Like a mass blooming of giant beach flowers, tents of all colors, shapes and sizes are already sprouting all over the beaches of St. Croix as families and friends take to the beach for Easter camping in the days leading up to the holy Sunday.
Wherever there are pleasant, shady little spots by the sea, whether Dorsch Beach, Salt River, La Vallee, Cane Bay, Great Pond, Ha’penny, Campo Rico or Altoona Lagoon, there you will find families relaxing. There will be swimming, boating, fishing, cooking, eating, dominoes, games – and sleep.
Once again, as for the prior 16 years, Sen. Terrence "Positive" Nelson and his family will hold their Positive Works Unity Retreat Camp, a loosely structured, summer camp-like experience for boys and girls.
"We have been doing this since 1997," Nelson said Tuesday, while he was at the park setting up.
Every year they hike to Jack and Isaac Bay. This year they will be kite flying, fishing and other group activities. "We do storytelling and group discussion in the evening, along with games like keno and bingo,” the senator said.
“We have daily exercises and running and we get to swim of course, although that is on command, because we need the children to be supervised in the water so that will be during designated periods," Nelson said.
The object is to get kids away from the usual setting of video games and TV and doing more outside activities. "We discourage bringing electronics, even cell phones if they don’t need them. Definitely no video games. We want to get them outside and work on their social skills," Nelson said.
Nelson thanked the Department of Sports, Parks and Recreation for getting the park’s showers and facilities in shape before the holiday. He recalled past vandalism and urged beach goers to be respectful. "I hope no adults will be doing something so immature," he said.
The camp will provide activities, food and supervision for the kids for $65 in fees, payable on a sliding scale. The children do need tents, sleeping bags and snacks, he said.
To sign up, call Positive Works at 778-3448 or Nelson said, “You can just pop by on the beach with your snacks and tent and we will find a place for them."
Of all the St. Croix public parks managed by the V.I. Department of Sports, Parks and Recreations on St. Croix, Cramer Park is the one people traditionally flock to for camping, according to Sports, Parks and Recreation Commissioner St. Claire Williams.
"Everything is ready and people are already starting to set up," Williams said Tuesday. "We have done our usual preparation, making sure all the shower heads are in place and working, mowing the grass, cleaning the grounds and making small repairs," he said. "And we will have lifeguards working over the weekend as well as custodial workers to help clean up and to empty the trash. But of course we are asking the assistance of the public to help keep everything clean and to ensure the safety of everyone," he said.
As always, those who want to camp on the Columbus Landing site at Salt River must get permits from the V.I. Department of Planning and Natural Resources. Permits will be issued for camping from Wednesday, April 16, through Tuesday, April 22.
Campers may pick up guidelines and permits at DPNR’s Division of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Office located at Fort Frederik Museum or at the Division of Environmental Enforcement Office at Estate Anna’s Hope. For more information, call the Division of Archaeology and Historic Preservation Office at 719-7089 or the Division of Environmental Enforcement at 773-5774.
