Coral Restoration Foundation’s Restoration and Global teams traveled to St. Croix with a clear purpose.
For the first time, staff from both departments came together on the island for a restoration retreat focused on strengthening the Caribbean program, expanding field capacity and shaping CRF’s 2026 operating plans. What began as a planning retreat became a week of problem solving in the field and a clearer understanding of how restoration work must adapt across different locations with different needs.
Seeing Restoration Through a Wider Lens
St. Croix provided a setting that encouraged the team to think in new ways. The reefs, partner networks, logistical constraints and regulatory conditions differ from those in Florida. Experiencing this firsthand helped staff understand how the CRF restoration standards can translate in a different environment and where adjustments are necessary.
The team visited The Nature Conservancy and the Feather Leaf Inn, two partners involved in VI-RoCS and the Virgin Islands restoration plan. These visits offered a direct look at regional restoration programs and helped place CRF’s work within a larger network of practitioners.
For the St. Croix staff, the retreat brought meaningful field support and a deeper connection to the core restoration principles at CRF. For the visiting team, it offered a rare chance to observe the need for restoration to be tailored to the unique strengths and challenges of a new location and an in depth look at a program that is becoming an increasingly important part of the global presence of CRF.
A First For CRF In The New Nursery
One of the most significant accomplishments of the week was the installation of a second coral nursery in St. Croix. This nursery used A-frame and line systems, an established technique but one that is brand-new for CRF. Learning these techniques together created a shared foundation for future multi-species work and strengthened consistency across regions.
Because many experienced divers were present, the team was able to advance field tasks that require coordinated effort. This support moved the St. Croix program forward and helped everyone build hands-on familiarity with tools and methods used at this site.
Drafting the 2026 Vision
Retreat planning and logistics were led by St. Croix based staff Bailey Thomasson and MG Deuthman, with Nikkie Cox, Jess Levy and Phanor Montoya-Maya handling approvals, budgeting and coordination. Staff from both regions contributed presentations about their sub-departments, which helped establish a clearer view of how each area supports the CRF mission.
Throughout the week, the team drafted 2026 operating plans for the Restoration and Global programs. These discussions identified key areas of alignment such as genetic management, adapting standards for local conditions and developing resources for practitioners working across different regions.
The team also examined the challenges facing restoration, including climate-driven heat stress, limited resources and slow regulatory processes. Rather than focus on barriers alone, staff centered their discussions on the values and practices needed to move through them.
Strength Behind the Work
Dedicated time for planning and reflection is rare in day-to-day field operations. The retreat gave staff room to learn new skills, step back from routine challenges and understand how their work fits into CRF’s broader strategy. This perspective supports long-term efficiency and growth.
The retreat also strengthened morale. Spending time in St. Croix helped staff see the program not as a distant project but as an integral part of the organization. This shared experience encouraged team members to think beyond individual roles and recognize how their efforts contribute to CRF as a whole.
Looking Forward
The insights gained during the retreat will guide restoration work in the coming year. Field operations will benefit from new technical skills and shared experience. Strategic planning will move forward with greater alignment between departments. Partnerships in the Virgin Islands will continue to grow as the team applies what it learned through this first full-staff retreat.
The challenges facing coral reefs remain significant, yet this week reinforced the strength that comes from a team learning, planning and working together. The retreat created a foundation that will support CRF’s next chapter of restoration in both Florida and St. Croix.
Written by: Chelsea Co, Senior Digital Marketing Coordinator
