Winter 2012 1

A chance for kids and parents to discover together

―There are so many different stories to tell at this site, both natural and cultural history, that you can’t possibly put everything into one exhibit.‖ So says John Shafer, the Walney Visitor Center manager at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park (ECLP) in Chantilly. And so, ECLP’s Walney Visitor Center has new changeable children’s exhibits to tell some of those

stories on a changing basis.

―Because we’re in a historic building, you can’t drill into the walls. You have to use things to sit in the room, like furniture,‖ Shafer said. The result is color-coded, adaptable areas in Walney. One is a blue area where preschoolers play at a small touch table with layout puzzles, a carpeted reading nook, discovery boxes, a basic microscope and natural history exploration tools. There’s a lower table for smaller kids and for those with disabilities, and there are discovery boxes with items inside that can be changed according to seasons or to match programs being conducted at

the park. A popular addition is a dress-up area with Colonial attire of the late 1700s.

Higher-quality magnifying glasses, a microscope and slides are in a red color-coded area for slightly older school-age children with their parents. ―We want the parents to be with the children as they explore because some objects are sensitive and breakable, and because we want an inter-action between parent and child,‖ said Shafer. It’s the principle of give a man a fish or teach him to fish. ―We want to make them comfortable with the topic or the outdoors or teach them how to find further information,‖ he

said.

Shafer cites a display of the butterfly lifecycle stages in acrylic blocks. ―If you just want to look at the stages of a butterfly, great, you’re done,‖ he said. ―If you’d like to read a short children’s book to a child that gives basic explanation, there’s a children’s book there.‖ To explore further, there’s

always a staff person at the desk to answer questions.

(Continued on page 2)

NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VOLUME 11, NO. 4 WINTER 2012

New Children’s Exhibit at Ellanor C. Lawrence

Fairfax County Park Authority | Fairfax, VA 22035 | 703-324-8695 | Fax 703-324-3996 | TTY 703-803-3354 | www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Exhibits are changeable in the new ECLP children’s area.

2 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Continued from page one

The changing exhibits will bring visitors back time after time – and time is the motivation behind the exhibits. Park personnel wanted an atmosphere in which parents spend time learning with their children. Shafer also said ECLP needs changeable exhibits because the Walney Visitor Center draws repeat

visitors.

Future plans call for the addition of a spotting scope so that children can watch the birds on a feeder station

outside a window by the exhibits.

Funding for the exhibit came from an Ellanor C. Lawrence Park fund

established by the Park Authority Board from funds provided by the Lawrence estate.

VISIT THE PARKS

NATURAL RESOURCE AND HISTORIC SITES

BURKE LAKE PARK

7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station 703-323-6600

COLVIN RUN MILL

10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls 703-759-2771

ELLANOR C. LAWRENCE PARK

5040 Walney Road, Chantilly 703-631-0013

FRYING PAN FARM PARK

2709 West Ox Road, Herndon 703-437-9101

GREEN SPRING GARDENS PARK 4603 Green Spring Rd, Alexandria

703-642-5173

HIDDEN OAKS NATURE CENTER 7701 Royce Street, Annandale

703-941-1065

HIDDEN POND NATURE CENTER 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield

703-451-9588

HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria

703-768-2525

LAKE ACCOTINK PARK 7500 Accotink Park Rd., Springfield

703-569-3464

LAKE FAIRFAX PARK 1400 Lake Fairfax Park, Reston 703-471-5414

RIVERBEND PARK

8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls 703-759-9018

SULLY HISTORIC SITE

3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly 703-437-1794

HISTORIC PROPERTIES RENTAL SERVICES

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm 703-827-0269

Need directions or more information? Go to www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

Colonial dress-up clothes at the new ECLP children’s exhibit.

Editor/Writer: David Ochs

Photos: Don Sweeney, FCPA

Production: Tammy Schwab,

FCPA

Published quarterly by the Fairfax County

Park Authority, 12055 Government Center

Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035-1118.

Resources@fairfaxcounty.gov

Fairfax County parks are great places to celebrate birthdays.

You’ll find park birthday packages at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/wp-parties.htm.

Some ideas to get you started:

Colvin Run Mill: Choose a story-and-craft activity or a pretzel baking or ice cream-

making theme. 703-759-2771

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park: Feed a turtle or explore historical artifacts. Make a craft.

703-631-0013

Frying Pan Farm Park: Visit the baby animals and take a hayride. 703-437-9101

Green Spring Gardens: Indoors or outdoors, learn of plants and gardens. 703-642-

5173

Hidden Oaks Nature Center: Celebrate with naturalist-led programs indoors or

outside. Themes include dinosaurs, butterflies, reptiles and more. 703-941-1065

Hidden Pond Nature Center: Visit the animals in the nature center and explore the

woods around the pond. 703-451-9588

Huntley Meadows: Explore forest, meadows, a visitor center and a boardwalk that

runs right through a wetlands full of wildlife. 703-768-2525

Riverbend Nature Center: Explore the world of reptiles and amphibians, uncover clues about forest animals, dig into dinosaurs, learn about archaeology or make it a

fishing trip. 703-759-9018

Sully Historic Site: Party like it’s 1799. Programs led by a staff historian.

703-437-1794

There are also birthday party packages at RECenters, Burke Lake, Jefferson Falls

Miniature Golf Course, and Lake Accotink Park.

Party in the Parks!

Winter 2012 3

Take Back the Forest The Fairfax County Park Authority and the Fairfax County Park Foundation invite you to Take Back the Forest.

Take Back the Forest is a program supporting forest conservation initiatives in our community. April and May are the key months for you to be involved, and you can plan for that by contacting Natural Resource Specialist Kristen Sinclair (703-324-8586). It’s a perfect

program for scout or school service hours.

The Park Authority plans to host 500 volunteers at 40 Invasive Management Area (IMA) sites throughout the county. IMA is a volunteer program designed to reduce invasive plants on parkland, and that’s where you come in. The Park Authority needs you to

be one of those 500 volunteers.

It’s an ambitious challenge. About 200 people helped last spring at IMA sites, so this year’s target is more than double that number. Sinclair, who oversees the IMA program, says the Park Authority is reaching out to local teens with a t-shirt design contest that runs through January 6. The contest details are on the county website. Also part of the Take Back the Forest initiative is a customized pack of playing cards featuring the

―Invasive Species of Fairfax County.‖

REI, Inc. presented the IMA program with a grant award of $10,000 this past fall to support the Take Back the Forest initiative. The Park Foundation played a role in obtaining that grant with support during the

grant application process.

The Fairfax County Park Foun-dation is a 501c3 non-profit organization that helps pick up where tax dollars leave off in meeting community needs for parkland, facilities and services. Contributions to the Park Foun-dation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

PARK FOUNDATION

Invasive Management Area

Scheduled Workdays

Want to help with parkland restoration? Need

community service hours?

Support the Invasive Management Area Volunteer

Program (IMA) and reduce invasive plants on parkland.

Register by noon the day before a workday. Learn more

at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/IMA/.

Here are this winter’s scheduled IMA field days:

Wed., Dec. 7, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 14, Americana Park, 2:30 p.m.-5:30 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 21, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Dec. 28, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Jan. 4, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.- 3:30 p.m.

Wed., Jan. 11, Americana, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Jan. 18, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Jan. 25, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 1, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 8, Americana, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 15, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3-30 p.m.

Wed., Feb. 22, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Wed. Feb. 29, Lake Accotink, 12:30 p.m.-3:30 p.m.

Keep an eye on the IMA Calendar

(www.Fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/IMA)

for events on Martin Luther King Day, Jan. 16, 2012.

Now it’s your turn. Join the Take Back the Forest program this spring by emailing Kristen.Sinclair@FairfaxCounty.gov, and support your parks through a Park Foundation project or donation

at www.fairfaxparkfoundation.org.

4 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

10 Frequently Asked Questions in the Parks

1. Are there coyotes here?

Yes. Coyotes, related to dogs, are becoming more common in Fairfax County. They generally pose no threat to humans. To keep them away, avoid leaving pet food outdoors, secure trash, keep small pets indoors. If you see one, act like the dominant animal.

Wave your arms, clap your hands, shout or yell, but don’t approach it.

2. I just saw a fox in broad daylight and it didn't run. Does that mean it has rabies? No. Although foxes and coyotes are chiefly nocturnal, they are still seen during the day. Never approach a wild animal. Please report any out-of-the-ordinary behavior, especially if you suspect rabies, to Animal Control. Call the police non-emergency number at 703

-691-2131 or the county wildlife biologist at 703-246-6868.

3. Can I remove animals or plants from parkland?

No. Removing plants, animals or any natural or cultural item from parkland is against the law. Hunting, picking flowers and gathering tadpoles to watch at home are prohibited. Park regulations ban disturbing animals in any way without a proper federal or state permit and written Park Authority permission. If you see someone removing plants or animals from parkland, please contact Park Authority personnel or call the Fairfax County Police non-emergency number:

703-691-2131.

4. Are fishing and hunting allowed in county parks?

Hunting is prohibited except for highly-regulated managed hunts. Fishing is allowed unless posted otherwise at the site. State regulations apply, which means a license is required for people 16 or older. Hidden Pond currently is catch-and-release only, and the practice is encouraged at Riverbend Park and other sites. Remember to place your used monofilament line in a fish line recycling bin. Learn more about fishing in county parks in the Spring 2009 issue

of ResOURces.

If you see a fawn like this in a park, leave it be. Mom’s probably foraging nearby for a while.

NATURE / STEWARDSHIP

Watch and learn in the parks, but do not release or

remove any plants or animals such as this juvenile

Eastern painted turtle.

Winter 2012 5

5. What do I do if I see someone hunting on parkland?

The county allows legal hunting on a few park properties each year. Those properties are posted, and the neighbors are notified. If you see someone hunting on parkland and there are no signs saying that the parkland is designated for hunting, then the person hunting is probably a poacher. Call 911. If there is evidence of poaching but no one is in the park, please call the police non-emergency number at 703-691-2131. 6. Beavers are cutting down the trees. Are you going to do anything about it?

Beavers are part of the park ecosystem. We let nature take its course whenever possible. Tell park staff about any leaning tree that appears to be dangerous or if beaver pond water floods a trail

or private property.

7. Does the Park Authority manage wildlife such as deer, geese and beavers?

The Park Authority seeks to allow native animal species to live without harm. However, because of excessive white-tailed deer and non-migratory Canada geese populations, the Park Authority participates in population control efforts. Our Wildlife Conflict Policy provides guidance for issues regarding wildlife. To learn more, call the Naturalist Line at 703-324-8580 or see Green Links

online.

8. Can I release captured wildlife on parkland?

No. State law and Park Authority regulations prohibit the relocation or release of wild animals onto parkland. Whether it’s a turtle in your back yard or a squirrel trapped in your attic, it cannot be moved across a property line but must be dealt with on your property.

Avoid wildlife conflicts by keeping bird feeders, thick mulch beds, wood piles and other wildlife attractants away from your home.

9. What do I do if I find an injured animal?

If you find an injured animal, whenever possible do not touch it, and leave it where you found it. Contact the Wildlife Rescue League

via their website or their hotline at 703-440-0800.

10. Can I release my pet on parkland?

No. State law prohibits the abandonment of domestic animals. Penalties can be severe. If you find you cannot keep your pet, try to

find someone you know and trust who can take it for you, or contact a pet adoption organization or the Fairfax County Animal Shelter.

NATURE / STEWARDSHIP

Spend a little more time in a park.

VOLUNTEER.

Join the hundreds of Fairfax County residents who volunteer, and spend more time in your beautiful parks. For information, call 703-324-8750, or learn about volunteering online at

6 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

History? Yeah, I Think I Passed That Course.

How’s your knowledge of Fairfax County history?

One year ago, ResOURces ran a quiz about geography in Fairfax County. Well, we’re back at it. This time the topic is park history.

Questions follow, with answers on page 7. Links can provide hints.

1. What site will, on Sept. 1, 2012, mark the 150th anniversary of the only

Civil War battle waged in Fairfax County?

A. Ox Hill

B. Sully Historic Site

C. Fairfax Courthouse

D. Laurel Hill Park

2. Who lived at Historic Huntley?

A. Thomas Jefferson

B. George Washington

C. Thomson Francis Mason

D. Nicholas Wilson Huntley

3. Where did Frying Pan Farm Park get its name?

A. From a nearby lake

B. It was the original name of the Floris Community in the 1700s

C. From a story about a meal shared by a settler and an Indian

D. The winning entry in a name-the-park contest

4. What park site represents the dominant industry of Fairfax County in the 1800s?

A. Riverbend Park (fishing)

B. Green Spring Gardens (gardening)

C. Hidden Oaks Nature Center (lumber)

D. Colvin Run Mill (milling)

5. What were the plans for the Burke Lake Park area before the dam was built?

A. A regional airport

B. A new White House

C. A federally-funded hippie commune

D. A football stadium

6. Who is Wakefield Chapel named for?

A. Reverend E. W. Wakefield

B. The Potomac Wakes, a 19th century baseball team

C. Nurse Christine Chapel

D. Wakefield Town, Scotland

7. What was Laurel Hill Park prior to becoming parkland?

A. A ski resort

B. The D.C. Correctional Facility at Lorton

C. A nursery for mountain laurel

D. Private residences

HISTORY

Who lived at Historic Huntley?

Burke Lake Park

The early days of Frying Pan

Winter 2012 7

8. What was Huntley Meadows before parkland?

A. A plantation belonging to George Mason IV

B. Family farms

C. The site of a planned dirigible base

D. An asphalt road testing area

E. An anti-aircraft base protecting Washington

F. A classified, radio communications research area

9. When was the original Lake Accotink dam constructed

and why?

A. 1952, For fishing

B. 1941, For Navy training during WWII

C. 1918, As an Army Corp of Engineers water source

D. 1966, As part of President Lyndon Johnson’s

―Great Society‖ program

10. What was the first parcel of land purchased by the Fairfax County Park Authority?

A. Frying Pan Farm’s barn

B. 20 acres at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park

C. 10 acres at the present Government Center complex

D. 16 acres at Great Falls

ANSWERS TO HISTORY QUIZ:

1. A. Ox Hill Battlefield Park. More than 1,500 soldiers were killed or wounded at Ox Hill two days after the Battle of Second

Manassas. There will be multiple activities marking the battle’s 150th anniversary in September of 2012.

2. C. Thomson Francis Mason, who was a grandson of George Mason.

3. B. The Floris Community in western Fairfax County was called Frying Pan from 1726 until 1892.

4 D. Colvin Run Mill was one of hundreds of mills in the county before the milling industry gave way to dairy farming in the

early 1900s. Take note of all the local roads named after mills.

5. A. In the 1950s, the U.S. Civil Aeronautics Administration had plans to build a regional airport on about 4500 acres of land

at Burke. Eventually, a site at Chantilly was chosen instead for Dulles International Airport.

6. A. The Rev. E. W. Wakefield was a Union officer during the Civil War and the chapel’s first local preacher.

7. B. Laurel Hill Park was formed from part of the land that held the main correctional facility for Washington, D. C.. The park

was built after the closing of the Lorton Prison.

8. You can’t get this one wrong unless you don’t answer. They’re all true. Huntley Meadows has a fascinating past.

9. C. Lake Accotink was built in 1918 as a water source because the Army Corps of Engineers was moving to Camp A.A.

Humphreys, now Fort Belvoir. The dam was dismantled in 1922 because it threatened a nearby railroad bridge and rebuilt in

1943. The original lake was 110 acres and 23 feet deep. Because of siltation, it is now 55 acres and 3-to-5 feet deep.

10. D. The Park Authority’s first land purchase, in 1952, was 16 acres that is now the heart of Great Falls Park. The land was

transferred to the U.S. Department of the Interior in 1965.

HISTORY

Huntley Meadows has an eclectic history.

8 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Roll Top Observatory

Dedicated at Observatory

Park at Turner Farm

The roll top has been rolled out.

The Analemma Society, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors, and the Park Authority

Board are developing an observatory at Turner Farm in Great Falls. The observatory was

dedicated this past fall on land previously owned by the U.S. Government and used by

the Army Defense Mapping Agency for NIKE missile monitoring and other radar func-

tions. The observatory building is a converted radar tower.

The observatory renovations are the first phase of a multi-phase improvement and

expansion program at the park, and the renovations are already providing a remote

access program for schools that allows students to study astronomy.

Take a Wetlands Walk

on Recycled Milk Jugs

Huntley Meadows boardwalk reopens

You’ll see conscientious stewardship of natural resources on your next meander through the wetlands. The boardwalk at Huntley Meadows Park has new, environmentally-friendly surface boards that were installed in late summer. The high-density polyethylene boards, 90% comprised of recycled milk jugs, replace cracked, splintered and dated wooden boards that lasted 18 years – three more than forecast when they

were installed.

Sections of the boardwalk were closed sequentially while repairs were made. Now that repairs are complete, the entire half-mile walkway through the Huntley Meadows wetlands is again open to lead you through some of the best wildlife-

watching territory in the Washington metropolitan area.

Funding for the boardwalk replacement was provided

through a 2008 public-approved park bond.

CULTURAL RESOURCES

Check with the Analemma Society

(www.analemma.org/) about their skywatching

programs at Observatory Park at Turner Farm,

especially their regular Friday evening gatherings.

It’s a busy time at Huntley Meadows. Along with the boardwalk

replacement is the coming spring dedication of Historic Huntley, the

planting of a native demonstration garden at the visitor center and,

in spring, the planned groundbreaking for an outdoor classroom

teaching pavilion, partially funded by the Friends of Huntley Mead-

ows Park. Drop by the park to see the improvements that make it

easier for you to experience nature.

Take a look at the new, environmentally-friendly boards on the boardwalk the next time you go wildlife watching in the wetlands at Huntley Meadows Park.

Winter 2012 9

Escape and Designation at Riverbend A single slave’s escape from bondage 194 years ago is reaching through the years to the Fairfax County Park Authority. That flight to

freedom is bringing a national designation to Riverbend Park in Great Falls. The National Park Service (NPS) has notified Riverbend that it will be designated a National Underground Railroad Network to

Freedom site.

The slave’s name was Ellick. He was one of eleven slaves owned by Hugh Conn, who ran a ferry and owned the land that is now Riverbend Park. Research by local historic preservationist Debbie Robison re-vealed that in 1809, when Conn’s estate was inventoried three years after his death, Ellick was about 27 years old and was listed as the

most valued of the Conn family’s slaves.

Following Conn’s death, ownership of Ellick passed to Conn’s children. In 1817, Ellick was convicted of breaking into a store. As punishment, he was whipped, and one of his hands was burned. When the jailer released him, there apparently was no one from the Conn household to meet him at the jail, and Ellick fled. About two months later he was captured, and two men returned him to the Conn family. While the two men dined in the Conn home, Ellick again bolted for freedom. Advertisements in the August 30, 1817 National Intelligencer and

Washington Advertiser newspaper offered $30 for his return. The Conns never saw Ellick again.

Robison found evidence of Ellick’s escape while researching Conn’s Ferry. Her research showed that Conn’s Ferry was located where Riverbend’s launch ramp sits today. That’s historically significant because of another escape. President James Madison spent a night in a hovel at Conn’s Ferry before crossing the Potomac River during his flight from Washington when the British burned several of the capital’s buildings during the War of 1812. That indicates Madison likely spent that night in

Riverbend Park.

Riverbend staffers know where Conn’s home and surrounding outbuildings stood. One of those outbuildings likely would have been slave quarters, and slaves may have worked both the farm, which produced corn and tobacco, and the ferry. There also are indications that Conn’s family may have thought Ellick escaped north up the C&O

Canal, suggesting the canal might have been part of the Underground Railroad.

Riverbend is the second FCPA site to be listed in the NPS program as a National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom site. Sully Historic Site was the first. ―This great piece of Fairfax history celebrates liberation from slavery, and we are excited to

now be able to interpret this at Riverbend,‖ said Smith.

Park personnel hope to eventually place a marker in the park and produce interpreta-

tion programs about Ellick’s escape for the public and for schools.

HISTORY

The NPS Designation

The National Park Service website says the National Underground Railroad Network to Freedom program recognizes that all human beings embrace the right to self-determination and freedom from oppression and that it is designed to tell the story of resistance against the institution of slavery in the United States through escape and flight. NPS cites the importance of desig-nating sites like Sully and Riverbend because much of the historic physical evidence of the buildings and landscapes of the Underground Railroad have been destroyed or changed over the years. The NPS website says the program ―is coordinating preservation and education efforts nationwide, and is working to integrate local historical sites, museums, and interpretive programs associated with the Underground Railroad into a mosaic of community, regional, and national stories.

Riverbend Park is now one of those stories.

10 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

“Flour Explosion” a

Booming Success

By Yvonne Johnson, Acting Manager, Colvin Run Mill

“Best mill I’ve ever seen.”

Yes, flour really can explode. That’s where the saying ―keep your nose to the grindstone‖ may have originated. A quick sniff can tell a

miller if his product is overheating.

The folks who know these details about milling were at Colvin Run Mill September 22-24. The Fairfax County Park Authority historic site had the honor of hosting more than 120 mill enthusiasts, including park managers, interpreters, volunteers, tradesmen and hobbyists, from 21 states and Canada. They were members of The Society for the Preservation of Old Mills (SPOOM) celebrating historic preserva-

tion at the 2011 SPOOM Conference.

The three-day conference was a resounding success, and Colvin Run received rave reviews, including comments such as

―enjoyed Colvin Run Mill better than Mt. Vernon’s mill‖ and ―best mill I’ve ever seen.‖

The event started with a pre-conference trip to Mount Vernon Estate that included a tour of the distillery and mill, lunch at the Mount Vernon Inn, and a free afternoon for SPOOMers to tour the house, farm, grounds, visitor center or museum. The next day included a choice of six different concurrent sessions, the keynote address delivered by Dr. Robert Sutton, Chief Historian for the National Park Service, and a banquet dinner/business meeting. The final day brought trips to Pierce Mill in Rock Creek Park, the C&O Canal in Potomac, Maryland, Colvin Run Mill and a closing stop at Frying Pan Farm Park for a bar-b-que dinner and tour of

the farm and farm house and a cider press demonstration.

Colvin Run Mill in Great Falls offers tours, scout programs, camp programs and a range of special events. Visit the website for

more information www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/crm.

Colvin Run Mill hosted the 2011 national conference of The Society for the Preservation of Old Mills.

HISTORY

Historic Properties Rental Services

Rustic, privileged, historic.

The Resource Management Division of the Fairfax County Park Authority has historic properties available for weddings, corporate and social gatherings. Rent one for your next soiree.

Call 703-938-8835 or see the sites on the Web at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hprs/

Cabell's Mill in Centreville (right) Clark House in Falls Church Dranesville Tavern in Dranesville Great Falls Grange in Great Falls Hunter House in Vienna Old Schoolhouse in Great Falls Stone Mansion in Alexandria Wakefield Chapel in Annandale Cabell’s Mill at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is one of

eight historic property rental facilities owned by the

Fairfax County Park Authority.

Winter 2012 11

ECLP Manager Retires

After 23 years as the manager of Ellanor C. Lawrence Park in Chantilly, Leon Nawojchik retired from the Fairfax County Park Authority in November. Nawojchik started with the agency 32 years ago as a naturalist at Riverbend Park, kicking off a career that sprang from a childhood

interest in birds.

During his career he saw the urbanization of the county. ―ECLP was the western frontier of the county when it was formed,‖ he said, and the park’s Master Plan still shows a residential/environmental center with a cafeteria, a campground and equestrian trails, some of which are not feasible now. The park used to have a nursery as a neighbor. It’s now surrounded by resi-dential, commercial and transportation sites in a wave of urbanization that has had many

―impacts in terms of trying to protect and preserve natural and cultural qualities,‖ Nawojchik said.

Nawojchik is happy that the Lawrence family established a trust fund when the land was given to the Park Authority in 1971. ―Periodic access to that has allowed us to do projects and provide special services that we couldn’t normally do,‖ he said. He’s also proud that he’s seen staff adapt to various challenges ―and still work hard to provide a good product and serve many customers.‖ He added, ―Despite the many challenges, we have been able to adapt and move

forward and have successes.‖

Nawojchik feels most people in his field generally have a strong love for working with nature or history or with children. ―They have a passion for the work, and there are many other work groups I’ve encountered where people are there strictly to get a paycheck, and they’d move on to something else if they had the op-

portunity.‖ He said park people are better able to weather challenges because they appreciate their work environment.

Nawojchik plans to continue his interest in natural history through personal studies, photography, travel or volunteer service. And he’ll

play some golf. ―I’d like to break 70 or shoot my age,‖ he said.

STEWARDSHIP/HONORS

The Fairfax County Park Authority Board presented its 2011 Elly Doyle Park Service Awards in No-vember. The annual awards recognize individuals and organizations that contribute outstanding vol-unteer service to the Park Authority. This year’s award recipients:

The Friends of Hidden Oaks Nature Center, who helped Fairfax County

become the National Wildlife Federation’s second-largest certified

Community Wildlife Habitat in the country

Charles and Jacque Olin, Great Falls citizens who established the Analemma

Society and were Instrumental in creating Observatory Park at Turner

Farm Park

Chris Robichaux, who created the Mason District Dog Opportunity Group and helped Park

Authority staff identify suitable parkland for an off-leash dog area

Leon Nawojchik

Park Authority Board Vice Chairman Harry Glasgow (r) presenting a service award to Charles and Jacque Olin.

2011 Elly Doyle Park Service Award

Winners Named

12 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Caring for a Park

Parks need people who care. People like those in the Garden Club of Virginia (GCV).

Deedy Bumgardner, the chair of the GCV’s Restoration Com-mittee, has announced a project to restore key elements of the Beatrix Farrand landscape design at the Green Spring Gardens Historic House in Alexandria.

Farrand installed a semi-circular stone retaining wall and a box-wood hedge above it. The GCV is rebuilding the stone wall and planning to restore the boxwood hedge as a gift to the site. GCV also will develop a plan for the Mary MacNiell Fahringer garden in front of the boxwood hedge.

Farrand, a noted landscape designer, developed the Green Spring Farm landscape design in the 1940s. Farrand’s signature work is at Dumbarton Oaks in Washington.

Thank a coach, thank a teacher,

thank a friend

with a Park Authority Gift Card!

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/giftcards/

Are you on Facebook? So

is the Park Authority.

Like us to know what’s happening in your parks.

PARTNERSHIPS

This holiday season…….

Give the gift of nature.

Give a membership to a Friends group.

www.fairfaxparkfoundation.org/support/default.htm

Supervisors To Honor

HPNC Envirothon Team

The Hidden Pond Nature Center team placed second in this year’s Virginia State Envirothon Competition. Team members Owen Mulvey-McFerron, Ben Simon, Liam Berigan, Neal MacDonald, Murjan Harnmad, and Clairisse Cheniae, along with coaches Emily Smith and Lynn Mulvey-McFerron, will be honored in January with a resolution

from the county Board of Supervisors.

Envirothon is a natural resources competition for high school students. Participants learn concepts in environmental management and stewardship and work to solve real and hypothetical environmental problems n their

Winter 2012 13

Winter Events Hidden Pond Hikers (8-12 yrs.) Hidden Pond Nature Center Participate in a new program which gets kids out in the park to explore various locales in the Pohick Stream Valley. Naturalist guides will take participants to the more remote park locations such as the Lost Swamp, the Keene Mill Historic site and other little-visited spots. Program meets once per month. Students should dress for the weather. Contact site for other dates and details. Native American Survival Skills (6-10 yrs.), Hidden Oaks Nature Center Discover hunting, trapping, basketry and other survival skills used by the eastern woodland native peoples in the 17th century. Learn how to make a debris hut, use a tossing stick, play American Indian games and learn lessons through oral story­telling. Natural Wonders: Kids Club (6-8 yrs.), Hidden Oaks Nature Center If you love nature and animals, you’ll love this naturalist-led class. Enjoy outdoor, hands-on explo­rations of the natural habitats (forests, streams and wetlands). Look for animals in the wild, and learn about the ways of natural things such as trees and flowers. Lessons include experiments, activities, games, and arts and crafts. Call site for dates and details.

Pohick Rangers Junior (6-8 yrs.) Hidden Pond Nature Center Class includes activities and field study topics such as nocturnal wildlife, insects, wetlands and more. Program will take participants into the outdoors as much as possible, so proper clothes and sturdy footwear are a must. Contact site for details and dates. Pohick Rangers (8-12 yrs.), Hidden Pond Nature Center Class includes activities such as park history with archeology, nocturnal animals, decomposers, venomous/poisonous creatures, wetlands, snakes, bugs and wildlife film-making. This program series is hands-on and in the field as much as possible. Participants dress for the weather and terrain. Contact site for details.

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Find more information about programs

on Primitive Skills (6-10 yrs.),

Rockhounds (6-8 yrs.), Science for

Homeschoolers, Snakes, Turtles and

Toads (5-8 yrs.), Stupendous Science

(6-8 yrs.), Wacky Science (7-12 yrs.),

Wild Science (7-10 yrs.), Wizard

Science (7-10 yrs.), the Young

Explorers Series (6-9 yrs.) and the

Children’s Nature Series online.

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WINTER EVENTS

Start here: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/ Classes, programs and events in Fairfax County parks are listed online. Click on the links below and follow any instructions for information about what’s happening in the parks:

Boating/Kayaking

Campgrounds

Camps

Children’s Corner

Equestrian

Farm Events (Click on the Equestrian/Farm box link to see current program

listings)

Fishing Classes

Gardening (Click on the Gardening box link to see

current program listings)

Historic Properties Rental

Services

History (Click on the History box link to see current

program listings)

Picnic Shelter/Meeting Room

Rentals

Nature (Click on the Nature box link to see current program listings at nature

centers)

Scout Programs

Upcoming Events

14 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Huntley Holiday Happening December 11, Huntley Meadows Park, 12 Noon-3:30 p.m. Free Enjoy treats, crafts and an afternoon of shopping with a 10% discount on merchandise. Photography Contest Opening December 11, Huntley Meadows Park, 1:30-3:30 p.m. Free Enjoy this year’s winning entries in the Friends of Huntley Meadows annual photography contest. Holiday Shopping Afternoon December 17, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 11 a.m., $20/child (6-11 yrs.) Adults have the afternoon free for last minute shopping and/or wrapping. Kids participate in games, nature crafts and activities, shop at the center’s gift store, eat lunch and roast s’mores. Bring a bag lunch (s’mores provided) and money for holiday shopping. Register online. Code: 274 487 2401 Santa’s Hayride and Lakeside Winter Village December 17, Lake Accotink Park, (All ages) 12:30 p.m.–4:30 p.m. It’s holly jolly family fun! Enjoy holiday music and merriment on a horse- or tractor-drawn wagon ride through the park. Warm up with a cup of hot chocolate and settle in to hear classic winter tales told around a toasty campfire. Visit with Santa. Well-socialized, leashed pets are welcome. Hayrides every 30 minutes. $8 per person. Under 3 free. Register online. Model Train Display December 17 and 18. Colvin Run Mill, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. Free Watch as G-gauge trains wend their way through a miniature western town in the Colvin Run Barn. World War II Christmas December 18, Sully Historic Site, 12 noon-4 p.m., $8 per adult, $6 per senior and per child. (All ages) See an American soldiers’ camp. Learn about Christmas in the field and on the home front. Tour the main house, occupied by Ambassador Walter Thurston during the war, and hear about the effects the war had on Fairfax County.

Holiday Concert - IONA December 28, Sully Historic Site, 1 p.m. or 2 p.m., $10 (5 yrs. and older) One of the top-rated pan-Celtic groups in the world, IONA, treats its audience to high energy entertainment featuring Scottish fiddling, percussion and vocals. House tour included. Register online. Code: 381 486 9901 for 1 p.m. or 381 486 9902 for 2 p.m. Ice Making in 19th Century Fairfax January 8, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1-2 p.m., $6/person (2 yrs. and older) Before there were refrigerators, there was ice. Learn how ice was harvested and stored on Walney Farm in the 19th century. Make and eat ice cream. Register online. Code: 274 187 8701 Mill Races January 14, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 9-10 a.m., $14/person (8 yrs. and older) Discover the races and other traces of Cabell’s Mill. Learn about the history of this mill, how mills worked, and finish with a boat race on the mill stream. Register online. Code: 274 189 0901 Celebrate the 250th Birthday of Richard Bland Lee January 15, Sully Historic Site, 1-4 p.m., $3.50/adult, $3/student, $2.50/senior and child Be Ever Mindful of the Future is the motto on the Lee family crest. During your afternoon house tour, enjoy birthday cake and discover important contributions of Mr. Lee’s impressive political career that showed him to be concerned about the future of our new nation. Café Cattail January 20, Huntley Meadows Park, 7-9:30 p.m., Free Huntley Meadows’ very own coffeehouse. Enjoy a relaxing evening applauding our community’s talents. Musicians, dancers and poets are encouraged to share their arts with a nature theme. Reservations required for performers only. Park Manager Walk and Talk January 21, Huntley Meadows Park, (Adults) 3-5 p.m., Free Join Park Manager Kevin Munroe on a monthly walk. Learn about the wetland restoration project and the wildlife for which the park is known. No reservations needed.

Santa at the Mill December 10, Colvin Run Mill, 3-6 p.m. $6 Enjoy old-fashioned family holiday fun. Visit Santa and see the Christmas tree trimmed with Victorian decorations. Join the 49th Va. Volunteer Infantry for caroling around a bonfire. Roast marshmallows and make a family craft.

Holidays at Walney Farm December 10, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 1 p.m.-2:30 p.m., $6/person (2 yrs. and older) Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. Celebrate winter holidays at Walney Farm. Learn about gifts and foods of an 1850 Virginia farm. Create a historic holiday ornament. Enjoy hot apple cider and baked treats. Register online. Code: 274 487 2201 Cocoa & Crafts at Lake Accotink Park December 10, Lake Accotink Park, (Ages 6 to 10) 10 a.m.–12 noon. Join us in our cozy Visitors Center and enjoy a magical morning of tasty treats, winter crafts and a classic holiday movie. Workshop fee of $25 includes refreshments and all materials to make gift bags, picture frames, bookmarks and more. Register online. . South Run Annual Breakfast with Santa December 10, South Run RECenter, 9 a.m.-10 a.m. and 10:30 a.m.-11:30 a.m., $15 per child, all ages welcome. Ticket includes breakfast, kiddie crafts, music and a photo opportunity with Santa. Limit one parent per child. Additional Adults $5. Children under 3 admitted free. Register online. Candlelight Tours December 10, 11, 17, Sully Historic Site, 5-7 p.m., tours every 15 minutes. Tour the 1794 home of Northern Virginia’s first congressman, Richard Bland Lee, by candlelight. Hear seasonal music, make an ornament, sample sugar cookies. Pre-paid reservations. $10 per adult, $7 per senior and per child.

WINTER EVENTS

Santa and trains are coming to Colvin Run Mill.

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The Park Authority is

now on Twitter!

Winter 2012 15

Games at Sully January 21, Sully Historic Site, 11 a.m.- 4 p.m., $7/adult, $6/student, $5/senior & child (5 yrs. and older) Play 18th and 19th century games like checkers, ninepins and fox and geese. Make an old-fashioned toy. Rhythms Around the World Concert January 21, Colvin Run Mill, 2-3 p.m. $2 (5yrs. and older) Take a magical-musical journey around the globe with the Virginia Virtuosi string trio. Register online. Code: 266 182 4901 Crafty Creations January 30, Sully Historic Site, 1-3 p.m., $5/person (6 yrs. and older), Enjoy your day off from school and make a historic craft. 7th Annual Seed Exchange February 4, Green Spring Gardens, Register by calling 703-642-5173, 12:30 p.m.-4 p.m., $15/person, $10 for Washington Gardener subscribers and Friends of Green Spring. Washington Gardener, the publication for area gardening enthusiasts, co-hosts the seventh annual Washington Seed Exchange. The event includes lectures, face-to-face seed swap and more. Who’s on First Bass? Concert February 5, Colvin Run Mill, 2-3 p.m. $2 (6yrs. and older) What do sports have to do with classical music? Everything! This program explores teamwork, communication and skill development themes and the use of specialized equipment. Register online. Code: 266 182 5001 Globe at Night February 10 or March 9, Sully Woodlands and Cub Run RECenter, Registration required at 703-817-9407, 7:00-8:00 p.m. Free (All Ages) Children must be accompanied by a registered adult. This hands-on, family-friendly astronomy learning event will help you appreciate the night sky and teach you how to measure and report light pollution by observing the constellation Orion. Animal Sweethearts Dance February 11, Hidden Pond Nature Center, 10am-12 noon or 2-4 p.m., $8 (3-8 yrs.) One of the most popular winter programs at Hidden Pond is back, and this year it features dancing, valentine craft making, and an informative nature presentation, ―How Animals Attract Each Other.‖ Register online. Code: 332 187 8101 for 10am, 332 187 8102 for 2 p.m.

Night Sky Festival February 11, Riverbend Park, Reservations required for groups of 10 or more. 6-8 p.m. $5 (All Ages) Enjoy guided stargazing and listen to stories about the constellations around the campfire. Jupiter is this event’s featured planet. Hot chocolate and snacks available. 8th Annual EcoSavvy Gardening Symposium February 25, Green Spring Gardens, 8:30 a.m., $50 (Adults) Green Spring Master Gardeners show homeowners and gardening professionals how to make a difference in the health of our environment. The 8th Annual Symposium will explore the world of Birds, Bats, Bees and Bugs. Sponsored by Virginia Cooperative Extension. Register online. Code: 2901885501 Family Sleepover at Great Falls Grange March 2 and 3, 6 p.m.-9 a.m., $14 (Families) Meet at the Great Falls Grange in Great Falls. Enjoy a night of games and activities from the early 1900s with a Riverbend Park naturalist. Bring sleeping bags, flashlights and a picnic dinner. Light breakfast provided. Children must be with a registered adult. Register online. Code: 557 182 5301 Maple Syrup Boil-Down March 4, Colvin Run Mill, Noon-2 p.m., $3 The sap is rising. It’s sugaring time! Watch and learn as sap is boiled down into sweet syrup over an open fire. Sample the delicious combination of maple syrup and cornbread while supplies last. St. Patrick’s Day Tea March 17, call Colvin Run Mill to register, 1-3 p.m., $25 (13 yrs. and older) Meets at Forestville Schoolhouse. Here’s a ―tip o’ the hat‖ to the Irish for being one of the top consumers of tea per capita in the world. We’ll taste and discuss the teas used in Irish Breakfast blends along with some special green teas in honor of the Emerald Isle. Weaving Through the Winter March 17, Sully Historic Site, 1-3 p.m., $4 (8 yrs. and older) Fibers were woven to keep us warm. Learn to card and spin wool. Weave your own bracelet or bookmark. Mill Run Dulicmer Band March 18, Colvin Run Mill, 2-4 p.m., Free (All Ages) Welcome the band back for the first toe-tappin’ concert of the season.

Animal Camera Safari Concert March 25, Colvin Run Mill, 2-3 p.m. $2 (5 yrs. and older) Guess the identity of mystery animals by listening to their musical portraits. Test your animal safari skills at this interactive concert based upon the beloved classic orchestral work, Carnival of the Animals. Register online. Code: 266 182 5101

--————–—————————- See Workshops, Yoga for Gardeners, Basic Gardening and Day Trips and Tours for details on other Green Spring Gardens-based events online.

WINTER EVENTS

Join the park manager for a trek on the Huntley Meadows boardwalk January 21.

16 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

The Harry Allen Winter Lecture Series at Green Spring Gardens Register at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parktakes/

Hellebores: What’s New and Exciting January 15. Richard Tyler and Judith Knott Tyler of Pine Knot Farms offer an overview of the confusing and rapidly expanding selections of Hellebores available. Book signing

Discover the Secret of Trees January 22. Author Nancy Hugo teaches a new way to observe a tree and invites a deeper relationship with these treasures. Book signing Native Plants for Diverse Landscapes January 29. Mt. Cuba Center Director Richard Lewandowski discusses native plants that can contribute to the diversity and beauty of landscapes.

George Washington’s Garden February 5. For more than 150 years, people have studied, researched and dug the earth for clues that have made the home of George Washington one of the most accurately restored 18th century estates in America. The beauty, use and importance of Mount Vernon's gardens and landscape are discussed.

Collaborating with Native Wild Plants February 12. Chris and Lisa Bright, founders of the Earth Sangha, share their experience propagating native plants directly from the wild. The Earth Sangha operates the Wild Plant Nursery, a volunteer-based nursery now producing over 200 species of native trees, shrubs, vines, forbs and grasses for local ecological restoration projects.

Grow the Best Tasting Tomatoes, Ever! February 19. Mike McGrath, tomato lover and WTOP host of You Bet Your Garden, reveals tricks and tips you need to be a tomato taste-test winner, focusing on the importance of correct planting, feeding, watering and support with an emphasis on common mistakes. Book signing

Design in the Natural World February 26. Steve Robinson of Axios Architecture in Atlanta shares a reverence for nature and creates structures that have conversations with their natural surroundings. He’ll share design process, projects and ideas for the future.

Designing with Conifers: Making Wise Choices March 4. Make better choices when selecting conifers. Author Dr. Richard Bitner challenges you about conifers and inspires you with sumptuous images of conifers used in imaginative and practical ways. Book signing.

Beautiful No Mow Yards March 11. Tired of mowing? Award-winning author Evelyn Hadden helps you rethink your yard by presenting no-mow designs by everyday gardeners and landscape professionals. Book signing.

Historic Green Spring Teas and Seminars Historic Green Spring programs at Green Spring Gardens are by reservation only. (703-941-7987, TTY 703-324-3988)

Carols by Candlelight December 9 and 11, 4:30-6 p.m., $27/adult, $18/child under 12 (8 yrs. - Adult) Sip tea by candlelight and trace the origins of Christmas music.

Burns Night Celebration Tea January 22, 1-3 p.m., $27 Burns Night is an annual tradition for millions throughout the world who celebrate their Scottish heritage by commemorating our national bard, Robert Burns. Hear about the food, drink, music and entertainment served at a Burns Supper, and taste some haggis, if you dare!

Tea Basics Seminar January 28, 9:30 a.m.-12:30 p.m., $45 (Adults) A fun morning of presentations and cupping sessions will open a new window to the exciting world of tea. Learn about different tea types and their origins, cultures and health benefits.

Chocolate Lovers’ Tea February 12, 1-3 p.m., $27 Celebrate the lovers’ holiday with chocolate. Hear all about chocolate: its history, origins and how it’s transformed from bean to bar. Sample a selection.

Queen Elizabeth: A Day in the Life February 26, 1-3 p.m., $27 How does the Queen spend a regular day at Buckingham Palace? Enjoy a glimpse into the daily life of Her Majesty and learn how she throws a tea party for thousands.

Tea Ceremony and Tasting March 10, 11 a.m.-1 p.m., $38 (Adults) View a Japanese tea ceremony demonstration by the Chado Urasenke Tankokai D.C. Association.

Jane Austen’s English Country Garden March 18 or 25, 1-3 p.m., $27 We’ll explore the Regency-era gardens and landscapes depicted in Jane Austen’s novels and tell you about her own passion for gardening.

Enjoy a winter lecture about gardening

at Green Spring Gardens.

WINTER EVENTS

Winter 2012 17

Science/Nature-related Camps/Workshops for Winter Break

Zoology: Science Behind Animal Lives(7-10 yrs.)

December 27, Riverbend Park, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., $75 Campers study the biology and habits of the birds, mammals, reptiles and insects of the Mid-Atlantic region. Participants learn how and where they live. Activities include hikes, observations, videos, art projects and games. Register online. Code: 357 195 4101

Camp (8-12 yrs.)

December 28-30, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, 5:30-8:30 p.m., $115 Come learn about our native predators in this three-day evening camp. Set a live trap line, check a tracking pit and set out a night camera to see what we find. Meet at the Middlegate House at Cabell’s Mill. Register online. Code: 274 123 4901

Winter Rangers Camp (6-10 yrs.)

December 28-30, Hidden Pond Nature Center, 11:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., $175 Be a part of the first-ever winter break camp at Hidden Pond. Enjoy three days of exploring the winter woodlands, wetlands and fields of the park. Bring snack and lunch. Register online. Code: 332 123 5001

Mad Science (8-12 yrs.)

December 28, Riverbend Park, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., $75 Become a mad scientist through hands-on experiments and activities. Discover the wonders of science in nature and in everyday objects. Get ready to make things ooey and gooey. Bring a bag lunch, snack and drink. Wear old clothes. Register online. Code: 357 121 2101

Deer Detectives (8-12 yrs.)

December 29, Riverbend Park, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., $175 Help a naturalist look for signs of deer, including tracks, scats and beds. Identify deer habitat, make a viewing blind and snap pictures of our wintering residents up close. Register online. Code: 357 123 4801

Animal Vets (8-12 yrs.)

January 30, Riverbend Park, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., $75 Spend the day with our exhibit animals. Check their health, weight and size; clean and

refresh their tanks. Bring a bag lunch, snack and drink. Wear old clothes. Register online. Code: 357 121 2201

Volcanoes, Earthquakes & Geysers (8-12 yrs.)

January 31, Riverbend Park, 9:30 a.m.- 3:30 p.m., $75 Explore our ever-changing earth, become part of the rock cycle and examine rock and mineral specimens. Make a volcano, watch a geyser in action and conduct earthquake experiments. Bring snack, drink and lunch. Register online. Code: 357 121 6501

New Scout Programs at historic properties around the county

Join FCPA naturalists and historians for a program an historic property near you. See

the sites and get directions at http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/hprs/ or

call 703-324-8750 for more information.

Boy Scout Programs.

Cub Scouts : Bears Sharing Your World With Wildlife January 7, Stone Mansion, 11:30 a.m.- 12:30 p.m., call 703-451-9588 to register. Cub/Webelos: Geology Academics pin and loop January 7, Stone Mansion, 2-3:30 p.m. Call 703-451-9588 to register.

Webelos Naturalist January 7, Stone Mansion, 4-5 p.m. Call 703-451-9588 to register. Art Merit Badge January 30, Wakefield Chapel, One 4-hour lesson, 1:30 p.m., $29 Register online. Code: 308 174 2001

Girl Scout Journeys Junior: Get Moving Help Along the Journey Plus Globe at Night January 16, Stone Mansion, 5-8 p.m., $10/scout Register online. Code: 562 174 3101 Globe at Night only: January 16, Stone Mansion, 7-8 p.m., $2/scout Register online. Code: 562 182 6601 Cadettes: Breathe: Help Along the Journey January 30, Clark House, 10 a.m.-12 noon, $5/scout Register online. Code: 561 174 3001 Wonders of Water –Special Tea Program January 31, Hunter House, 1-2:30 p.m., $12, Register online. Code: :563 174 2801

Daisy Scout Petals Daisy Scout - Make the World a Better Place January 16, Stone Mansion, 10-11 a.m., $5/scout. Call 703-324-8750 to register. Daisy Scout - Using Resources Wisely

January 16, Stone Mansion, 11 a.m.-12 noon,

$6/scout. Call 703-324-8750 to register.

WINTER EVENTS

18 ResOURces www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Audrey Moore RECenter: 703-321-7081 Lake Accotink Park: 703-569-0285

Burke Lake Park: 703-323-6600 Lee District RECenter: 703-922-9841

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site: 703-759-2771 Mt. Vernon RECenter: 703-768-3224

Cub Run RECenter: 703-817-9407 Oak Marr RECenter: 703-281-6501

Frying Pan Park: 703-437-9101 Providence RECenter: 703-698-1351

George Washington RECenter: 703-780-8894 Riverbend Nature Center: 703-759-9018

Green Spring Gardens: 703-642-5173 Sully Historic Site: 703-437-1794

Hidden Oaks Nature Center: 703-941-1065

Reprint Articles

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ResOURces Online at

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printpub.htm to pull articles.

Let us know, and include ―Reprinted cour-

tesy of the Fairfax County Park Authority‖

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Birthday Party Packages

Celebrate in your favorite park. With an array of birthday party options and attractions ranging from

swimming, fishing, history and nature exploration to carousels, mini-golf and a miniature train, there’s a party

style in Fairfax County parks to suit every child. For party particulars, check the site listings on

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parties.htm or call the sites directly:

This holiday season…….This holiday season…….This holiday season…….

Give the gift of nature. Give a membership to a park Friends group.

www.fairfaxparkfoundation.org/support/default.htm