Plot Sign Project

VI RC&D received $20,000 in funding from USDA-FS/IITF to establish an after-school program to provide woodworking and business students with the knowledge, skills, and abilities to become successful entrepreneurs, while providing St. Croix residents with plot number signs for easy and rapid residence location by emergency service providers, as required by law. A total of 250 plot signs were distributed throughout the community. The signs were created by students from the John H. Woodson Jr. High School. Future Business Leaders of America students from St. Croix Central High School, with assistance from the UVI Small Business Development0 Center, developed a business plan for the sustainability of the project. For more information about the project, contact the RC&D office at (340) 692-9632 x. 5, or via e-mail: vircd@usvircd.org.

Estate Adventure Nature Trail Phase I

VI RC&D and its partners can finally showcase the Estate Adventure Nature Trail. The trail is located south of the V.I. Department of Agriculture in Estate Lower Love, and follows an intermittent stream (gut) which was once a small river. Since its grand opening February 11, 2005, over 1500 students, teachers and residents have had the opportunity to learn about various plant and animal species found in the riparian corridor along the trail. In addition, visitors also take away with them a bit of Crucian history as they observe the historic bridge, dam and water mill built during the 19th and 20th centuries. Project funding was received from the Urban and Community Forestry Council through its forestry assistance program in the amount of $10,000, and much volunteer time was contributed by the St. Croix Hiking Association, Council members, and Mr. Richard Gideon of The Nature Conservancy. To schedule a trail visit, contact Council member Olasee Davis at (340) 692-4053 or odavis@uvi.edu.

2005 Natural Resources Conservation Workshop

Grant funds received from USDA Natural Resources Conservation Service enabled the VI RC&D Council, Inc. to provide scholarships to seven students from the US Virgin Islands to attend the 2005 Natural Resources Conservation Workshop held at Georgia Middle College from June 25 to July 1, 2005 in Cochran, Georgia. The students were selected by their teachers and principals, and represented the St. Croix Central High School (Shakim George), St. Croix Educational and Vocational Complex (Kenyshua Petersen, Kesi Petersen, Leona Lubrin, and Che’toya Brown), and Julius E. Sprauve Jr. High School (Shawn Auguste and Sandy Raphael). VI RC&D Council members Mr. Olasee Davis and Mrs. Benita Martin-Samuel accompanied the students on their trip. The students participated in twelve different natural resources-related courses led by natural resources managers. Topics included soil conservation, understanding soils, backyard conservation, wildlife management and wildlife law enforcement, forest protection and management, coastal resources and pollution prevention. For more information about the workshop, contact the RC&D office at (340) 692-9632 x. 5, or via e-mail: vircd@usvircd.org.

Grant Resource Materials Library

The VI RC&D donated Grant Resource Library materials to the UVI St. Croix and St. Thomas libraries, and the St. John Public Library in December 2004 and February 2005. The donation of these materials marks the culmination of a ten-year effort to provide leadership development to the Virgin Islands community through grantsmanship training and public access to grantwriting reference materials. The library is now more readily available to local nonprofit groups, community organizations, government agencies, teachers and students to enable them to seek funding for leadership and community development projects. For more information about the Grant Materials Library, contact the RC&D office at (340) 692-9632 x. 5, or via e-mail: vircd@usvircd.org.