Virgin Islands Environmental Resource Station (VIERS) - St. John, USVI

The V.I. Environmental Resource Station sits tucked back in
the woods as far away from what passes for bright lights on
St. John as you can get and still be on the island. You can look for miles and not see any trace of other human dwellings except for the lone park ranger?s house. At night, the light comes only from the stars. You'll enjoy a scenic half-hour ride on the paved road from Cruz Bay, which features views of the BVI?s, and another 10 minutes up and down a twisty turning roller coaster of a dirt road to reach this very special place at Lameshur Bay.

Not found in any travel guide book that we know of, VIERS is the place if you really want to get in touch with nature. Originally the base camp for the Tektite underwater research project way back in the late 1960s and early 1970s - National Geographic oceanographer Sylvia Earle lead the
women's team - the camp now hosts scientists, university and school groups studying St. John?s coastal ecology at its best, and the occasional individual, couple, family or group of friends wanting a
remote getaway for a private environmental retreat. Those who come in
smaller groups may find themselves sharing the compound with
other like-minded people or a deer or donkey that wanders by
for a visit. VIERS sits nestled in the V.I. National Park.
The dozen cabins and seaside lab are owned by the University of the Virgin Islands, and now managed by the non-profit environmental education group - Clean Islands International. VIERS is a place for learning, a place for discovery, so you won?t find cable TV or telephones in the cabins. VIERS is a no smoking camp in and out and everyone who eats helps with the dishes!

A stay at VIERS is one step above camping out and certainly unique. The charming wood and screened cottages are open to the breezes on three sides. You'll get a bed and shelves in the closet and not much else but the sound of tree frogs chirping in the morning and
at night. You're welcome to while away the afternoon in the
hammock watching hummingbirds flitter from flower to flower or play cards at the picnic tables with geckos and butterflies in audience. If you forget to bring a book, you can borrow one from the camp?s library. You can spend hours reviewing the extensive seashell collection in the camp?s classroom or learning about the plants that are within the camp boundaries.

The camp store features sodas, candy, chips and t-shirts.