http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/downloads/ResOURcesSp09

NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY

VOLUME 9, NO. 2 SPRING/SUMMER 2009

NAGC (A National Association of Government Communicators award-winning publication!)

No Child Left Inside at Hidden Oaks’ NATURE PLAYCE

By Carol Ochs, Park Authority Volunteer

Whatever happened to parents saying, “Go outside and play”?

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n nature, it’s just as important to know what not to be afraid of as it is to know what to fear. Unfortunately, in our increasingly urban county, some parents have become so fearful of what might be out there that they won’t even let their kids play in the back yard.

That’s where Nature Playce at Hidden Oaks Nature Center comes in. Assistant Manager Suzanne Holland says the play area that opened last fall is designed for nature-phobic parents as well as for their three-to-eight-year-old children.

In speaking with parents, Holland found that many limit their children’s time in nature because they’re worried about everything from insect stings and bird flu to poison ivy and poison oak. Nature Playce addresses those fears through education and a woodland area cleared of many things a parent may find threatening.

Off the Beaten Path Part of Nature Playce’s appeal to children is that it lets them break some rules. For example, there is no trail to stay on. Children can roam the one-third acre area, pick up stones and roll logs to see what’s underneath. They can hop across stumps known as tree cookies and walk on a log. Touching is a “yes” activity. Kids can even make mud pies.

Before entering Nature Playce, parents are encouraged to visit the nature center for a ten-minute introduction to playing safely outdoors.

Children and adults get tips on such things as how to identify a copperhead snake and avoid poison ivy, how to safely handle a worm, and how to figure out which bugs are safe to touch. They also learn how to roll a log and why the log should be replaced.

An official Nature Snooper with the key to Nature Playce.

After the introduction, children are dubbed official “Nature Snoopers” and receive the key to the play area — a large, colorful magnifying glass. They are invited to explore with a Nature Snoopers pail of goodies — digging tools, cups, books, feathers and a moisture-retardant blanket for sitting on the ground. continued on page 11

INSIDE : Squirrels and Fishing in the parks

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

EVENTS

NATURAL RESOURCE AND HISTORIC SITES BURKE LAKE PARK 7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station Call 703-323-6600 COLVIN RUN MILL 10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls Call 703-759-2771 ELLANOR C. LAWRENCE PARK 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly Call 703-631-0013 FRYING PAN FARM PARK 2709 West Ox Road, Herndon Call 703-437-9101 GREEN SPRING GARDENS 4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria Call 703-642-5173 HIDDEN OAKS NATURE CENTER 7701 Royce Street, Annandale Call 703-941-1065

SPRING/SUMMER EVENTS Art Show by McLean Art Society April 25 & 26, 1-4pm, Colvin Run Mill, 703-759-2771 Enjoy a spring afternoon and view art on display and for sale by members of the McLean Art Society. There will be demonstrations throughout the afternoon.

Spring Farm Day May 9, 10am-3pm, Kidwell Farm, Frying Pan Farm Park, 703-437-9101 Spring is the busiest time of the year on a farm.

Get involved with cow and goat milking, sheep shearing and wool spinning, crop planting and other traditional farm activities. Fun and games for the entire family. Rain date: 5/10. $5

HIDDEN POND NATURE CENTER 8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield Call 703-451-9588 HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria Call 703-768-2525 LAKE ACCOTINK PARK 7500 Accotink Park Rd., Springfield Call 703-569-3464 LAKE FAIRFAX PARK 1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston Call 703-471-5414 RIVERBEND PARK 8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls Call 703-759-9018 SULLY HISTORIC SITE 3650 Historic Sully Way, Chantilly Call 703-437-1794 HISTORIC PROPERTIES RENTAL SERVICES www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm Call 703-827-0609

Need directions or more information?

VISIT www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks

Editor/Writer: Photos:

David Ochs Don Sweeney, FCPA David Ochs Production: Innovative Projects, Inc. Published by the Fairfax County Park Authority, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Fairfax, VA 22035-1118. resources@fairfaxcounty.gov Available at park sites and Fairfax County libraries.

Visit ResOURces online at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources c ResOURces is printed on recycled paper.

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Antique cars are coming to Sully.

Antique Car Show June 21, 10am-3:30pm, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794 Celebrate Father’s Day at Sully’s Annual Antique Car Show co-sponsored by the Fairfax County Park Authority and The Model A Ford Club of America. More than 400 antique and classic cars. Search for the perfect accessory in the Flea Market. Music by Jumpin’ Jupiter. House tour included. $9/adult, $8/senior, $6/child

Space by Day: The Moon Take a wagon ride while you’re at Frying Pan Farm Park for Farm Day.

Bat Watching May 22 & June 27, 8-9:00pm, Cub Run RECenter, 703-817-9407 Families can search twilight skies for bats on the wing. Learn to use a bat detector and see a slide show for a close look at these fascinating animals and their habits. Children must be 5 years or older. Reservations required. $4/child, $2/adult

June 27, (All ages), 2-3pm, Cub Run RECenter, 703-817-9407 It doesn’t have to be night to explore the moon.

It’s out during the day as much as at night. $4/child, $2/adult

Space by Day July 2, (All ages), 2-3pm, Cub Run RECenter, 703-817-9407 Experience the universe up close and personal.

We will use experiments and fun activities to delve into the mysteries of the solar system and the science of space. $4/child, $2/adult

A Banjo on My Knee

Sully Sunset Tours

May 23, 1-4 pm, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794 Make a rubber band banjo. Learn the history of this versatile historic instrument while listening to a local banjo player. Reservations by 5/17. $10

July 9 & 19, August 2 & 20, 5-7pm, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794 Tour the 1794 home of Richard Bland Lee as evening approaches. Look for wildlife in the fields and bring a picnic supper to enjoy on the lawn. $6/adult, $4/senior and child

Hispanics in the American Revolution

World War II Living History

May 31, Noon-4pm, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794 Hispanics were significant contributors to the success of the American colonies. Soldiers and civilians present scenes of 18th century life including musket firing, drills and camp life. $7/adult, $5/child

July 11-12, 10am-4pm Saturday, 10am-3pm Sunday, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794.

Travel back to the World War II era as Sully Historic Site hosts Allied and Axis reenactors for a weekend of demonstrations, memories, and music. House tour included. $7/adult, $5/ senior and child

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

PA R K F O U N D AT I O N

Borrowing the Land

By Paul Baldino, Executive Director, Park Foundation

We did not inherit this land from our fathers. We are borrowing it from our children.

– Proverb frequently credited to environmentalist/writer David Brower.

Open space is disappearing.

County residents can do something about it.

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ou can take direct, personal action to conserve the county’s shrinking open space because the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors established the Open Space Land Preservation Fund in 2001.

Air and water quality improve when land is preserved. Open space buffers noise, reduces storm water runoff, provides wildlife habitat and supports recreational activities. Open space also requires limited infrastructure and county services, so it contains the cost of government.

Donors to the Open Space Land Preservation Fund help protect the character of Fairfax County and leave a legacy of open space and parks for future generations. Here are properties the Open Space Land Preservation Fund has helped the county purchase:

% 27.9 acres along Old Colchester Road in Lorton, added to Mason Neck West Park % Six acres on Glen Carlyn Road near Seven Corners that will become Boyd and Charlotte Hogge Park % Eight and a-half acres along Sideburn Road in Fairfax, added to Woodglen Lake Park % Five and a-half acres near the southeast corner of Braddock Road and the Fairfax County Parkway in Fairfax, added to Patriot Park % 16 acres along Waples Mill Road in Oakton, added to Waples Mill Meadow Park % Four acres along Walney Road in Chantilly, added to Rocky Run Stream Valley Park % 238 acres along Bull Run Post Office Road in Centreville, added to Sully Woodlands Park Because of economic conditions, the Park Authority has an opportunity to purchase additional land at bargain prices. A gift today to the Open Space Land Preservation Fund will save more land from development than was possible with the same donation just a few years ago. We believe and hope that the current economic situation won’t last long, so it is essential that we act now.

Memories are being made on the fields of Patriot Park.

Help save Fairfax County’s beautiful and vanishing open land. Send a check to the Open Space Land Preservation Fund, Fairfax County Park Foundation, 12055 Government Center Parkway, Suite 404, Fairfax, VA 22035, or go online to www.fxparks.org Your gift is an investment in our community that will pay dividends forever.

The Fairfax County Park Foundation is a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization.

All contributions to the Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowed by law.

Spring/Summer 2009

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N AT U R E

Squirreled Away in the Trees

By Suzanne Holland, Assistant Manager, Hidden Oaks Nature Center

Gray squirrels are tenacious, complicated creatures.

They’re clever acrobats. They’re aggressive tree rats.

People love them. People hate them.

Planning a heist demands preparation time.

This one took a year.

Analysis, planning, attempts, failure, more analysis, more planning, more tries, more failure.

After a year of failed efforts, the right plan fell into place. The right swing, the right jump, the right timing, it all came together in one glorious moment.

So much for the squirrel-proof bird feeder at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

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t’s hard to think their future was once uncertain, but 19th century settlers deforested large areas while claiming land for farms and cities. Gray squirrel populations plummeted. By the early 1800s, stressed squirrels responded with mass migrations to the remaining forests. By the early 1900s, the gray squirrel was becoming endangered.

In the second half of the 20th century, as we moved from farm houses to split levels, hardwood trees returned to the countryside. Squirrels, each needing 100 pounds of food annually from a hardwood forest, again had enough to eat. They recovered and adapted to their human neighbors.

A gray squirrel readies a snack.

EYES At the front end of their bodies are designer eyes that keep them alive. Squirrels are prey for several animals, and eyes on the sides of the head give them greater peripheral vision than humans have as well as binocular vision for depth perception. That helps them avoid predators, even from the skies, such as hawks and owls. Squirrels sometimes freeze absolutely still for several minutes when a hawk flies overhead.

EARS Squirrels rely heavily on hearing and communication. A range of chatters establishes territories, sounds alarms or serves as a dating service. From hysterical screams combined with gnashing teeth to mewing and purring, a squirrel’s vocal abilities enable it to secure its position in its territory. A gray squirrel’s home range overlaps with its neighbors. Anywhere from two to 20 squirrels might share an acre.

NOSE

Squirrels may sit motionless for several minutes if they sense a predator.

The Tale of the Tail The “animal that sits in the shade of its own tail” was first named in the Carolinas. That’s a loose interpretation of the Latin genus name for the local species, Sciurus carolinensis. That tail is almost a magician’s wand. It’s a tightrope walker’s balancing pole on precarious limbs, a rudder during leaps and a parachute when the leaps don’t go as planned. Cozying up on a winter’s day, the tail is a fur wrap around the squirrel’s face. In summer, it’s a sunshade or umbrella.

As a communication tool, the jerking tail warns others of dangers. When two squirrels confront each other, the dominate squirrel holds its tail out flat and lunges at the subordinate squirrel.

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Ever see a high-speed chase through the trees?

Squirrels rub selected branches with their face to help them recognize their arboreal highways. Scent lowers their risk of hitting an unstable branch. Squirrels push acorns into soil with their nose, thereby depositing a scent which may aid in recovering the nut. Squirrels identify trespassers in their home range through scent.

It is often a death sentence for the animal if a human displaces or relocates a gray squirrel. The existing population will rarely accept a newcomer, and den sites are strongly defended.

Squirrels don’t hibernate, though they may den up for 14 days in severe winter weather. You may see them digging up acorns through snow. Researchers estimate that about 85 percent of the stash is recovered.

Squirrels generally only live one year. They can live up to 12 years in the wild, but predators, injury, disease and parasites, especially fleas, make life difficult. Over 40 million are harvested annually in the United States, making them one of the most popular game species hunted.

However you feel about squirrels, these amazing creatures are prolific and clever. Moving one out of your yard only provides room for its neighbor to move in, so plan on co-existing with squirrels near your home.

You may even learn to appreciate the furry visitors.

P R E S E R VAT I O N

Don’t Dust It Under the Rug!

By Jeanne Niccolls, former Park Authority Collections Manager

Think you don’t like spring cleaning? Imagine the upkeep at county historic properties that teem with valuable antiques.

strokes on historic glass. Spray the cleaner onto your rag, not onto the window pane.

Don’t let cleaner drip onto window sills and ledges.

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Easy Does It: When it comes to dusting or cleaning textiles and upholstery, wear cotton gloves and handle textiles as little as possible.

Place a fiberglass screen over areas to be cleaned. Lift the screen when it’s moved.

Don’t drag it.

ou can learn about preserving your cherished family heirlooms from those who maintain treasures at Park Authority historic sites.

Though you may not want to hear it, spring cleaning is vital for your treasures.

Good housekeeping is stewardship that: ❦ Prevents build-up of abrasive dust and dirt ❦ Reduces opportunities for insect invasion or mold ❦ Maintains appearance ❦ Provides a healthy environment for people

Move Things Carefully: When you need to move items to clean under, around or behind, handle only one object at a time, no matter how small. Never pick up an object by its handle, rim or any projecting part.

Don’t carry it any farther than necessary.

Do Windows: Use two people to clean window panes. One steps on the ladder, and the second steadies the ladder and helps the first person step up or down. Use firm, light

The time and money you put into maintenance is nothing compared to the cost of damaging or losing items of great monetary or sentimental value.

Park Authority staffers work from a housekeeping manual to keep historic houses clean.

Here are a few of their tips to help you with your valuables: Wear Gloves: When you handle metals, gilded surfaces, leather and unglazed ceramics, wear clean, white cotton or surgical gloves. The gloves prevent acids and oils on your skin from damaging objects.

You may have precious keepsakes like these that need special care.

Now the good news...

Over-cleaning historic objects can cause wear and damage, so don’t overdo it.

Housekeeping is like exercise. It’s more important to do regularly than vigorously.

Park Authority volunteer Carol Ochs contributed to this story.

Spring/Summer 2009

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VISITING THE PARKS

Fishing in County Parks Come wet a line.

Burke Lake

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Burke Lake is a 218-acre, state-owned public fishing lake. Fairfax County owns the parkland around the lake. There’s a 24-hour state launch ramp exclusively for anglers near the dam. The Park Authority maintains a ramp and accessible courtesy pier that’s usable during park hours at the midlake marina.

There’s a large, accessible fishing dock near the marina and smaller accessible abutments between the state ramp and the dam.

uring a competitive tournament a few years ago, professional bass fisherman Denny Brauer saw a young couple quietly angling with worms while sitting together on a dock. He reflected, “It doesn’t get any better than that.”

Fishing can be intense and competitive or calming and contemplative.

You can capture fishing moments in Fairfax County, because fishing is legal in Park Authority waters unless posted signs say otherwise. People 16 years and older need a valid Virginia fishing license, and Virginia fishing regulations apply.

Come try your luck in these Fairfax County parks:

Riverbend Park Like chasing smallmouth bass? Riverbend Park is the place to go. The park is on a bend in the Potomac River, the water flows clear, boulders create hiding zones, and the water temperature stays in the smallmouth’s comfort zone. There are sunfish, catfish and other species. You can catch fish from shore and it’s a great place for children to fish. The better catches come from boats.

The fishing dock at Burke Lake produces good catches.

There’s a launch ramp for small craft, you can rent a fishing rod or a jon boat on weekends and there are fishing supplies available.

Riverbend offers fishing classes, a summer fishing camp for 9-to-15 year olds and birthday fishing parties. You also can arrange for a guide. Either a Maryland or Virginia freshwater fishing license is valid, but the park does not sell them.

Burke Lake may be the best muskie water in northern Virginia when fish are shallow in late winter and early spring. State surveys show it has the top largemouth bass population out of 19 popular northern Virginia impoundments. Burke has a healthy gizzard shad base and is heavily fished. Because of that, the bass are tough to catch and tend towards deeper waters rather than shoreline shallows. The lake also has channel catfish, bluegill, white perch, yellow perch, redear sunfish and an occasional walleye and blue catfish.

Lake Accotink (55 acres) in Springfield

Lake Fairfax (18 acres) in Reston Thousands of pounds of safe-to-eat rainbow trout are stocked annually. Weekly stockings alternate between the two parks from February through April. A Virginia fishing license is required along with either a one-day or a seasonal trout fishing pass that can be used at both lakes. There are onepole and six-fish limits.

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Walney Pond has sunfish, bass and catfish. Access is easy. The one-acre pond is probably a better place to take children rather than a destination for advanced anglers or those looking for a fresh dinner.

Hidden Pond Nature Center

Making memories on a day out with Dad.

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www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

Although there is fishing at Hidden Pond, the success rate is poor. The docks, however, make it a handy place to teach children about fishing.

VISITING THE PARKS

Braddock, Huntsman, Mercer, Royal and Woodglen Lakes: Built for flood control in the Pohick Creek watershed between 1970 and 1985, these lakes range in size from 18 to 43 acres.

Generally, they hold a standard mix of bass, sunfish, crappie and catfish and are average fisheries. Housing backs up to them in several places, so be sure to stay on public land. Hiking paths almost completely encircle the lakes, and each is easily reachable, although it’s a short hike to Mercer.

Shoreline access is limited in summer by flora. Small craft, like canoes, are legal, but gas motors are not.

A quiet day on the water is hard to beat.

TIPS FOR BEGINNERS Generally in winter and summer, fish are in deeper water. In spring and fall they might be in shallower parts of a lake. In lakes, deeper water is usually at the dam end and shallower water is uplake. On a big lake, pick one creek or cove and think of it as a small lake, deeper at one end. Pick a spot to start based on where fish should be at that time of year.

Are they safe to eat?

PCBs are a health concern in some county waters. There are restrictions on eel, catfish, carp, bass, bullhead, perch and sunfish in the Potomac River basin, on creek chub in Indian Run and on catfish and carp in Bull Run. The Virginia Department of Health issues fish consumption advisories. That agency’s website for county waters is: www.vdh. virginia.gov/Epidemiology/dee/Public HealthToxicology/Advisories/Potomac River.htm.

Enjoying an accessible dock on Burke Lake.

WEBSITES: Virginia regulations: www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/ Burke Lake Park/FCPA: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/burkelake/ Burke Lake marina rules: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parkrules/marina.htm Burke Lake/Virginia: www.dgif.virginia.gov/fishing/waterbodies/display.asp?id=26 ECLP/Walney Pond: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ecl/natural_history.htm Riverbend Park: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/riverbend/fishing.htm Lake Accotink: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/accotink/ Lake Fairfax: http://www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/lakefairfax/ Trout fishing: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trout2008.htm Boating, fishing and camping classes: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/rec/classes/sail.htm Line recycling: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/press/pr012-09.pdf

Recycle Monofilament Fishing Line The Fairfax County Park Authority partners with the Virginia Department of Game and Inland Fisheries to recycle monofilament fishing line. Please use the line recycling bins at county parks. Monofilament line left outdoors can be deadly to wildlife.

Next, look for something different.

Imagine you’re walking on a street that has only one building, and inside is a restaurant. Where would you find people? In that restaurant, because it has food and shelter.

Fishing is like that. In your cove, look around. What’s different? Look for a stump, a fallen tree, a beaver dam, grass, a point of land, a dock piling. What if there are lots of fallen trees? Well, which one is biggest?

Think about what the fish see, and keep asking what stands out as different. That’s where the fish are often found.

Water depth is critical to catching fish. If you catch one, throw your lure or bait back to that same depth. A bobber can help. Start with your bait a couple feet deep. If you get no bites, set your bait a foot or two deeper.

Keep changing depth until you start catching fish, and then keep your bait at that depth.

Spring/Summer 2009

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VOLUNTEERS

One Step Can Change Your Life

By Mona Enquist-Johnston

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n 1975, I walked into Hidden Oaks Nature Center, beginning a journey that changed my life. That first step, completing an application to become a park volunteer, was guided by Naturalist/Volunteer Manager Susan Allen. I took the action, but Susan provided the motivaMona Enquist-Johnston tion, making me feel welcome, listening and matching my skills to the nature center’s needs.

Through more than 30 years, first as a volunteer, then as a paid employee, I’ve seen many changes at the Park Authority. But one area has remained wonderfully consistent — the dedication and professionalism of the Resource Management Division’s volunteer managers.

Volunteer managers balance a host of responsibilities. They simultaneously: Create a warm, supportive working environment often bursting with the sounds and scents of fun, food and fellowship Generate a sense of community that provides a stimulating atmosphere for learning and sharing Display a passion for nature, history and horticulture They also employ outstanding skills to attract, manage and retain volunteers.

An Impact on Youth Just as volunteering changed my life, it has had great impact on our youth volunteers. Our future looks brighter because of hundreds of youth volunteers mentored by Hidden Pond Park’s Mike McCaffrey. Youngsters have learned that volunteering is an honor and a responsibility.

Jim works with eight to ten Eagle Scout candidates each year, meeting with the candidates and providing guidance and support.

He uses field training to welcome the scout’s team members to the park and to ensure they all understand the importance of their work.

Seeing Potential All of us want to feel comfortable and confident with our work.

Sometimes, we need a gentle nudge to move us beyond routine to new opportunities.

Successful volunteer managers are sharp-eyed. When school groups visit Huntley Meadows Park, Ann Stat watches for signals radiating from volunteers at the park’s front desk. She looks for smiles, bright eyes and interaction with children. These are signals that a volunteer may be ready to try a new role as a program leader.

Ann believes that encouraging volunteers to try new positions “is a great way to use their existing knowledge of the park and their total enthusiasm for the natural world.” Seven years ago, she noticed how wholeheartedly Charlie Davis, a three-year front desk veteran, responded to school groups. When Ann said, “you look like you’re having fun,” he agreed and tried leading school programs. Seven years later, Charlie is still having fun interacting with children at least once each week.

Returning to Roots At the end of May, my Resource Management Division role as manager of the Volunteer, Interpretation and Program Services Branch ends. I’ll return to my roots as a Park Authority volunteer.

I depart very proud of my colleagues, the Resource Management Division’s Volunteer Managers:

Mike McCaffrey

Mike uses site camps and programs such as Pohick Rangers as a training ground. He recruits enthusiastic participants interested in the natural world, yearning to learn more, eager to teach others and wanting to help their community.

Since 1991, Mike’s enthusiasm, interpretive skills, natural history knowledge and zany methods have captured youthful interest. Many that he has mentored have pursued advanced degrees and environmental careers.

Sherry Bizette, Frying Pan Farm Park Kiersten Conley, Sully Historic Site Jim Dewing, Riverbend Park Meghan Fellows, Natural Resource Management and Protection Janis Jeffers, Hidden Oaks Nature Center Ann Korzeniewski, Colvin Run Mill Historic site Mike McCaffrey, Hidden Pond Nature Center John Shafer, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park Ann Stat, Huntley Meadows Park Jennifer Theodore, Green Spring Gardens Aimee Wells, Cultural Resource Management and Protection

Coaching Managers

I hope to see you in a park!

Riverbend Park’s Jim Dewing knows that Eagle Scout projects are effective for completing resource management action. Activities such as meadow clearing, bridge building and trail rerouting require planning, leadership, a team approach and manpower — the essential elements of an Eagle Scout project.

Author Mona Enquist-Johnston has been with the Park Authority in some capacity for more than 33 years. In 2007, she received the Onthank Award, the highest honor Fairfax County bestows on its employees. She is retiring this year.

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www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

STEWARDSHIP

2009 Anniversaries

A view from Wakefield Chapel

15 Years Ago

35 Years Ago

Clark House dedicated and opened

Park Authority acquired Ellmore Farm cropland

20 Years Ago

40 Years Ago

Park Authority acquired Historic Huntley

Park Authority acquired Stone Mansion

Friends of Historic Huntley established

Hidden Oaks Nature Center dedicated and opened

25 Years Ago

50 Years Ago

Forestville Schoolhouse dedicated and opened

Park Authority acquired Sully

30 Years Ago

80 Years Ago

Wakefield Chapel dedicated and opened

Great Falls Grange built

Colvin Run Mill accredited by the American Association of Museums

110 Years Ago

Awards for Stewardship An eye-catching Fairfax County Park Authority handbook caught the eye of the Association of Marketing & Communication Professionals. The book, which helps identify non-native invasive plants, has won a top-level, platinum 2008 MarCom Award. Only five platinum awards were presented in the brochure/handbook category of the national competition.

Wakefield Chapel built

The laundry at Sully

More Awards Virginia Master Naturalists recognized the 2008 volunteers of the Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area (IMA) program with their inaugural Armed and Dangerous Award. IMA leaders received first prize in the group category.

Also honored were Park Planning Branch Manager Sandy Stallman, planner Andi Dorlester, Deputy Public Information Officer Matthew Kaiser, carpenter Lee Sites, engineer Doug Guzman, administrative assistant Dianne Grett, film producer Mark Garrah, facility attendant Thomas Cafagna and fiscal administrator Seema Ajrawat.

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park has presented its highest honor, the Donald F. Early Award, to five-year volunteer Jennifer Grinnell van de Vijver of Centreville. She is a Garden Guild volunteer who supports the bed plantings at Walney Visitor Center in the park.

The Non-native Invasive ID and Control guidebook is available at Fairfax County Park Authority nature centers for $9.95 plus tax or by phone at 703-324-8580.

Invasive Plant Removal Day On May 2, help rid our parks of invasive garlic mustard. This dangerous beauty replaces the vital forest layer of violets, ferns and mayapples, and its roots release a chemical that prevents oaks from establishing. For information, email Katherine. frederick@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Green Spring Gardens was recognized for Tree Planting in The Fairfax County 2008 Land Conservation Awards. Green Spring Manager Mary Olien and naturalist Charles Smith accepted the award for the Turkeycock Run restoration project.

Fairfax County recently honored 13 Park Authority employees with Outstanding Performance Awards. Recipients included Huntley Meadows naturalist Dave Lawlor, Green Spring Gardens horticultural technician Mary Frogale, Hidden Oaks Nature Center Manager Michael McDonnell and Heritage Resource specialist John Rutherford.

Laurel Hill Golf Club has been designated a “Certified Audubon Cooperative Sanctuary.” The honor recognizes a commitment to environmental quality and the protection of wildlife habitat and natural resources.

Spring/Summer 2009

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PROTECTING RESOURCES

Breathe a Little Easier

By Lori K. Weinraub, Park Authority Volunteer

It’s not like paper or plastic, where you see and feel the immediate reduction of resources.

You can’t see or feel the immediate impact you have when you make air cleaner. But just as each little bit of pollution we cause combines with that of neighbors to pollute our air, so does each little bit you do reverse that trend and combine to make air cleaner.

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What we can do to taste cleaner air:

Rep. Gerald Connolly, D-Va., who was then the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors chairman, said at the time, “Responding to global climate change may appear to be a daunting task, but we as elected leaders can and must make strategic investments to reduce our own emissions and lead by example within our communities.”

• Limit driving by carpooling

• Telecommute • Limit use of gasoline-powered lawn mowers

• Use environmentally friendly products such as compact fluorescent light bulbs

• Refuel vehicles after dusk

• Set air condition-

airfax County residents breathe a little easier thanks to the county’s commitment to improve air quality. From retrofitting school buses to reducing pollutants, the county is leading by example.

“Fairfax County residents should be proud” of what their government is doing, according to Bhesh Dhamala, senior environmental specialist for the county Department of Health. He says, “the county is totally committed to improving the environment.”

A major source of pride is the Cool Counties global warming initiative, which was launched by Fairfax County and several other large American counties in partnership with the Sierra Club in 2007.

The counties pledged to reduce global warming emissions 80% by 2050.

Fairfax County was working to improve air quality even before becoming a “cool county.” Since 2003, the first year that the Board of Supervisors made a commitment to an environmental agenda, the county has spent more than $5 million in support of air quality, energy efficiency and renewable energy projects according to Kambiz Agazi, the county’s environmental coordinator.

“Our board, since 2002, has been very, very committed to air quality,” Agazi says. “Fairfax County is seen as a leader in the region.” He cites the county’s commitment to wind energy as an example.

Clean air is the goal of Cool Counties

Fairfax County also is “greening” its facilities. All new county buildings have green guidelines. In Park Authority facilities, Agazi says the county has spent more than $400,000 on such things as energy efficient light bulbs and more efficient heating and air-conditioning units.

The work force is doing its part as well. County telework manager Cathy Chianese says Fairfax County was the first government in the region to meet the goal of having 20 percent of its eligible staff work from home one day a week. That’s about 1,000 county workers.

But with more than a million residents, Dhamala says government can’t do the job alone. Some of his tips: switch to energy-efficient light bulbs, combine trips when driving or jump on one of the county’s very popular bike trails.

Know that your actions count and do something, Dhamala says, because improving air quality improves our quality of life.

ing at 78 degrees or higher

AIR ON THE INTERNET: What the county is doing: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/ What you can do: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/opa/newstouse/articles/0017.htm Get kids involved at: www.epa.gov/kids/ Cool Counties: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/living/environment/coolcounties/ County air quality: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/opa/airquality/ Air quality index: http://airnow.gov/

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ResOURces

www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

STEWARDSHIP/LEADERSHIP

NATURE PLAYCE continued from page 1 Naturalists try to keep the play area as safe for young children as possible by clearing out such things as poison ivy. A low, split rail fence surrounding the area provides a sense of security. Once children pass through the gate, they can venture through four areas that present new opportunities for fun and that grow progressively “wilder” — Fledgling, Explorer, Outdoorsman and Naturalist. They’ll discover a small fountain, a secured log for a balance beam, and stumps and rocks to overturn.

Parents can sit back on rustic benches and watch the kids explore.

Holland says the area is designed to “provide assurances for parents while stimulating a sense of wonder.”

Nature Playce is an entrance to a world as big as Children need an adult to all outdoors. support their exploration, and her hope is that “as parents and children become more open to having an adventure, they’ll be more willing to go into their back yards.” Parents are invited to join an email list so they can learn about other activities and programs at the center, such as “How to Play Outdoors 101.”

The typical response from parents? Holland says she often hears, “What a great idea. I used to love to play outside,” or “My friend needs to bring her kids out here with us. She is not as comfortable with bugs as we are.”

The Wonders of Reading and the Parks The Park Authority is partnering again with Fairfax County Public Libraries to make summer more fun for kids.

Look for Park Authority coupons in the library’s summer reading rewards program booklet. The library program helps kids who read a required number of books win prizes, and some of those prizes are at parks. This is a great opportunity to combine the wonders of reading with the wonders found in a visit to a county park.

NATURE PLAYCE Targets Nature Deficit Disorder Is there such a thing as being too safe with our kids? If it means disconnecting them from nature, the answer is yes. That’s Richard Louv’s argument in his book Last Child in the Woods, the inspiration for Nature Playce at Hidden Oaks Nature Center.

Today’s parents are familiar with Attention Deficit Disorder and No Child Left Behind laws.

Nature Playce exists to combat the growing Nature Deficit Disorder among today’s children and support the No Child Left Inside movement.

The Children and Nature Network (www. cnaturenet.org) says researchers have found connecting with nature can: ▲ Increase creativity and school achievement ▲ Increase focus ▲ Reduce stress ▲ Increase cooperation and reduce aggression in children Holland says unmasking the outdoors for children fosters an appreciation for nature and environmentalism. By getting kids outside, you plant seeds for the “environmental stewards of the future who will care enough to vote to protect trees and wildlife and to vote for other green issues.”

Hear What Spring Sounds Like Now that warm weather has arrived, check out the Sounds of Spring podcast at: www.fairfaxcounty. gov/parks/hiddenpond/.

County libraries distributed 29,509 reading coupon books last year. There were 2,511 coupons used at Resource Management Division sites, many of them by first-time visitors.

Have a comment for or about ResOURces?

Our email address is resources@fairfaxcounty.gov.

Spring/Summer 2009

11

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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 by going online to www. fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/volunteer.htm.

SOMETHING SIMPLE YOU CAN DO TO BE A GOOD STEWARD: Compact fluorescent lights contain a small amount of mercury. Recycle unbroken bulbs at a county recycling center or a Home Depot store.

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EQUAL ACCESS/SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONS

The Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to equal access in all programs and services. Special accommodations will be provided upon request. Please call the ADA/Access coordinator at 703-324-8563, at least 10 working days in advance of the date services are needed.

ADA/Access Coordinator 703-324-8563 • TTY 703-803-3354 www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ada.htm

Preparations for a lasting memory at Wakefield Chapel

Historic Properties Rental Services Make your own history at one of the Fairfax County Park Authority’s historic sites. Rent any of these sites for your next corporate or social event: • Great Falls Grange • Cabell’s Mill in Centreville in Great Falls • Clark House in Falls Church • Hunter House in Vienna • Dranesville Tavern • Stone Mansion in Alexandria in Dranesville • Wakefield Chapel • Forestville Schoolhouse in Annandale in Great Falls Call 703-827-0609 or see the sites at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ parks/weddings.htm.

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