May 8, 2001 – Groups of St. Thomas elementary school students visited popular visitor attractions on their island Monday as participants in Tourism Department's annual "Tourist-for-a-Day" program — and found examples of their own heritage on display.
Clothed in "Tourist-for-a-Day" T-shirts designed by Kenny Todman and provided by The West Indian Co., one contingent of third- through sixth-graders and their chaperones began their day at the Virgin Islands Cultural Heritage Institute, where their two St. Thomas Historic District guides, Gail Shulterbrandt-Rivera and Myron Jackson, made a presentation on Caribbean history.
Then, they set off on foot in separate groups with Rivera and Jackson, who led them along Government Hill and up the "step-street" beside Government House to Blackbeard's Hill, then past Crown House, the onetime governor's residence, and on to Skytsborg, the Danish name for what today is called Blackbeard's Castle.
Rivera paused here to tell the students in her group about the unique ways that early architects had adapted the historic St. Thomas structures to the needs of the island's wealthy residents and government officials. After answering questions, she guided her group into the nearby Haagensen House Museum with its collected vintage West Indian furnishings.
"I'd like to live here," 9-year-old Joseph Wilson said, eyeing an ornate four-poster bed.
"My grandmother had a pedal-driven sewing machine like that," third-grade teacher Juliet Ashtian mused, gazing at the pre-electric device.
The group then traipsed down all 102 (according to one student's careful count) of the "99 Steps" back to Government Hill and headed on down to Main Street and the Frederick Lutheran Church, whose congregation dates from 1666. Rivera respectfully led the way into the 19th century church building with with its rows of pews closed off with tiny Wooden "privacy" doors. "In the years before the slaves were emancipated, this church had two congregations that worshipped at separate times of the day," Rivera told the whispering students.
The last, but not least, stop on the whirlwind tour that Rivera led with continuous relevant commentary was Fort Christian, the island's earliest building still in use today. Cannons, dungeons, a natural history collection and a crenelated clock tower — the inquisitive students could not get enough of these "new" things to see and do.
It was third grader Shanika Stout's first-ever visit to the fort museum. Her assessment: "I think I'd like to come back again a million times." She can, of course; the museum is open to the public without charge from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. any government working day.
After so much walking and step-climbing and taking in of sights, the children were more than ready for the lunch of sandwiches and soft drinks provided for all of the day's student "tourists" by St. Thomas Radiology Associates and Coca-Cola Bottling Co. of the V.I., respectively.
Then it was time to board two safari buses provided by First-Class Tour and Limousine Service that carried the students up rain-slick, steep and winding roads to Mountain Top. There they met Rob Schlenker, director of the visitor shopping center and lookout point of the same name. The panorama normally visible from the veranda 1,580 feet above sea level was temporarily "out of order," shrouded in rain clouds. But Schlenker talked to the students regarding their possible future careers in St. Thomas's tourism economy.
The "Tourism-for-a-Day" program was begun in 1995. The annual event is directed by the Tourism Department's Audrey Callwood and Joryn M. Turnbull.
On the drive back down the mountain Monday, the youngsters admired the scenic harbor views at every turn. "In spite of the rain, this year's event has been one of our best," Callwood said. "It's very important," she continued, motioning to a row of students on the bus, "that they know why those cruise ships are out there."
