Explore National Park Service careers through an upcoming Rangers-in-Training program offered July 6 through 9 on St. John. The program is free and open to students from age 13 through students in grade 12.
“It’s to get them thinking about careers with the park,” said Jessica Hornbeck, a park guide at V.I. National Park on St. John.
The program begins at 8:30 a.m. July 6 at the park’s Visitors Center in Cruz Bay. Students will spend the day learning about the park’s work in resource management as well as a simulated exercise in evaluating areas where turtles come ashore to lay their eggs.
“We’ll take data on turtle crawls, measuring width and length,” Hornbeck said.
They’ll also learn how to use a compass, Hornbeck said.
Students will return home after the program concludes for the day.
They’ll return to the Visitors Center at 8:30 a.m. July 7 for a boat ride aboard the Sadie Sea. The boat will drop them off at the V.I. Environmental Resource Station, where they’ll spend the next two nights.
At VIERS, they’ll explore the night sky, hike to Lameshur, study hermit crabs, learn about archeology and work in VIERS marine lab.
The camp concludes at 3:30 p.m. July 9. Students may be picked up at the Visitors Center or the ferry dock.
While there is no fee for the camp, Hornbeck said students must make a $30 deposit. That money can be returned when the camp is over or donated to the Friends of the Park.
Sponsored by the Friends group, VIERS and the park, the program is funded through the National Park Foundation.
To apply, visit www.viers.org; click on summer camps.
For more information, call Hornbeck at 776-6201, extension 263.
