Together, We Grow: A Look at Our Spring Impact
At The Hideaway, we believe education should be grounded literally.
There’s no substitute for the kind of learning that happens when students step outside the classroom, into the fields, and connect directly with the earth beneath their feet.
That’s why we were excited to welcome students from Lockhart Elementary School to our farm this spring as part of our ongoing mission to connect the next generation with the land, local agriculture, and environmental stewardship.
These visits are more than just a fun day out, they’re a key part of how we measure our impact.
631 Students Reached
(Since 2022)
Lockhart’s visit was one of eight field trips we’ve hosted this spring, bringing the total number of students who’ve experienced our farm firsthand in 2025 to 204. That’s already a 64% increase over last spring, and the year’s not over yet.
During each visit, students explore the fundamentals of regenerative farming, see how local fruits grow from seed to harvest, and end the day with a homemade popsicle made from fruit grown on the very trees they’ve just toured. These moments help young people build lasting connections to their environment and their food systems—something we believe is essential to the Virgin Islands, core to a strong and sustainable future.
262 Mangroves Planted This Spring
Our commitment to local sustainability doesn’t stop at the farm. Through our ongoing partnership with the University of the Virgin Islands, we’ve planted 262 new mangroves this spring—surpassing both the 255 planted in spring 2024 and the 160 in fall 2024.
While recent heavy rains have presented challenges to some newly planted trees, others are thriving. Many of the more established mangroves have grown over four feet tall and are now developing strong prop roots, a promising sign of resilience and long-term coastal restoration.
Why We Do This Work
For us, these numbers represent more than outcomes—they represent lives touched, futures influenced, and ecosystems revived.
“The moments I spent as a child with my hands in the soil helped shape the vision for The Hideaway at Hull Bay,” says our founder and CEO, Lee Steiner. “Now, we’re paying that forward by opening our farm to young people who will carry the future of this island.”
Our efforts are part of a wider commitment to supporting the USVI’s Vision 2040 initiative, which prioritizes food security, sustainability, and reducing our territory’s reliance on imports.
We’re proud of what’s already been accomplished—and we’re just getting started. Whether it’s through education, farming, or restoration, we’ll continue to invest in the next generation and the land that sustains us.
Want to get involved?
Whether you're an educator looking to bring your students, a partner interested in restoration efforts, or a visitor who simply wants to learn more, we’d love to connect.
