Help us empower the next generation of St. Martiners!

On the island of St. Martin, our team of volunteers is hard at work. We’d love your help!

Let’s work together for a future where heritage is preserved and shared, where elders have a way to pass on their knowledge, and kids know their island, love their nature, and are proud of their culture.

Over the last few years, we’ve expanded our free museum, Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. We’ve also grown our book program, with the goal of giving least one book about St. Martin to every single kid on the island, every school year. We’ve now published 45 books about the island for all ages, and distributed over 40,000 books to local students, teachers, and families. This school year, we hope to give a book to every student on both sides of the island. Help us make it happen!

Your donation helps us put local knowledge into world-class educational materials that can reach everyone. It helps us document and share local nature, heritage and culture. It helps us survey local biodiversity, and record oral history interviews. It helps us collaborate with St. Martin authors, artists, and people of all ages to create more amazing books and exhibits. It helps share our free museum with school groups and the public. And it helps us distribute tens of thousands of books to students every year.

We’ve reached some incredible milestones. Help us continue to build this powerful positive impact on this entire generation, and the ones to come!

Donate: https://wp.me/P6qQA3-31z

Join the association: https://wp.me/P6qQA3-Ao

Download books: https://wp.me/P6qQA3-1kR

Send us a message: [email protected]

Or come by and see us at Amuseum Naturalis (https://amuseumnaturalis.com/)!

The future is waiting. Let’s make it a great one, together!

Jenn, Mark & Christian
Les Fruits de Mer

Booktastic!

Booktastic! is different from any other book we’ve made. It’s a workbook we use when teaching people how to make their own educational activity books. We’ve made a lot of books and we’ve learned a lot about making books. It’s a process that anyone can learn. It’s hard work, but it’s fun work. If we want locally-made books about local topics for kids all over the Caribbean — and we do! — then we have to help lots of people learn how to do it. Booktastic! is a start.

Booktastic! Create your own coloring and activity book

Learn how to create your own educational coloring and activity book! The Les Fruits de Mer association has developed educational coloring and activity books with a Caribbean focus for all ages of kids. These are powerful tools to promote education about local subjects. Use this activity book to learn how to develop your own coloring and activity books.

Download the book for free. (PDF, 57 pages)
Buy the book.

 

2024 at Amuseum Naturalis

2024 has been a wild year at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. In the spring, there was a threat that the property would be put up for auction. Thanks to the Collectivité and the many people who came out to show their support, that was averted. We hosted the Endemic Animal Festival, the Migratory Bird Festival, and many book launches. Hundreds of students visited with school groups. It’s been fantastic and we thank our volunteers for helping us do it all. We also thank the many supporters of the Amuseum: Vie Associative and the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, Fondation Air France, Delta Petroleum, Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soap, and all the generous individuals who have donated throughout the year to make this possible!

New Books from 2024!

As we wrap up our year, the Les Fruits de Mer association is proud to have published fourteen new books in 2024! It seems like a lot — maybe too many? — but really there are so many books waiting to be made. This year we had the chance to make coloring books specifically about migratory birds, and the unique animals that live only on St. Martin or only on a few islands in our area. We made our first coloring book with simplified art for younger kids. We published four books that were by St. Martin authors or made in collaboration with people outside our association. We also made a workbook that we use when teaching people how to develop their own activity books. We’ve got many more things in the pipeline for 2025. Until then, check out all our books here: https://www.lesfruitsdemer.com/resources/books/

Super St. Martin OCEAN

Super St. Martin OCEAN! is an activity book all about St. Martin’s sea life. Activity books can be a great way to teach any subject. In this book, each activity builds on the ideas introduced in previous activities to teach all about marine life and habitats. It also shares how the people of St. Martin have been connected to the sea and sea life for centuries.

Super St. Martin OCEAN! Activity Book


Draw, create, color and solve! Explore the amazing undersea world and heritage of the island of St. Martin, with over 100 pages of fun mazes, word games, coloring pages, creative writing activities and more!

Free download. (PDF, 108 pages).
Buy the book.

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Association + Culture

On St. Martin, knowledge and culture have been passed on from generation to generation through oral tradition. Recording oral histories is one way to tap into this tradition and make sure the knowledge isn’t lost. It also makes it possible to share this knowledge with future generations and the world. Association + Culture is a book of oral histories. Members of nonprofit associations talk about the local culture that inspires them and what they do to preserve and share it.

Association+Culture: Speaking of Heritage

Associations are a key part of St. Martin’s cultural landscape. They preserve, document, and share the unique culture of the island. In this book, we share interviews with members of three associations about their cultural work. We learn what inspired them, and how they keep culture alive on St. Martin.

Download the book for free. (PDF, 46 pages)
Buy the book.

 

Soualikids Creatures

Here’s a great way for parents and kids to learn about local wildlife together. Soualikids Creatures is a photo book of St. Martin animals that parents or teachers can share with their kids. Soualikids Creatures Coloring Book is a companion coloring book that the kids can color on their own!

Soualikids: Creatures • Créatures • Criaturas • Beestjes


Soualikids Creatures
This word book invites kids to explore the amazing nature on Soualiga, the island of St. Martin! Inside, they can discover local creatures and learn their names in four of the many languages spoken here. Big, bright photos show little ones their island’s fantastic creatures. And animal names in English, French, Spanish and Dutch help them build early word skills about the special creatures around them!

Soualikids: Creatures • Créatures • Criaturas • Beestjes Coloring Book


Color and learn the names of creatures on the island of St. Martin in English, French, Spanish and Dutch! Here are photos of them with their page numbers.

The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin

The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin was the first book we published. It covers all kinds of wildlife from bats and birds to insects and snails. Though it is incomplete, it does include hundreds of species. The first wildlife book of its kind for St. Martin, it is a great resource for anyone who wants to learn the local fauna!

The Incomplete Guide to the Wildlife of Saint Martin

2nd-ed-guide-cover-webCalled “the best, and most complete, natural history book I have read about any single Caribbean island” by Dr. James “Skip” Lazell, the updated and expanded second edition of this wildlife guide is a unique volume covering all the terrestrial wildlife of St. Martin, from mammals and birds to reptiles and insects. It includes over 500 color photographs, and features hundreds of species, including those which are found only on St. Martin. The text includes detailed information about both the biology and the local history of the animals featured and is written to be accessible to persons of all ages and backgrounds.
Buy the book.
Download the book for free. (PDF, 130 pages)

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Migratory Birds Around Me

Coloring books are a great way to introduce kids to the special wildlife around them on St. Martin. They can also help teach important ideas. Migratory Birds Around Me showcases many of the migratory birds that spend part of their year on St. Martin. It also explains the concept of migration and illuminates how amazing these birds and their voyages are.

Migratory Birds Around Me: St. Martin Nature Coloring Book and Journal


Birds are everywhere on St. Martin. There are birds on every beach, pond and hill, and in every neighborhood on the island. Wherever you are on St. Martin, you can find a bird. From season to season, you might notice how the birds change. We start hearing the loud calls of the Laughing Gull in April, and they go away in October. Thousands of small, brown shorebirds flock to our beaches and ponds in late summer. They stay for the winter, but leave in spring. These birds are some of our migratory birds. Our migratory birds spend part of the year here and part of the year somewhere else. They travel thousands of miles between North America, South America and the Caribbean. These special birds make amazing journeys. You can see these birds in the wild on our island. You can bring this book with you when you go to find them.

Download the book! (PDF, 75 pages).
Buy the book.

 

St. Martin Sea Life

The sea around St. Martin is rich and beautiful. From mangroves and seagrass beds to coral reefs and the open waters, each habitat is full of animals and more. St. Martin Sea Life visits many different sea habitats and shows what is living there. It’s a great intro to marine life. It’s also a great way for kids to discover, and learn to appreciate, one of St. Martin’s most important resources!

St. Martin Sea Life

Discover the amazing living seas of St. Martin! We are surrounded by unique habitats, from mangroves and seagrass beds to coral reefs and the open ocean. Each one has its own story, and a special group of animals that lives there. Find out what makes each of these underwater places so important, and how every creature has a special role to play in St. Martin’s seas.
Buy the book.
Download the book for free. (PDF, 52 pages)

 

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Festive Launch with Free Giveaway for New Coloring Book This Saturday!

1, 2, 3 St. Martin! is a new counting and coloring book of St. Martin nature.

The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to the free, holiday-themed launch for 1, 2, 3 St. Martin! The new coloring book stars local wildlife and the numbers 1, 2, and 3. The festive launch event will be held this Saturday, December 21 from 9am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis. Kids and adults will enjoy free holiday crafts, including decorating cookies and wood ornaments in the shapes of our island wildlife. Free copies of the new book will be given away at the event, and light refreshments will be served.

1, 2, 3 St. Martin! features easy-to-color art of the numbers 1, 2, and 3, paired with one, two or three St. Martin animals. The association created the new book in response to the requests of early education teachers for a St. Martin coloring book with simple illustrations for the very young.

“1, 2, 3 St. Martin! is our first Color, Learn & Count book!” said author Jenn Yerkes. “It helps little ones learn the numbers 1, 2 and 3, while they have fun counting local land and sea animals.”

The new book invites kids to have fun counting and coloring local land and sea animals.

“It’s a great way for little kids to begin connecting with the natural heritage of their island,” said Mark Yokoyama, co-founder of Les Fruits de Mer. “Plus it makes a fun holiday gift,” added Yerkes. “So pass by and get a free copy at the Amuseum this Saturday morning!”

Free copies of 1, 2, 3 St. Martin! will be given away at the launch, thanks to Vie Associative and the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin. Festive art activities, cookie decorating and refreshments will be offered thanks to event sponsor Delta Petroleum. The free event will be held on Saturday, December 21st at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House in French Quarter from 9am to noon.

The launch’s free holiday art activities include decorating ornaments in the shapes of St. Martin wildlife.

The new book is also available as a free download from https://lesfruitsdemer.com, and for purchase on amazon.com worldwide. Teachers and youth group leaders interested in copies are encouraged to contact Les Fruits de Mer at [email protected]. Companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring copies for schools are also encouraged to contact the association.

The free event’s fun holiday crafts for kids and adults include cookie decorating.

Free printed copies of 1, 2, 3 St. Martin! will also be given to local schools as part of Les Fruits de Mer’s book program. This project is supported by Vie Associative and the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, and by Fondation Air France. 1, 2, 3 St. Martin! was produced with support from Vie Associative, the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires, and from Fondation Air France.

The Old House

The Old House is one of St. Martin’s most important historical buildings. Dating back to 1766, the history of the house reflects much of the history of the island. The building itself features many classic building techniques used in days gone by. Take a closer look at this heritage house in the book The Old House.

The Old House

Learn about The Old House in French Quarter, St. Martin. The 250-year history of this home reflects the history and culture of the island itself. Its design and craftsmanship showcase the talents of St. Martin builders and artisans. Since the year 2000, The Old House has been a museum, preserving and sharing the island’s heritage.
Download the book for free. (PDF, 42 pages)
Buy the book.

Endemics Around Me

There are some plants and animals that live only on St. Martin. Many more only live here and on a few nearby islands. They are amazing and special, but kids don’t necessarily learn about them in school. Everyone can get to know them in Endemics Around Me, a coloring book and nature journal about plants and animals that are endemic to our island or our part of the Caribbean.

Endemics Around Me: St. Martin Nature Coloring Book and Journal


St. Martin is full of amazing animals and plants. Some of them live only on St. Martin. They don’t live anywhere else in the world! Other animals and plants live only in our part of the Caribbean. That makes them special. We are lucky that we are able to see them. Scientists use the word “endemic” for animals and plants that live only in a certain place. Something is endemic to St. Martin if it lives only on our island. A plant or animal can also be endemic to just a few islands, or just our part of the Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles. This book is full of things that live only on St. Martin, or only in our part of the Caribbean. Every time you see them, you know you live somewhere special and unique!

Download the book! (PDF, 91 pages).
Buy the book.

Soualiga Sea

Dive into the Caribbean sea and see who’s living there. Soualiga Sea is perfect for kids learning to read and write. Since St. Martin is a melting pot of nationalities, this book is quadrilingual: English, French, Spanish and Dutch. This gives kids a chance to learn in several languages. It also gives parents and kids a chance to connect, even if the parents don’t speak the language used in their kids’ school.

Soualiga: Sea • Mer • Mar • Zee


Soualiga is an Amerindian name for the island of St. Martin. Many languages are spoken on this island. You can use this book to learn words in four of these languages! In this book, you’ll find the English, French, Spanish and Dutch names for St. Martin sea animals. There is a drawing of each sea animal for you to color. Each drawing has the animal’s name in all four languages. There is also a place for you to practice writing the names of each animal.

Free download. (PDF, 49 pages).
Buy the book.

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

6 Poems by Lasana M. Sekou

6 Poems by Lasana M. Sekou is St. Martin poetry for St. Martin youth. We produced this trilingual English-French-Spanish edition with the generous permission of author Lasana M. Sekou and House of Nehesi Publishers. Featuring some fantastic new translations by Alex Richards and Fabian Badejo, this collection makes local literature more accessible. We’ve distributed over 1000 copies to students on St. Martin.

6 Poems by Lasana M. Sekou

Discover the magic of St. Martin poetry and celebrate the unique heritage of this island with 6 Poems by Lasana M. Sekou, the first companion edition to the poetry exhibition project of Amuseum Naturalis. Presented in English, French and Spanish, these poems are a perfect introduction to the poetry and literature of St. Martin.
Download the book for free. (PDF, 36 pages)
Buy the book.

Animals Around Me

What if Caribbean kids could get coloring books featuring the animals found on their island? Animals Around Me is a coloring book full of animals that live on St. Martin that kids can see around them in real life. It’s also a nature journal, so kids can make their own observations and drawings of local wildlife.

Animals Around Me: St. Martin Wildlife Coloring Book and Nature Journal


Get to know the native animals of St. Martin! Find out their names, where they live and what they do. Learn what they look like by coloring and drawing them. Study them in the wild and make notes in your nature journal.
Download the book! (PDF, 97 pages).
Buy the book.

Animaux Autour de Moi : Livre de coloriage et journal de la nature sur les animaux de Saint-Martin

Apprends à connaître les animaux natifs de Saint-Martin ! Découvre leurs noms, où ils vivent et ce qu’ils font. Apprends à quoi ils ressemblent en les coloriant et en les dessinant. Observe-les dans la nature et note tes remarques dans ton journal de la nature.

Téléchargez une copie gratuite. (PDF, 97 pages).
Achetez une copie.

 

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Découvrez tous les livres Les Fruits de Mer ici.

Aidez-nous à donner un livre à chaque enfant à Saint-Martin, chaque année d’école. Faites un don aujourd’hui !

The Book of Cures

Where would a Caribbean colonist keep all of their most important information in the 19th century? In a little notebook. We found one from St. Martin, and it includes medical recipes and lifehacks like how to improve rum and how to mend boiling coppers. Explore this unique historical artifact in our book: The Book of Cures. It’s a deep-dive into a very different St. Martin.

The Book of Cures

In a small notebook, an unknown 19th-century author on the island of St. Martin recorded medical remedies and other useful information. Preserved for perhaps 200 years, through hurricanes and other calamities, this book of cures provides a unique window into life on St. Martin. Dive into this unique artifact on a page-by-page journey of discovery.
Buy the book.
Download the book for free. (PDF, 38 pages)

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Incredibilia!

Looking for something incredibly fun and incredibly interesting? Check out Incredibilia! and the Incredibilia! Activity Book. They feature amazing true stories about St. Martin nature that will astound you!

Incredibilia!


On the island of St. Martin, nature is all around. And it’s full of really wild mysteries! Every bird you see has a story. Every tree you pass holds hidden surprises. This book reveals some of the secrets and superpowers of our local plants and animals! Discover page after page of cool facts, lost histories, and amazing abilities. Explore some very curious skills and behaviors. And learn how nature really works behind the scenes! How does a fish stay safe at night? How does a heron keep clean? How does a bug feed her babies? Find out, with this inside look at the adaptations that help wild things survive and thrive on this special island!
Buy the book.
Download the book! (PDF, 45 pages).

 

Incredibilia! Activity Book


On the island of St. Martin, nature is all around. And it’s full of really wild mysteries! Every bird you see has a story. Every tree you pass holds hidden surprises. This book reveals some of the secrets and superpowers of our local plants and animals!

Discover page after page of cool facts, lost histories, and amazing abilities. Explore some very curious skills and behaviors. And learn how nature really works behind the scenes! How does a fish stay safe at night? How does a heron keep clean? How does a bug feed her babies? Find out, with this inside look at the adaptations that help wild things survive and thrive on this special island!

Buy the book.
Download the book for free. (PDF, 86 pages)

 

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Plantilles

Interested in plants and plant traditions on St. Martin? Dig into Plantilles: Plants of St. Martin! Learn about traditional agriculture and plant medicine, how plants help protect us, and much more!

Plantilles: Plants of St. Martin

Plantilles is a book about plants and plant traditions on St. Martin. It tells the stories of native plants and how they survive on the island, farming and bush medicine traditions and the importance of plants in culture. It also includes a guide to local flowers.
Buy the book.
Download the book! (PDF, 95 pages).

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Super St. Martin

What’s fun, educational, and all about St. Martin? It’s not a riddle, it’s Super St. Martin. This activity book has over 100 pages of fun activities about St. Martin nature.

Super St. Martin! Activity Book


Get set to draw, create, color and solve! This unique bilingual activity book invites young people to explore and celebrate the amazing nature and heritage of the island of St. Martin. There’s over 100 pages of discovery and fun! It’s bursting with mazes, word games, coloring pages, creative writing and drawing activities, and much more. Every activity is in both English and French, so it’s also a great tool for language learners. Over 150 of this special island’s plants and animals are featured, including some that are found only on St. Martin, and nowhere else on the planet!

Free download. (PDF, 108 pages).
Buy the book.

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Stories of St. Martin

Looking for your next great read? Let 12 St. Martiners tell you stories from their lives! There are even a couple Christmas stories for the holidays.

Stories of St. Martin

In this book, twelve St. Martiners tell stories from their lives in their own words. Each story captures a unique part of life on St. Martin, and each story captures a unique voice. They are stories of work, hardship, accomplishment and inspiration.

These stories were recorded on St. Martin between 2016 and 2021. They tell us about salt and salt harvesting, storms and renewal, work and service, and local traditions. Each one is part of an oral history tradition on St. Martin that stretches back hundreds of years, and continues today.

Buy the book.
Download the book! (PDF, 52 pages).

Find all the books by Les Fruits de Mer here.

Help us give a book to every child on St. Martin every year they are in school. Make a donation today!

Suddenly, Sargassum!

Ever wonder why the Caribbean was suddenly invaded by huge amounts of sargassum? Treat yourself to the answer! Get your copy of Suddenly, Sargassum! and find out why this strange seaweed is here and what it is doing to the region.

Suddenly, Sargassum

In 2011, a floating seaweed called sargassum landed in huge amounts on the shores of St. Martin and other Caribbean islands for the first time in history. Since then, it has come almost every year, changing beaches and seas.

What is sargassum? Why is it washing up on St. Martin’s beaches? How does it impact life on land and sea? What can be done about it?

Learn all this and more in Suddenly, Sargassum!

Buy the book.
Download the book! (PDF, 53 pages).

 

Soualikids Island!

Looking for a great gift for young kids? Share the amazing wildlife of St. Martin with them in four languages! Get the Soualikids Island picture book and the Soualikids Island Coloring Book and share the magic of nature together!

Soualikids: Island • Île • Isla • Eiland

Soualikids Island
This word book invites kids to explore the amazing nature on Soualiga, the island of St. Martin! Inside, they can discover local animals and learn their names in four of the many languages spoken here. Big, bright photos show little ones their island’s unique wildlife. And animal names in English, French, Spanish and Dutch help them build early word skills about the special place where they live!

Soualikids Île
Ce livre de mots invite les kids à explorer la nature étonnante de Soualiga, l’île de Saint-Martin ! À l’intérieur, ils peuvent découvrir les animaux locaux et apprendre leurs noms dans quatre des nombreuses langues parlées ici. De grandes photos éclatantes illustrent aux enfants la faune unique de leur île. Et les noms d’animaux en anglais, français, espagnol et néerlandais les aident à acquérir la base du vocabulaire pour décrire l’environnement exceptionnel dans lequel ils vivent !

Soualikids Isla
¡Este libro de palabras invita a los niños a explorar la increíble naturaleza de Soualiga, la isla de San Martín! En el interior, pueden descubrir animales locales y aprender sus nombres en cuatro de los muchos idiomas que se hablan aquí. Las fotos grandes y brillantes muestran a los más pequeños la fauna única de su isla. ¡Y los nombres de animales en inglés, francés, español y holandés les ayudan a desarrollar habilidades tempranas de palabras sobre el lugar especial en el que viven!

Soualikids Eiland
Dit woordenboek nodigt kinderen uit om de prachtige natuur van Soualiga, het eiland St. Martin, te ontdekken! Kinderen kunnen in dit boek kennismaken met lokale dieren en hun namen leren in vier van de vele talen die hier worden gesproken. Grote, levendige foto’s laten de kleintjes de unieke fauna van hun eiland zien. Dierennamen in het Engels, Frans, Spaans en Nederlands helpen ze om al vroeg woordvaardigheden op te bouwen over de speciale plek waar ze wonen!

Free download. (PDF, 46 pages).
Buy the book.

Soualikids: Island • Île • Isla • Eiland Coloring Book

Color and learn the names of animals on the island of St. Martin in English, French, Spanish and Dutch!

Colorie et apprends les noms des animaux de l’île de Saint-Martin en anglais, français, espagnol et néerlandais !

¡Colorea y aprende los nombres de los animales de la isla de San Martín en inglés, francés, español y holandés!

Kleur en leer de namen van dieren op het eiland St. Martin in het Engels, Frans, Spaans en Nederlands!

Free download. (PDF, 49 pages).
Buy the book.

Wild Things Activity Book

Looking for a great holiday gift for a young person? Wild Things is a fun activity book about St. Martin’s amazing wildlife. Learn about animals that live nowhere else in the world, explore caves and freshwater streams and find out how recently arrived species are changing the island. Explore the island of St. Martin and its amazing wildlife, with over 100 pages of fascinating discoveries, mazes, word games, quiz games, coloring pages, creative writing activities and more!

Wild Things! Animals of St. Martin Activity Book

Get to know the wild things of St. Martin! This entertaining overview of St. Martin’s land and freshwater wildlife will take you all over the island. Discover the unique animals living on the island of St. Martin. Learn about animals that live nowhere else in the world, explore caves and freshwater streams and find out how recently arrived species are changing the island. Explore the island of St. Martin and its amazing wildlife, with over 100 pages of fascinating discoveries, mazes, word games, quiz games, coloring pages, creative writing activities and more!

Découvrez les histoires incroyables de la faune de Saint-Martin! Apprenez à connaître les animaux qui ne vivent qu’ici, les nouveaux arrivants qui changent l’île, les bestioles qui crient la nuit et bien plus encore ! Explore l’île de Saint-Martin et sa faune formidable, avec plus de 100 pages de découvertes fascinantes, de labyrinthes, de jeux de mots, de quiz, de coloriages, d’activités d’écriture créative et plus encore !

Download the book! (PDF, 108 pages).
Buy the book.

Les Fruits de Mer Association Launches New Local Wildlife Activity Book this Saturday with Free Giveaway Funded by Fondation Air France

The Wild Things! Animals of St. Martin Activity Book launches Saturday, November 30th from 9am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House.

The Les Fruits de Mer association is launching a new bilingual book about St. Martin wildlife, Wild Things! Animals of St. Martin Activity Book. People of all ages are invited to celebrate the new book at the free launch event. It will be held from 9am to noon this Saturday, November 30th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. Free copies of the new book will be given to the public during the launch, thanks to funding from Fondation Air France. There will be a coloring station to start enjoying all the wonderful activities in the book. Light refreshments will be served, and the Amuseum’s exhibits and gardens will be there to discover.

“This book tells many of the big stories about St. Martin wildlife,” said co-author Mark Yokoyama. “It showcases animals that live only here, and explains why that is. It explores the night world of the island and its creatures. It takes the reader into caves and streams to see what is living there.”

The new activity book was created as a companion to Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. Students visiting the museum on class trips will each receive a copy to use during and after their visit. The book was made with support from Fondation Air France, which also funded the books for students on class trips and the free books for the launch event. It is part of the Les Fruits de Mer association’s larger Island of Discovery project, funded by Fondation Air France. This major transboundary project was created by the all-volunteer association to boost education about local nature, heritage and culture on both sides of the island.

The book is bilingual in English and French, and has eight sections. Each section teaches a concept about local wildlife or describes a habitat, and spotlights a selection of related animals. There are also creative activities and quizzes in each section. The book itself is over 100 pages of learning and fun.

“We are really excited to launch this book, and very grateful for the support of Fondation Air France who made this book and much more possible!” said co-author and Les Fruits de Mer President Jenn Yerkes. “This is our first major project that is bringing books for all ages, museum visits and more to thousands of kids on both sides of St. Martin. We couldn’t have done this without them!”

Since 1992, Fondation Air France has funded close to 1680 projects in 80 countries served by the airline company. It partners with associations on projects that impact children and youth, with a focus on educational, environmental, and humanitarian projects. The foundation is funding the Les Fruits de Mer project Island of Discovery on St. Martin.

The Wild Things! Animals of St. Martin Activity Book launch will be at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on Saturday, November 30th from 9am to noon. Free copies of the book will be given to those who attend the launch. The book is also available as a free download at lesfruitsdemer.com, and for sale worldwide at amazon.com.

Fondation Air France funded the creation and distribution of the Wild Things! Animals of St. Martin Activity Book.

Migratory Bird Festival at Amuseum Naturalis 9am to Noon Saturday, November 16th

The free Migratory Bird Festival will be held at Amuseum Naturalis from 9am-noon on Saturday, November 16th.

The public is invited to a free festival celebrating St. Martin’s migratory birds this Saturday, November 16th! The Migratory Bird Festival will be held from 9am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House in French Quarter. The event will include the launch of a new bird coloring book: Migratory Birds Around Me. The book will be available for free at the event while supplies last. Kids can dive right into the books at the festival’s coloring station. Guests can also play fun bird games in the Amuseum’s gardens, learn about the science of bird tracking, and explore the museum exhibits and grounds.

“We’re super excited to host the Migratory Bird Festival and launch this fantastic new book!” said Jenn Yerkes, President of the Les Fruits de Mer association. “The book is a great showcase for the birds that migrate here each year.”

Migratory Birds Around Me is a new bilingual coloring book and nature journal featuring 33 of St. Martin’s migratory birds.

Like the other books in the Around Me series, Migratory Birds Around Me is bilingual in English and French, and is also a nature journal where kids can record their own observations and make their own drawings of local species. Free printed copies will be given away at the event thanks to sponsor Delta Petroleum.

In addition to discovering the new book, festival guests can enjoy BirdSleuth Caribbean activities like Bird Bingo and the Bird Habitat Scavenger hunt. These activities were adapted specifically for the Caribbean, featuring local birds and nature. They are perfect for kids and families to enjoy in the Amuseum’s gardens.

“Our migratory birds are truly incredible,” said Mark Yokoyama, co-founder of the Les Fruits de Mer association. “These birds travel thousands of kilometers each year and connect St. Martin with the rest of the Americas. We’re helping people learn more about them with a Motus station at the Amuseum. It uses antennas to track birds that are wearing tiny transmitters. It is one of the very first stations of its kind in the Caribbean.”

The Migratory Bird Festival will take place from 9am to noon on Saturday, November 16th. It will be held at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on the hill above Coconut Grove in French Quarter. The event is proudly sponsored by Delta Petroleum.

Delta Petroleum is the proud sponsor of the 2024 Migratory Bird Festival.

Migratory Birds Around Me was produced with support from the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires. The book project is supported by the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin. The book is also available for purchase on amazon.com worldwide, and as a free download at https://lesfruitsdemer.com.

Two Fun New Nature Books Launch With Free Giveaway This Saturday!

Incredibilia! 2 and the companion Incredibilia! 2 Activity Book are new books full of fun stories about local nature.

The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to celebrate the double launch of Incredibilia! 2 and the companion Incredibilia! 2 Activity Book. These two new books are the latest in the association’s popular Incredibilia! series about St. Martin nature. The free launch event will be held this Saturday, October 26 from 9am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis. There will be a coloring station and an art activity where kids and adults can enjoy decorating bags with some of the local wildlife featured in the books. Free copies of both books will be given away at the event.

Each book in the Incredibilia! series reveals the wild secrets and superpowers of 20 plants and animals found here. Incredibilia! 2 pairs the 20 fascinating nature stories with bright color photos. The Incredibilia! 2 Activity Book pairs the stories with coloring pages, as well as fun mazes, word games, and creative writing activities. At the request of St. Martin educators, the association now creates an activity book to accompany each Incredibilia! photo and story book.

“Nature is all around us on St. Martin,” said author Jenn Yerkes. “And there are amazing things to discover about it, like how the Green Heron uses tools. And which bat can make a tent from a tree!” These incredible true nature stories also inspire the activities in the activity book, she adds. “One writing activity invites you to imagine what would happen if your mouth had drilling superpowers like the Antillean Carpenter Bee, and write a story about it!”

The new books are both bilingual in English and French.

Both books are bilingual in English and French, and bursting with natural and cultural heritage. The stories in the new books draw on selections from Yerkes’ popular weekly St. Martin nature series “Le saviez-vous ?” published in Le Pélican. The French parts of the books were edited thanks to the editing team of Le Pélican.

Free printed copies of both new books will be given away, thanks to Vie Associative and the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin. The giveaways will be offered at the launch, along with coloring and the art activity. The free event will be held on Saturday, October 26 at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House in French Quarter from 9am to noon.

At the October 26th free launch event, kids and adults can decorate bags with local wildlife featured in the new books.

The new books are also both available as free downloads from https://lesfruitsdemer.com, and for purchase on amazon.com worldwide. Teachers and youth group leaders interested in copies are encouraged to contact Les Fruits de Mer at [email protected]. Companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring copies for schools are also encouraged to contact the association.

Free printed copies of both new Incredibilia! books will also be given to local schools as part of Les Fruits de Mer’s book giveaway program. This program is supported by Vie Associative and the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, and by Fondation Air France. Both books were produced with support from Vie Associative, the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires.

This project is supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires, through Vie Associative and Politique de la Ville.

Les Fruits de Mer Association Launches Huge Local Education Project on Both Sides of St. Martin with Funding from Fondation Air France

The Island of Discovery project will distribute over 8,000 books across both sides of the island.

The all-volunteer Les Fruits de Mer association is thrilled to announce the launch of Island of Discovery, a new project that will boost education about local nature, heritage and culture. The project will reach thousands of students on both sides of the island in the coming year. The €40,900 project is funded by Fondation Air France. It includes class visits to Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House and the distribution of thousands of books about St. Martin to students.

“Our volunteer team is so excited to take our education programs island-wide!” said Les Fruits de Mer president Jenn Yerkes. “We’ve had great success on the French side, but St. Martin is one island and this project brings our local education programs to the Dutch side in a big way. It is the biggest transboundary education project we know of on this island, and the funding from Fondation Air France makes it possible.”

The Island of Discovery project includes funding for class visits to Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House for classes from both sides of the island. On the French side, this new project will build on the association’s existing subvention-funded school book program to also give books to other associations and organizations that work with kids. On the Dutch side, the project will fund books for all primary school students and some secondary school students. Over 8,000 books about St. Martin will be distributed as part of this project.

Fondation Air France is funding the Island of Discovery project.

The project also includes the distribution of educational banners and the publication of a fun new activity book for students who visit Amuseum Naturalis. The new book will be based on museum exhibits, to reinforce the learning that happens during class visits.

The Island of Discovery project funds class visits to Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House.

“For years, we have been hearing from the community that learning about St. Martin’s nature, heritage, and culture is a necessity, but that it is not very present in the curriculum on either side of the island..That’s what this program is all about,” said Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama. “We want the next generation to know St. Martin and love St. Martin. For us, that means getting materials about this island in the hands of every single student. We are grateful to Fondation Air France for helping us cross boundaries and expand this vision.”

The Les Fruits de Mer association has published over 40 books about St. Martin nature, heritage, and culture. They include oral histories, and works created in partnership with Lasana M. Sekou and Lady Ruby Bute. In 2023, the association distributed over 15,000 books for free, giving at least one book to every student and teacher in public school on the French side of the island. It has also offered free class visits to Amuseum Naturalis since 2016.

Since 1992, Fondation Air France has funded close to 1680 projects in 80 countries served by the airline company. It partners with associations on projects that impact children and youth, with a focus on educational, environmental, and humanitarian projects.

The Les Fruits de Mer association is thrilled to launch an island-wide local education program with support from Fondation Air France.

2023 Book Program Gave 15,000 Books About St. Martin to Students, Teachers and the Public

The Les Fruits de Mer book program distributed over 15,000 books about St. Martin to students, teachers and the public in 2023.

The Les Fruits de Mer association is delighted to announce the success of their 2023 book program. The goal of the annual program is to create educational books about the island of St. Martin and give them to students, teachers, and the public. In 2023, the program met several key milestones and reached new heights.

“In 2023, we were able to distribute at least one book to every single student and teacher in all the public schools on the French side, from preschool through high school, which is really groundbreaking!” said association President Jenn Yerkes. “We distributed over 15,000 books in total last year.”

To date, the all-volunteer association has published over 40 books about St. Martin nature, heritage, and culture. Books have been developed for every age group, allowing children to receive a different book every year they are in school from age 3-18.

“If you want to give kids a book every school year, then you need a different book for each year,” said association co-founder Mark Yokoyama. “Developing quality books for every age group has been a huge task for the association. But we now have at least one book available for every grade, so that’s a major milestone for us!”

Books developed for this program include coloring and activity books, books about nature and heritage, collections of oral histories, and poetry and literature. In addition to the books developed by association members, there are four books by St. Martin authors, and two collections of oral history interviews with St. Martiners. All of the books are about this island, and all are available in English and French. Many are quadrilingual, with text also in Spanish and Dutch.

The program has received overwhelmingly positive feedback from teachers, students, and parents. Some of the new books developed for the program came from ideas suggested by teachers and students.

The 2023 book program was supported by the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, the Vie Associative service of Saint-Martin, the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin, a grant from the Office français de la biodiversité, and the Fonds pour le Développement de la Vie Associative. The book program was also supported by private donations and the help of dozens of dedicated volunteers.

The Les Fruits de Mer association is currently working on their 2024 book program. New books are in development to cover more aspects of St. Martin’s culture and heritage and target new areas of learning. The association also hopes to build towards covering all students and teachers on both sides of the island. Local businesses or individuals interested in supporting the program are encouraged to contact the association at [email protected]. For more information about the program, and free downloads of the books, visit lesfruitsdemer.com.

The book program is supported in Sandy Ground by the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin.
The book program is supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires
The book program is supported by FDVA (Fonds pour le Développement de la Vie Associative).
The book program is supported by the Office of Biodiversity of France, thanks to a micro-grant from Te Me Um, a program from the Office of Biodiversity of France to support biodiversity in French overseas territories (TErres et MErs UltraMarines).

New Oral History Book Launches Saturday at Amuseum Naturalis

The new oral history book Association+Culture launches Saturday, June 22nd from 9am to noon at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House.

The Les Fruits de Mer association will be launching a new book of oral histories at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House this Saturday. The book, Association+Culture: Speaking of Heritage, features members of three non-profit associations. Across ten interviews, they discuss their cultural inspirations and how they work to preserve and share St. Martin heritage. The public is invited to enjoy the free book launch event, which will be held from 9am to noon. Attendees can take home a free copy of the book, which is bilingual in English and French.

“Much of St. Martin’s heritage has been passed down through oral traditions,” said Jenn Yerkes, one of the book’s editors. “Oral histories are a great way to record and share cultural information. We are especially excited to share the stories of people who are active promoters of local culture!”

The book presents interviews with members of three St. Martin associations: Soualiwomen Kultural Association (SKA), Good Friends Association, and the Roland Richardson Heritage Association. On St. Martin, associations are some of the most important heritage groups, and do key cultural work here. Their essential role on this island is highlighted in the book.

“The two biggest themes in this book are people being inspired by St. Martin heritage and culture, and people coming together to share St. Martin traditions,” said co-editor Mark Yokoyama. “Associations are vital platforms for this activity. They are a vibrant and indispensable part of life on St. Martin. We are delighted to celebrate these groups, their members, and their stories.”

This book was made possible by a grant from FDVA (Fonds pour le Développement de la Vie Associative). It is a collaboration between the Les Fruits de Mer association and the associations showcased in the book. In addition to the copies offered at the book launch event, copies will be distributed to schools and distributed by the featured associations.

The Association+Culture book launch will be held 9am to noon on Saturday, June 22nd at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House in French Quarter. Attendees will receive a free copy of the book. For more information, or to download the book for free, visit lesfruitsdemer.com.

Association+Culture was made possible by a grant from FDVA (Fonds pour le Développement de la Vie Associative).

Launch and Free Giveaway of Two New Nature Books this Saturday!

Soualikids Creatures is a multilingual word book with bright photos of St. Martin creatures.

The public is invited to celebrate the launch of two new nature books produced by the Les Fruits de Mer association! The free launch event will be held 9am to noon this Saturday, May 4th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. The two new books are the latest in the popular Soualikids children’s series, Soualikids Creatures and Soualkids Creatures Coloring Book. They showcase this island’s insects and other little creatures. These two books will be given away for free at the event, which will feature a coloring station. The author and photographer will be present for book signing.

The Les Fruits de Mer association developed the Soualikids series based on requests from St. Martin educators and parents for materials about this island for toddlers and pre-school age kids. Each book in the series is a quadrilingual word book, in four of the many languages spoken here: English, French, Spanish and Dutch. The goal of the series is to highlight St. Martin nature, culture, and heritage, to help little kids build early word skills about the special place where they live.

“The series is called ‘Soualikids’ because it was created for the kids of St. Martin, and Soualiga is one of the Amerindian names for this island,” explained author Jenn Yerkes. “The nature books in this series are designed in pairs: a first book with wildlife photos, and a second companion book with fun coloring pages of the same wildlife. We’re thrilled to launch this third pair of books, which stars the incredible insects and other little critters that kids can see here on St. Martin!”

Soualikids Creatures is a “look and learn” picture book, with colorful photos of captivating local creatures. The companion Soualikids Creatures Coloring Book is a “color and learn” book with two fun coloring pages for each of the creatures. It also has a visual guide on the back cover with vivid photos of all the featured creatures. Both books include creature names in all four languages.

“Adults can share these books with little kids, to help them build their vocabulary and discover the cool creatures on their own island!” said Mark Yokoyama, co-founder of the Les Fruits de Mer association. “We’ll be giving free printed copies of both of these books to local preschools as part of Les Fruits de Mer’s 2024 book giveaway program. And more Soualikids books are on the way that spotlight island nature, art and culture!”

Soualikids Creatures Coloring Book has two fun coloring pages for each creature, and creature names in four languages.

The free launch event and book giveaway will be held at Amuseum Naturalis on Saturday, Saturday, May 4th from 9am to noon thanks to event sponsor Delta Petroleum. Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House is a free museum of nature and heritage located in French Quarter, St. Martin. It is open every day from sunrise to sunset.

Both new books are also available as free downloads from lesfruitsdemer.com, and for purchase on amazon.com worldwide. Teachers and youth group leaders interested in copies are encouraged to contact Les Fruits de Mer at [email protected]. Companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring copies for schools are also encouraged to contact the association.

Les Fruits de Mer’s 2024 book giveaway program is supported by the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin, the Vie Associative service of Saint-Martin, and the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin. Soualikids Creatures and Soualikids Creatures Coloring Book were produced with support from the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires.

Distribution of Soualikids Creatures and Soualikids Creatures Coloring Book to students in Sandy Ground is supported by the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin.
This project is supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires.
Delta Petroleum is a proud sponsor of Les Fruits de Mer’s book giveaway program.

2024 Endemic Animal Festival

Thanks to everyone who came out to the 2024 Endemic Animal Festival, and special thanks to all the volunteers who made it possible! We had a beautiful day at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House together. Congratulations to everyone who found all 18 animals and plants on the Endemics Hunt, and good luck growing those native thatch palms!

Check out the photos below to see some of the amazing designs created by people of all ages on their endemic-decorated pouches. If you didn’t make it to the event, you can still download Endemics Around Me for free. Also, mark your calendars for the launch and free giveaway of Soualikids Creatures and Soualikids Creatures Coloring Book, 9am to noon this Saturday, May 4th at the Amuseum!

Endemics Around Me Launches at Festival This Saturday

Our latest bilingual coloring book, Endemics Around Me, launches Saturday at the Endemic Animal Festival. Get your free copy at the festival, or download it free from our website. This book showcases the amazing animals and plants that live only on St. Martin or only in our region!

St. Martin is full of amazing animals and plants. Some of them live only on St. Martin. They don’t live anywhere else in the world! Other animals and plants live only in our part of the Caribbean. That makes them special. We are lucky that we are able to see them. Scientists use the word “endemic” for animals and plants that live only in a certain place. Something is endemic to St. Martin if it lives only on our island. A plant or animal can also be endemic to just a few islands, or just our part of the Caribbean, the Lesser Antilles. This book is full of things that live only on St. Martin, or only in our part of the Caribbean. Every time you see them, you know you live somewhere special and unique!

Download the book! (PDF, 91 pages).
Buy the book.

Endemics Around Me was produced with the support of the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin.

Thank You, Volunteers!

After the historic march for St. Martin land and heritage, we were so lucky to have an amazing team of volunteers to welcome the public to Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. The team distributed hundreds of books about this island, recorded oral histories, hosted a coloring station for kids and much more. Thank you, volunteers! 

The Les Fruits de Mer association is an all-volunteer nonprofit, and everything we do is made possible by our volunteers. Please come enjoy our free Endemic Animal Festival, 9am to noon this Saturday, April 27th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. Learn all about the special animals and plants that are unique to our island. It is also a chance to learn more about our association and how to participate.

Thanks to Agnes Etchegoyen and Gisele Jermin for photos of our fantastic volunteer team!

Oral Histories at The Old House

Thanks to everyone who shared their story at the Oral History Station at The Old House after the historic march this past Saturday! And special thanks to Gisele Jermin for recording all these stories and Stéphie Gumbs for recording sentiments out in the crowd. 

Oral traditions have been a key way of sharing knowledge in the Caribbean for centuries. Often this information is not represented in historical records. By recording oral histories, we can preserve people’s stories and voices for future generations.

If you have a story to share, come by the Oral History Station at the Endemic Animal Festival, 9am to noon this Saturday, April 27th at The Old House.

If you want to read some oral histories, check out our book, Stories of St. Martin. 

Below are a selection of photos of the oral history participants taken by photographer Gisele Jermin.

March for St. Martin Land and Heritage

Thank you to everyone who came out to support the peaceful march organized by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the family day at The Old House. The event was a show of support for the local government’s plan to purchase the contested Beauperthuy land for the St. Martin people before it is auctioned off to outside investors. These lands include The Old House, the location of Amuseum Naturalis. We hope for an outcome that preserves this heritage site and saves the land for future generations of St. Martiners.

The Les Fruits de Mer association provided hundreds of free books about St. Martin to the marchers, recorded oral histories, and hosted a coloring station for kids. We also spent the week preparing the site for the event. A huge thanks to all our hard-working volunteers for helping us host the public in style!

Thank you to Agnes Etchegoyen for photographing this historic event! See a selection of her wonderful photos below.

We welcome donations to help us cover the cost of preparing for and hosting this event. If you weren’t able to make it, this is a wonderful way to help. We are also fundraising to support whatever next steps happen with The Old House and the Amuseum as this battle for the land continues to unfold. Thank you!

Please join us at the free Endemic Animal Festival 9am-noon on Saturday, April 27th!

Free Endemic Animal Festival at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on Saturday

The free Endemic Animal Festival is 9am to noon on Saturday, April 27th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House.

The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to the Endemic Animal Festival from 9am to noon this Saturday, April 27th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House. The festival will feature a book launch and giveaway, a craft activity, a plant giveaway and the chance to learn about the special animals that live only on St. Martin or only in our region. The festival and all of the activities are free.

“Endemic animals and plants are the most unique part of the nature of this island,” explained Les Fruits de Mer president Jenn Yerkes. “These are the species that live only on St. Martin, or only on a few islands in our area. Lots of people don’t know that there are plants and animals that can only be found here, and nowhere else on the planet! They’re such a special part of St. Martin’s natural heritage. We invite everyone to come have a great time celebrating them at this free, fun festival!”

Endemics Around Me, a new bilingual coloring book and nature journal, will be launched at the festival. Attendees can take home a free copy. The book features 40 plants and animals that are unique to St. Martin or our region.

The bilingual coloring book Endemics Around Me will be launched and given away at the festival.

“We are very excited to release this special book,” said author Mark Yokoyama. “It is a great introduction to animals and plants that live only here, like the Bearded Anole and the St. Martin Milk Pea. These are some of our most precious treasures.”

Kids and adults will enjoy the event’s craft station, where they can decorate canvas pouches with endemic animal designs to take home. There will also be a free giveaway of Thatch Palm seedlings. This beautiful palm is native to St. Martin. Visitors will have the chance to see some of St. Martin’s endemic animals and plants at the event. There will also be an oral history station, where people of all ages can share their stories about life on St. Martin.

The festival will be from 9am to noon on Saturday, April 27th at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on the hill above Coconut Grove in French Quarter. The free festival is sponsored by Delta Petroleum. Development and printing of Endemics Around Me was supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin.

Free seedlings of the native Thatch Palm will be distributed at the Endemic Animal Festival.
The Endemic Animal Festival will be held at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House in French Quarter.
Endemics Around Me was produced with the support of the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin.
Endemics Around Me was developed with support of the Collectivité de Saint-Martin.
Delta Petroleum is the sponsor of the 2024 Endemic Animal Festival.

Les Fruits de Mer Association Welcomes St. Martin to The Old House on Saturday

Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House is a free museum of St. Martin nature, heritage and culture.

The all-volunteer Les Fruits de Mer association is looking forward to welcoming the people of St. Martin to The Old House on this Saturday, April 20th. The Old House is the ending point of the peaceful march organized by the Collectivité of Saint-Martin to defend local land and heritage. The Collectivité is organizing a Family Day at The Old House following the march. For the last six years, The Old House has been home to Amuseum Naturalis, a free museum of local nature, heritage and culture, created by Les Fruits de Mer. 

“We believe it is vital to preserve The Old House,” said Les Fruits de Mer president Jenn Yerkes. “Dating back to 1766, this is one of the island’s most important heritage sites. We are grateful to the Collectivité for their dedication to preserving this site and to acquiring the Beauperthuy lands to use for the benefit of the people of St. Martin. We look forward to the historic march on the 20th of April and spending time at The Old House with everyone who comes out!.”

The Old House is an important St. Martin heritage site.

Les Fruits de Mer volunteers have been getting Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House ready for a record crowd on April 20th. They have also been preparing books about St. Martin for kids and people of all ages to give away for free at the Family Day event. There will be a coloring station for kids to enjoy. There will also be an oral history station. Volunteers from the association will be present to answer questions about the museum and its exhibits.

“Our volunteer team is working hard to prepare for this historic event,” said museum manager Mark Yokoyama. “We are pulling together about 1,500 books to give away at the event. We have coloring and activity books about St. Martin nature, collections of oral histories of St. Martiners and more. The Old House is my favorite place on earth. It will be a joy to share it with people as we stand together for the future of the island.”

An all-volunteer team has been developing and maintaining Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House for the past six years.

Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House is a free community museum of St. Martin nature, heritage and culture. It is open daily from sunrise to sunset. It hosts free visits for schools on both sides of the island. It is created and maintained by an all-volunteer team. 

March to Save The Old House, Saturday April 20th

Dear Les Fruits de Mer members, volunteers and friends,

We’ve been working together for more than six years to preserve and share a very special part of St. Martin heritage: The Old House. Today, our dreams for this site and the thousands of hours we have worked there are at risk. After over 50 years in dispute in the courts, the property where The Old House is located has been scheduled for auction on May 13th. The local government (Collectivité of St. Martin) is working to buy this and other disputed lands so it can use them to the benefit of the St. Martin people.

Will this amazing place be saved for the benefit of this island and its people, or will it be destroyed? It seems we will find out soon.

But before then, we hope you can join us in celebrating this magical space where we have shared so much with each other, and with the entire community. On Saturday, April 20th, the Collectivité of St. Martin has organized a history-making peaceful march to The Old House. This is a chance for all of us to proclaim that St. Martin heritage and The Old House must be saved.

We hope you can attend. We would love to spend this time with you. Everyone who has been a part of this incredible project deserves to be there on this day. If it is one of the last great moments we spend there together, then we hope you can be there. We hope it is the beginning of something even more magical we do there together, and for that we also want you to be there with us.

If you can attend, let us know. If you want to volunteer at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House on this historic day, let us know. If you can’t be there, spread the word!

Thank you! No matter where you are in the world, let’s celebrate this moment in solidarity.

Fruits forever!

More details about the peaceful march:
Saturday April 20th
09:45am: meet at Cadisco in Chevrise
10:00am: peaceful march to The Old House, followed by Family Day at Amuseum Naturalis at The Old House

Launch and Free Giveaway For New Coloring Book This Saturday!

For each creature, there is a coloring page, and space to practice writing its name in four of the languages spoken on this island.

The Les Fruits de Mer association invites the public to celebrate the launch of a new coloring book, Soualiga Creatures. The free launch event will take place from 9am to noon this Saturday, March 16th at Amuseum Naturalis in French Quarter. The new book spotlights the incredible insects and other little creatures of St. Martin. It will be given away for free at the launch. The event will also feature a coloring station, and a craft station where kids and adults can decorate creature-themed fabric bags. The author will be present for book signing.

Soualiga Creatures is the latest in the association’s popular Soualiga series of multi-lingual “color and learn” books for young children. Earlier books in the series include Soualiga Island, Soualiga Sea, and Soualiga Birds. Future topics planned for the series include St. Martin plants and heritage.

“Soualiga is one of the Amerindian names for St. Martin,” said author Jenn Yerkes. “English is the most common language spoken on this island. But it’s been a richly multi-lingual place for a very long time! That’s why our association makes multi-lingual books for the kids here. In the Soualiga series, everything is in English, French, Spanish and Dutch.”

Soualiga Creatures stars some of the tiniest of St. Martin’s amazing animals, especially insects. It’s a great look at the fascinating little critters that fly, crawl, glide and jump around on this island. There is a visual guide on the back cover with vivid color photos of all the featured creatures. This encourages kids to learn what they look like, and spot them in the wild. Inside, kids will find a coloring page for each creature with its name in all four languages. Each one also has a page where they can practice writing the names of the creature.

Soualiga Creatures is the newest “color and learn” book, starring the little creatures of St. Martin.

“Reading and writing are key skills for everyone. This series makes it fun to learn them by showcasing wildlife from this island that kids can see around them, or discover through the books. We hear from St. Martin educators and parents that the local topics help kids connect more with reading and writing,” said Les Fruits de Mer co-founder Mark Yokoyama. “This series is especially designed to inspire kids to practice handwriting. And to give teachers a great tool to encourage their students to practice it, too!”

“With multi-lingual books, parents and family members who might speak a different language at home can participate in kids’ education,” added Jenn Yerkes. “Plus, it’s fun for everyone to learn creature names in different languages!”

The free launch event and book giveaway of Soualiga Creatures will be held at Amuseum Naturalis on Saturday, March 16th from 9am to noon, thanks to Delta Petroleum. Amuseum Naturalis is a free museum of nature and heritage located in French Quarter, St. Martin. It is open every day from sunrise to sunset.

The book is also available as a free download from https://lesfruitsdemer.com, and for purchase on amazon.com worldwide. Teachers and youth group leaders interested in copies are encouraged to contact Les Fruits de Mer at [email protected]. Companies, organizations or individuals interested in sponsoring copies for schools are also encouraged to contact the association.

Free printed copies of Soualiga Creatures are being given to local schools and students as part of Les Fruits de Mer’s 2024 book giveaway program.This project is supported by the Politique de la ville de Saint-Martin, implemented by the State and the Collectivité de Saint-Martin. Distribution of this book to students in Sandy Ground is supported by the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin. Soualiga Creatures was produced with support from the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires.

Distribution of Soualiga Creatures to students in Sandy Ground is supported by the Cité Éducative de Saint-Martin.
This project is supported by the Collectivité de Saint-Martin and the Agence nationale de la cohésion des territoires.
Delta Petroleum is a proud sponsor of Les Fruits de Mer’s book giveaway program.