UVI’s Mangroves in Classroom Workshop is coming to STX

St. Croix Times Staff

St. Croix - The University of the Virgin Islands (UVI) in partnership with the Growing, Research, Restoration, Outreach and Education (GRROE) USVI Mangroves team, recently hosted its first “Mangroves in the Classroom” (MIC) Educator Workshop on St. Croix. The event was held at UVI’s Albert A. Sheen Campus Great Hall. The full-day workshop introduced educators to MIC’s interactive, science-based curriculum and focused on adapting lessons for middle school learners and bringing the MIC program to St. Croix. The workshop was made possible through funding from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Roots to Reef Project, the U.S. National Science Foundation’s Strong Coasts project, and the Schmidt Ocean Coalition. The event brought together 22 educators, environmental professionals, and community partners from across the Virgin Islands. 

Originally developed on St. Thomas in 2022, MIC is a place-based education program that engages students in mangrove science, restoration, and conservation through classroom lessons, hands-on activities, field trips, and storytelling. This year’s workshop marked the beginning of the program’s expansion to St. Croix, where implementation is expected to begin in Spring 2026.

Over the course of the day, participants engaged in a range of sessions, from educator panels and curriculum walkthroughs, to collaborative breakout groups focused on tailoring the lessons for younger students and the St. Croix community. The workshop emphasized how MIC can be adapted to St. Croix’s cultural and ecological context while keeping students at the center of learning through visual tools, creative storytelling, and sensory-based activities. Participants also explored ways to incorporate local knowledge and increase opportunities for field-based experiences.

“Teachers from St. Croix were particularly enthusiastic about the potential for field-based learning.” said Risa Gordon, a science teacher at St. Croix Educational Complex High School. “I would love to take my students to see the mangrove restoration projects on St. Thomas. Seeing that kind of work in action makes the science real.”

“The MIC workshop was another significant learning opportunity for me, seeing the brighter side of how the entire U.S. Virgin Islands, families, and students, benefit from the presence of mangroves in our coastal communities,” said Myrna Cabe, of the Claude O. Markoe Elementary School. “The integration of the MIC program in schools would enhance students’ motivation to learn and take part in various hands-on learning experiences, do experiments, participate in field trips, and explore the real world - making them resilient, life-long learners.” 

“We are thrilled to see how energized St. Croix educators are to bring mangrove science to their students,” said Kristin Wilson Grimes, research associate professor at UVI and lead for GRROE USVI Mangroves and the MIC program. “MIC thrives because of the creativity and dedication of our teachers.”

To learn more about Mangroves in the Classroom program or to receive updates, email: kristin.wilson@uvi.edu.