Farm Institute (VISFI) is comprised of over one hundred acres of rolling green hills and valleys nestled in the highlands of the northwest corner of St. Croix in the U.S. Virgin Islands.

VISFI promotes the development of agroecology: an innovative field of agriculture that enjoins productivity with resource conservation, using ecological and indigenous management models to create sustainable life systems. They believe local, organic agriculture and a practical educational experience are the first steps toward building vital communities and achieving long-term sustainability within a healthy environment. These beliefs led to the establishment of their Four Pillars: Education, Sustainability, Community, and Environment.

http://www.visfi.org/

Trip Price

See the How to Apply for an Outing section for more details on registering for this trip and details about our Reservation and Cancellation Policy.

The payment of a deposit does not confirm you as a member on the trip. Participants must be approved by the trip leader. After signing up for this trip, you will be sent a confirmation packet containing approval materials (Participant Approval Questionnaire, Medical Form, Liability Release Form). Each applicant (including those on the waitlist) must fill out these forms and promptly mail them to the trip leader. The leader will review the approval materials and notify you of your acceptance in a timely manner.

Staff

Leader:

Marty Joyce has been leading national outings for over 25 years. He has lead backpack, family, service, basecamp and canoe trips throughout the Southeast. His nine service trips have included trail building and maintenance in the Joyce Kilmer National Forest, North Carolina, trail clearing from canoes in the Okefenokee National Wildlife Refuge, Georgia, a variety of projects (from envelope stuffing to carpentry) with a group of middle school students at Hawk Mountain, Pennsylvania, building a butterfly/birding walk in Stephen Foster State Park, Georgia, restoring historic cemeteries in the New River Gorge, West Virginia, and fencing in the Ocala National Forest, Florida. Twice yearly he volunteers at Deer Valley YMCA Camp (a family camp) in Pennsylvania doing woodworking and construction projects. Marty was the assistant on John's 2011 trip.

E-mail: quali89@verizon.net

Assistant Leader:

Ray Evert has been leading outings with the Northwest Subcommittee since 2004. He is also the vice chair of SCPRO, the local outings group in the metropolitan Washington DC area. His personal goal is climbing all of Colorado's 14ers. He became involved with the Sierra Club in order to share his love of the outdoors with others while keeping them safe.

E-mail: hikerdude22@msn.com

---

General Notes About Sierra Club Trips

• Carbon Offsets
• Carpooling
• Electronic Devices
• Equipment
• How to Apply for a Trip
• Leader Gratuities
• Liability Release and Assumption of Risk
• Medical Issues
• Non-discrimination Statement
• Participant Approval
• Reservation and Cancellation Policy
• Seller of Travel Disclosure
• Travel Insurance
• Trip Feedback
• Wilderness Manners