Earth Day: Plant Your Own History at Caneel Bay

The resort has pledged to plant 60 new trees on property in the year ahead, and also invites guest to "plant their own history" at Caneel Bay by working with the groundskeeper to plant trees during their visits to the resort. Caneel Bay will kick-off this program with a tree planting ceremony on Earth Day, April 22, celebrating the legacy of founder Laurance Rockefeller and honoring the generations of horticulturists who have remained faithful to its founder's vision to offer simple splendor in a pristine and natural setting.

The tree planting ceremony will take place on Friday, April 22 at 11:00am alongside Hawksnest Beach, one of the resort's seven beaches. Staff and guests will gather to toast the planting of a West Indian Mahogany - the first of 60 new trees to be planted on property in the year ahead. Throughout the year, guests can email info@caneelbay.com to arrange to plant a tree during their stay.

This initiative will see 60 hardwoods and indigenous trees take root on Caneel Bay's 170-acres in Virgin Islands National Park. St. John once had an abundance of such trees, but most were lost when the land was cleared for sugar cane cultivation during the European colonial era of the 17th and 18th centuries. These slow-growing, long-lasting trees will be of great importance to the enjoyment of generations of Caneel Bay guests to come.

This is the 60th year since Laurance Rockefeller opened Caneel Bay to treat guests to simple splendor in a pristine and natural setting. Mr. Rockefeller was as personally invested in the landscape design of Caneel Bay's sprawling property as he was in the architecture of its buildings and interior design of its guest rooms - none of which have ever featured telephones or televisions. He envisioned Caneel Bay as a sanctuary from the stress and distractions of everyday life, where guests could "unplug" and make memories with loved ones, family and friends.

Green living and respect for its surroundings are part of the heritage of Caneel Bay. Integral to the founding of U.S. Virgin Islands National Park, today the resort is one of only a few marine environments within the U.S. National Park System, which is celebrating its own Centennial Anniversary this year. The resort's acreage teems with wildlife and colorful coral reefs that provide habitat for underwater life. Commitment to the environment plays out in a range of green-friendly programs and initiatives, from use of 100% biodegradable beverage cups for beach service to conducting an annual massive cleanup of the seabed around the resort.

Seasonal rates from $559. For more information or to make reservations, please call Caneel Bay at 340.776.6111 or visit www.caneelbay.com.