Project Report
| Jul 13, 2026
Fantastic events at Amuseum Naturalis
By Mark Yokoyama | Project Leader
![Emancipation Day event]()
Emancipation Day event
We have had a wonderful spring and summer so far at the Amuseum. Many thanks for your support!
Here are a few highlights from the last few months:
- The local government hosted the commemoration of Emancipation at the Amuseum this year. It was a beautiful event.
- Our friends at the Soualiwomen Kultural Association (SKA) hosted a Johnny Cake workshop at the Amuseum. The event included a steel pan workshop. Both the wood ovens and the steel pan drums are upcycled from oil barrels!
- We launched the book The Last Frontier, developed with the artist Roland Richardson. It includes his artworks of French Quarter, where the Amuseum is located. It also includes oral histories about the people and places featured in the artworks.
- We launched the book SoualiColor. It is a coloring book about St. Martin culture and it was created by SKA and Les Fruits de Mer.
- We hosted three volunteer days to clean and improve the Amuseum and its gardens.
- We launched the book Trees for Me and My Island. This book features great native trees that are beneficial to both people and wildlife. We gave away seedlings of many of the trees at the book launch.
- We finished our book distribution to every student on the North side of the island and approximately 2,000 students on the South side of the island. We also hosted a Teacher Day to learn from teachers about what they need.
Thanks so much for your support! We love what we are doing together and we’re going to keep building on our successes.
We welcome donations of any size, one-time or recurring. Your help makes all of this possible!
Many thanks!!!
![Johnny Cake workshop]()
Johnny Cake workshop
![SoualiColor Launch]()
SoualiColor Launch
![Trees for Me and My Island]()
Trees for Me and My Island
![The Last Frontier]()
The Last Frontier
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Mar 30, 2026
Thousands of kids get books about their island
By Mark Yokoyama | Project Leader
![Amuseum school visit]()
Amuseum school visit
We’ve been going non-stop so far in 2026 and we have a lot to show for it! Thanks for your help, which makes it all possible.
Here are a few highlights from the last few months:
- We had 8 elementary school classes visit the Amuseum to do fun activities.
- We launched J’ouvert, a collection of writings by beloved St. Martin author and artist Ruby Bute in two editions: English-French and English-Dutch. We gave 4,000 copies to students on both sides of the island!
- We gave copies of SoualiKulture to every student at the Moho middle school in French Quarter. This is the first-ever activity book about St. Martin culture, made in collaboration with Soualiwomen Kultural Association (SKA), a cultural group based in French Quarter.
- We’ve distributed books to every student in 5 elementary schools and 3 preschools, and we’re working our way through the rest of the schools right now.
Thanks so much for your support! We love what we are doing together and we’re going to keep building on our successes.
We welcome donations of any size, one-time or recurring. Your help makes all of this possible!
Many thanks!!!
![Amuseum school visit]()
Amuseum school visit
![J'ouvert by Ruby Bute]()
J'ouvert by Ruby Bute
![SoualiKulture distribution]()
SoualiKulture distribution
![Distributing J'ouvert]()
Distributing J'ouvert
Links:
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Dec 1, 2025
New books, new exhibits, many thanks!
By Mark Yokoyama | Project Leader
![Amuseum Around Me at the Migratory Bird Festival]()
Amuseum Around Me at the Migratory Bird Festival
Thank you so much for supporting Les Fruits de Mer and Amuseum Naturalis. We are doing wonderful things thanks to your help!
Here are a few highlights from the last few months:
- We had a great Migratory Bird Festival and launched Amuseum Around Me, a new book for young students visiting the Amuseum.
- We hosted heritage days with a tour of the Amuseum. Serge Gumbs presented his research on St. Martiners who fought in WWI, WWII and the Algerian War. Soualiwomen Kultural Association (SKA) did demonstrations of traditional johnny cake baking in wood-fired barrel ovens.
- We developed and launched an English-Dutch edition of Animals Around Me to help kids on the South side of St. Martin develop the Dutch language skills they need to pursue college and careers throughout the Dutch Kingdom.
- We finished new exhibit panels about snails and installed them at the Amuseum.
- We are about to launch a collection of writings by beloved St. Martin author and artist Ruby Bute in two editions: English-French and English-Dutch. 4,000 copies will be given to students on both sides of the island!
Thanks so much for your support! We love what we are doing together and we’re going to keep building on our successes.
We welcome donations of any size, one-time or recurring. Your help makes all of this possible!
Many thanks!!!
![Aquatic snail discovery at Migratory Bird Festival]()
Aquatic snail discovery at Migratory Bird Festival
![Serge Gumbs shares his history research]()
Serge Gumbs shares his history research
![SKA shows how johnny cakes are made]()
SKA shows how johnny cakes are made
![One of our new snail exhibit panels]()
One of our new snail exhibit panels
![Animals Around Me in English and Dutch]()
Animals Around Me in English and Dutch
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