Friends of the V.I. National Park 2013 seminar series schedule

The Friends' annual seminar series has been ongoing for about a decade and is the organization's major fundraising activity.

Annual membership to the Friends of the Park organization is $30 for an individual, $50 for a family and $100 for a business. Members receive a discounted registration fee for the seminars. Registration fees, which go toward maintaining the park, are tax-deductible. Children get half off the registration fees, except for boat trips.

For information or to register for any of the seminars, call 779-4940 or visit www.friendsvinp.org.

March

- Coastal Ecology, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 2: Circumnavigate St. John aboard the Low Key with V.I. National Park Chief of Natural Resource Management Rafe Boulon and learn about the mangroves, seagrass beds and coral reefs. Cost is $75 for members and $85 for non-members.

- Tropical Light Photography, 8 a.m. to noon March 3: Travel through the park with photographer Steve Simonsen as he teaches how to creatively capture the park's natural beauty. Cost is $45 for members and $55 for non-members.

- Historical Walking Tour, 9 to 11 a.m. March 3: Explore the historical district of downtown Charlotte Amalie with local historian Felipe Ayala Jr. Tour the 99 steps and other culturally significant areas ending in a tour of the St. Thomas Historical Trust Museum. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

- Native Arts and Crafts, 12:30 to 2:30 p.m. March 6: Delroy Anthony walks participants through the collection and creation of crafts made from materials found on St. John. Learn about historical uses of the items that he continues to create in the same way they have been made for generations. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

- Sea Turtle Sail, 1 to 5 p.m. March 8: Sail the Castaway Girl II to Buck Island, St. Thomas, with the park's Natural Resource Manager Thomas Kelley, and swim with the green and hawksbill turtles. Cost is $65 for members and $75 for non-members.

- Tropical Garden Tour II, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 9: Tour four different island gardens with local gardening enthusiast Irene Patton. Cost is $45 for members and $55 for non-members.

- Scoping Out Saturn, 7:30 to 9 p.m. March 10: Join astro-mythologist Kelley Hunter and Rich Geengold on telescope for an inspiring blend of mythology and modern astrophysics under the tropical night sky. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

- Hiking Yoga, 9 a.m. to noon March 12: Hike with local yoga instructor Lori Walden along the Lind Point Trail to Honeymoon Beach for some yoga poses. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

- Ethnic Drumming, 1 to 3 p.m. March 15: Learn about the history of the art of drumming and the ritual drumming techniques of West African and Afro-Caribbean cultures from master drummer Eddie Bruce. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.

- Happy Painting Art III, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 16: Learn wet on wet oil painting from Deniece Riehl. Cost is $75 for members and $85 for non-members.

- Colonial Style Pottery, 6:30 to 9 p.m., March 19: Gail Van de Bogurt, local artist and owner of Maho Bay Clay Works, helps you design your own porcelain based on items found a plantation sites on St. John. Cost is $60 for members and $70 for non-members.

- Eco Spa, 2 to 4 p.m. March 20: Park Ranger Deanna Somerville gives a spa session and teaches how to make natural beauty products at the Salt Pond. Cost is $35 for members and $45 for non-members.

- Tropical Garden Tour III, 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 23: Tour four different island gardens with local gardening enthusiast Irene Patton. Cost is $45 for members and $55 for non-members.

- Full Moon Hike, 5:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 26: Take a moonlit hike to the top of Ram Head while exploring the southernmost point of St. John with Park Ranger Don Near. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.

- Mangrove Snorkeling, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. March 30: Visit Otter Creek and Water Creek in Hurricane Hole on board the Kekoa with marine ecologist Caroline Rogers. Cost is $95 for members and $105 for non-members.

April

- Paddle Board in Hurricane Hole, 7 a.m. to 1 p.m. April 5: Paddle with local scientists Barry Devine and Arawak Expeditions through the Coral Reef National Monument, making stops to snorkel along the way. Cost is $65 for members and $75 for non-members.

- Lionfish 101, 9:30 a.m. to 3 p.m. April 7: Lionfish expert Leslie Charpentier and Park Resource Manager Thomas Kelley present a slideshow about the invasive species before heading out on the Sadie Sea to snorkel, search for lionfish and see a live capture. Cost is $75 for members and $85 for non-members.

- Natural Dye Batik Class, 1 to 4 p.m. April 10: Maho Bay textile artist Annalisa Jensen teaches how to make dyes and use wax to batik fabric. Cost is $75 for members and $85 for non-members.

- Eco Hike and Snorkel, 9:30 a.m. to noon April 13: Explore the best of the National Park on a hike along Lind Point Trail to great snorkeling at Honeymoon Beach, ending with a walk through the botanical gardens and former sugar mill plantation at Caneel Bay. Cost is $50 for members and $60 for non-members.

- Happy Painting Art IV, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. April 21: Learn wet on wet oil painting from Deniece Riehl. Cost is $75 for members and $85 for non-members.

- Earth Day at Concordia, noon to 5 p.m. April 22: Celebrate Earth Day with a tour of the eco-friendly resort, ending the day with appetizers at their Cafe. Cost is $25 for members and $35 for non-members.