Green Musings of an Eco Resort

Wednesday, May 15, 2013

Tonight will be the last night of operation here at Maho Bay Camps, after 37 years of incredible memories. Starting tomorrow at noon the property will be closed to the public. 

With perfect timing, the sunset last night seemed to give us a "wink" as it set and said goodbye to all of us eating dinner. Just as it sunk below the horizon the elusive green flash was seen by those dining with us in the pavilion. Some wait decades for such an event, some have seen it multiple times. Many guests last night that have been coming for years couldn't believe they finally saw it on their last night at Maho. One guest said the last time he saw the green flash was here at Maho, in the very same spot, in the summer of 1993.What an incredible way to close out the season and end an amazing 37 year run.
 



Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Staff Spotlight #6


Joel Brierre: Housekeeping, Yoga Instructor

How long have you worked at Maho?
Since 2008, on and off

What are your posst-Maho plans?
I'm moving to LA to attend Advanced Yoga Teacher Training at Yoga Works. After that I will continue to look for opportunities where I can continue to teach yoga, meet new people, and travel.

What will you miss most about Maho, or what is your favorite Maho memory?
Teaching yoga at F pavilion and  hanging out with my roommates.

Stay in touch with Joel, send him a friendly email at: Elemental@livingmind.com

Sunday, April 21, 2013

St. John Tradewinds article: The Boy Who Calls Maho Bay Camps Home



Four-year-old Asher Davis is at home among the trees at Maho Bay Camps.

For so many, Maho Bay Camps is a place of refuge; a place of priceless memories with family and friends, dream vacations and your very own treehouse. For my son, it is also home.

My husband and I first came to St. John as volunteers at Maho. We had never felt more comfortable and at home than we did in that screened tent with lizards, frogs and spiders as roommates. I still remember the day we left six weeks later. Sitting on the bench outside the store waiting for the taxi was the most conflicted we have ever been. We knew we were supposed to stay. We were both as sure about that as we had been of anything in 10 years together. We didn’t speak more than a few words the entire trip home.

The next year we were back to stay. Friends and family thought we were kidding; my husband’s former boss gave it six months tops. Eight years later, it feels more like home than ever. We now have friends from around the country and around the world. Fellow staff are more like family and we have a love for a place we thought could only be real in a dream.

Our son is the luckiest of all. Tree frogs and full moons lulled him to sleep. He took his first steps in a tree house. He shared play dates and took naps on the beach. He knows more about ocean life than any kid we know. Being around guests and staff since birth, he has never met a stranger and can talk to anyone. Best of all, he doesn’t know any different. This is his life, not something he saw on vacation or read in a book. Tree houses, hermit crabs, lizards, hundreds of stairs leading to another adventure — he thinks all children grow up this way.

We know our time here is a gift for us and him, but now we have to tell him we are leaving and can’t come back. He won’t wake up to 60-plus staff to say good morning to. He won’t greet guests and ask them what they saw today. He won’t watch glass blowing right before bed, then walk home. We have tried to figure out how to tell him for the last six months. Then, we realized we did not know how to tell him because we did not want to admit it to ourselves.

It does not seem real that the time is near. That it is true. Maho Bay Camps will officially close on May 16, 2013.

Our hearts are broken for many reasons, but mostly because we always thought that if we left, our son could come back. We never thought Maho would really close.

We have not spoken about the new owners publicly, mostly because we do not know much about them. Rumors have swirled, names thrown out there, plans talked about. The truth is, we don’t know what the plans are or when anyone will know what Maho’s future entails. If we could speak to the new owners, we would want them to know they did not just buy a piece of land and some shacks. They bought a place of healing, of imagination, of new friends made and precious memories created. A place we all thought was only real in a dream. Please honor this place, the only home my son has known. And when he does want to visit whatever is left of Maho one day, we hope you will let him.

Editor’s Note: CiCi Davis is the wife of Maho Bay Campground’s General Manager/VP, Adrian Davis. Asher, their son, is four years old.

Saturday, April 6, 2013

Staff Spotlight #5


Emily Kernen
Housekeeping

How long have you worked at Maho?
2009-2010, and then November 2012-present

What are your post-Maho plans?
Go back to Ghana West Africa this summer and work with a group of local artisans to create a line of recycled hand bags and shoes that will empower them to access an international market. Darika Designs: The Empowerment Project: http://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1632671420/869992110?token=f14726d0  I plan to move back to St. John and introduce the hand bags to environmentally conscious stores in the Caribbean.

What is your favorite Maho memory, or what will you miss most about Maho?
Living in beach front property with some of your closest friends. The bond that has been formed between anyone who has ever visited or worked at Maho. Everything! There is no place like Maho.

Stay in touch with Emily! Or send her a friendly email at: emilykernen@gmail.com

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Staff Spotlight #4



Wyatt Burkolder

How long have you worked at Maho?
Since February 2013

What are your post-Maho plans?
I will travel back to Peaks Island off the coast of Portland, Maine to rent and repair bicycles at Brad and Wyatt’s Recycled Bike shop.

What is your favorite Maho memory, or what will you miss most about Maho?
The morning swims in the calm A.M water.

Tuesday, April 2, 2013

Staff Spotlight #3





Crispin T. Somera
Executive Chef

How long have you worked at Maho?
3 seasons (years) 

What are your post-Maho plans?
After some time in Puerto Rico, I will return to San Diego. I have some connections in the organic farm-to-table restaurant movement there. I want to become involved in that somehow.

What is your favorite Maho memory, or what will you miss most about Maho?
I will miss the afternoon Maho staff beach parties at Francis. I will miss meeting people from all over the world. I will miss the friends at Maho. I will miss the Maria Hope Trail!



Stay in touch with Crispin! Send him a friendly email at: crispinsomera@gmail.com
 

Sunday, March 31, 2013

Staff Spotlight #2


Meredith Femino
Maho Store

How long have you worked at Maho?
Since June 6th, 2012

What are your post-Maho plans?
Stay on St. John, I love it here!

What is your favorite Maho memory, or what will you miss most about Maho?
Laying on baby Maho, just before the sun reaches the beach in the morning, the smell of rain, hot summer nights, warm wind, bare feet, swimming with dolphins, Heron girls, living in the trees, being part of a community of amazing people, family dinner every night, adventure Fridays with The Land Dolphins, porch conversations with people that think crazy ideas are always the way to go, guests that love Maho as much as the staff, guests that feel like family, glass blowing demos/clay studio, and my loving and wonderful store co-workers.



Stay in touch with Meredith! Send her a friendly email at: Mfemino90@hotmail.com