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Students lean in to observe coral conservation tanks that house growing coral for reintroduction.
Coral Conservation in Action Juanita Gardine students get a closer look at early-stage coral fragments growing in the Coral Innovation Hub's production system. © Yodi Philipos/TNC

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Partnering to Bring Coral Conservation to Life for Students

A multi-year partnership between TNC and Project Promise is giving sixth-grade students from four schools hands-on coral conservation experience

March 27, 2026 | St. Croix, U.S. Virgin Islands

Through a multi-year partnership between The Nature Conservancy (TNC) and Project Promise, during the 2025-2026 school year, sixth-grade students from four elementary schools are experiencing coral conservation firsthand at TNC’s Coral Innovation Hub, located at Estate Little Princess on St Croix.

Students from Pearl B. Larson Elementary School, Lee Muckle Elementary School, Juanita Gardine Elementary School, and Ricardo Richards Elementary School develop curiosity and confidence while forming a lasting connection to the marine environment.

During these visits, students tour the facility and participate in interactive and collaborative activities that bring coral science to life. Through games, team challenges, and exploration, students learn how corals are propagated and cared for in land-based nursery systems, discover how farmed corals are returned to local reefs, and deepen their understanding of the vital role coral reefs play in sustaining lives and livelihoods in the Virgin Islands. 

These experiences are made possible through support from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Restoration Center, U.S. Department of Commerce, and TNC, which covers the cost of transportation and school insurance for all students, ensuring that everyone has the opportunity to explore, learn, and connect with coral conservation.

Students listen and look as a scientist teaches them about microscopes and how the tool is used to observe coral growth and spawning.
Up Close with Coral Students from Ricardo Richards observe the scoring of baby corals reared at the Coral Innovation Hub through a microscope screen. © Yodi Philipos/TNC
Students run through a grass field as they play an interactive game and learn about coral.
Learning and Laughing Juanita Gardine students work together in an interactive game, matching coral vocabulary definitions to the correct terms. © Yodi Philipos/TNC
Up Close with Coral Students from Ricardo Richards observe the scoring of baby corals reared at the Coral Innovation Hub through a microscope screen. © Yodi Philipos/TNC
Learning and Laughing Juanita Gardine students work together in an interactive game, matching coral vocabulary definitions to the correct terms. © Yodi Philipos/TNC

TNC’s U.S. Virgin Islands Coral Innovation Hub was inaugurated in May 2023 and is dedicated to advancing coral restoration science in the Virgin Islands and across the Caribbean. It serves as a center for science and technology development that shares research and knowledge with regional and global partners. The lab is located on the beachside of a 25-acre TNC nature preserve and was designated as a Coral Reef Research Center (CRRC) by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Coral Reef Conservation Program in 2024.

ABOUT THE NATURE CONSERVANCY

The Nature Conservancy works across the Caribbean and around the world to protect and restore some of the planet’s most vital ecosystems. Through science-based conservation, TNC protects marine and coastal ecosystems while supporting the communities that depend on them. On St. Croix, TNC’s Coral Innovation Hub serves as a center for coral restoration, research, and education, fostering understanding and inspiring stewardship that supports coral reef protection, recovery, and resilience.

ABOUT PROJECT PROMISE

Project Promise is a 501(c)(3) non-profit organization committed to supporting youth on St. Croix through empowerment initiatives, cultural programs, and family services. Through local partnerships, Project Promise creates access to experiential learning opportunities that help students build confidence, curiosity, and leadership while expanding their exposure to new pathways and opportunities.

The Nature Conservancy is a global conservation organization dedicated to conserving the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science, we create innovative, on-the-ground solutions to our world’s toughest challenges so that nature and people can thrive together. We are tackling climate change, conserving lands, waters and oceans at an unprecedented scale, providing food and water sustainably and helping make cities more resilient. The Nature Conservancy is working to make a lasting difference around the world in 83 countries and territories (39 by direct conservation impact and 44 through partners) through a collaborative approach that engages local communities, governments, the private sector, and other partners. For more news, visit our newsroom or follow The Nature Conservancy on LinkedIn.