Document

NATURE, HISTORY AND HORTICULTURE IN FAIRFAX COUNTY VOLUME 8, NO. 2 SPRING 2008

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

Explore the small parks near your home.

There are diamonds in Fairfax County — bright, shiny specks ofnature, history, culture and fun. They are small parks managedby the Park Authority’s Resource Management Division. No

staffers are there on a regular basis, but the grounds are open foryou to enjoy. Here are some of them.

Scott’s Run Nature Preserve(www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/archives/scottsrun.htm)7400 Georgetown Pike in McLean

Scott’s Run begins under the parking lots of Tyson’s Corner Shop-ping Center. It ends at the preserve as a beautiful creek spilling overa waterfall right before it enters the Potomac River. Along its journey,the stream flows through business parks and condominium complexesbefore becoming a place of splendid beauty. There are rare and fragilespring wildflowers at the preserve, and remarkable species growalong precipitous cliffs and in steep valleys. Hiking is rewarding, butcan be challenging. Trails down the bluffs to the Potomac River aresheer in many places. There’s no swimming in the park because ofpollution from upstream. Some wildflower poachers have removedfragile flowers, including the site’s only stand of yellow lady-slipperorchids, one of the rarest and most beautiful plants in Fairfax County.Go there, but please, preserve it.

Ox Hill Battlefield Park(www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gmp/oxhillgmp.pdf)Monument Drive and West Ox Road, Fairfax

At Ox Hill, you can see land where more than 2,100 troops werekilled or wounded during a torrential thunderstorm. In the only CivilWar battle that took place in Fairfax County, 4,000 Union and 15,000Confederate troops clashed on September 1, 1862. The Confederateswere trying to block a Union retreat one day after the Second

Diamonds in the Suburbs

An IABC Silver Inkwell and AMPC MarCom Award and Hermes Creative Award-winning publication

Battle of Manassas. The storm prevented the use of small arms andforced hand-to-hand combat in a chaotic battle that ended as astalemate. Among those in blue who fell were Brigadier GeneralIsaac Stevens and Major GeneralPhilip Kearny, whose memorialscan be seen in the 4.8-acre park.As a result of Ox Hill, GeneralRobert E. Lee decided not topursue the Union Army into for-tifications around Washington.Instead, he crossed the Potomacinto Maryland, a decision thatled to the bloodiest one-daybattle in American history. Thatconfrontation at Antietam onSeptember 17th changed thecourse of the war and led tothe issuance of the preliminaryEmancipation Proclamation.

Tumbling Scott’s Run

continued on page 9

WHAT’S INSIDE . . .

Spring Events ................ 2

Park Foundation ............ 3

Stewardship .................. 4

Farm Preschool ..............5

IMA Super Kids ............. 6

Monarch Butterflies ....... 7

Backpack Trails .............. 8

Partnerships .................. 9

Archaeology ............... 10

Awards ........................ 11

Great Parks ................. 12

2 ResOURces

NATURAL RESOURCEAND HISTORIC SITES

BURKE LAKE PARK7315 Ox Road, Fairfax Station

Call 703-323-6600

COLVIN RUN MILL10017 Colvin Run Road, Great Falls

Call 703-759-2771

ELLANOR C. LAWRENCE PARK5040 Walney Road, Chantilly

Call 703-631-0013

FRYING PAN FARM PARK2709 West Ox Road, Herndon

Call 703-437-9101

GREEN SPRING GARDENS4603 Green Spring Rd., Alexandria

Call 703-642-5173

HIDDEN OAKS NATURE CENTER7701 Royce Street, Annandale

Call 703-941-1065

HIDDEN POND NATURE CENTER8511 Greeley Blvd., Springfield

Call 703-451-9588

HUNTLEY MEADOWS PARK3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria

Call 703-768-2525

LAKE ACCOTINK PARK7500 Accotink Park Rd., Springfield

Call 703-569-3464

LAKE FAIRFAX PARK1400 Lake Fairfax Drive, Reston

Call 703-471-5414

RIVERBEND PARK8700 Potomac Hills Street, Great Falls

Call 703-759-9018

SULLY HISTORIC SITE3601 Sully Road, Chantilly

Call 703-437-1794

HISTORIC PROPERTIES RENTAL SERVICESwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm

Call 703-827-0609

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

E V E N T S

Editor/Writer: David OchsPhotos: Don Sweeney, FCPA

David OchsAdministration: Jatinder KaurProduction: Innovative Projects, Inc.

Published quarterly by theFairfax County Park Authority,

12055 Government Center Parkway,Fairfax, VA 22035-1118.

Available at park sitesand Fairfax County libraries.

Visit ResOURces online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources

c ResOURces is printed on recycled paper.

The Art of QuillingSunday, March 30, 1-3pm, Sully HistoricSite, 703-437-1794.Learn the art of arranging small paper scrollsin a delicate design. Practice this historic artand design a take-home craft. Reservationsby 3/26. $10

War of 1812 Living History WeekendApril 5-6, 11am-4pm Saturday, 11am-3pmSunday, Sully Historic Site, 703-437-1794.Learn about the second war for independenceagainst England. Drill with troops, watchcannon firing, learn the role of horses inmilitary, visit with the ship’s surgeon, dancewith costumed interpreters to period tunesand play historic games. House tour included.$7/adult, $5/senior and child

SPRING EVENTS

Celebrating Diversity Children’s DaySaturday, April 26, 1-4:30pm, HiddenOaks Nature Center, 703-941-1065.Cultural performances from around the world.Make crafts from the countries represented.Celebrate the opening of the butterfly garden,rain garden and limited impact developmentparking lot. Reservations and advance paymentrequired. $4/person

Wetlands Awareness DaySunday, May 4, Noon-3pm, HuntleyMeadows Visitor Center, 703-768-2525.Enjoy an afternoon of wetland interpretation,wildlife presentations and a Fun Fair for kids.Bring your friends and family to celebrate theimportance of wetlands to wildlife and you.Modest fee for some activities.

Trillium TrekTuesday, May 6, 9am-4pm, (adults),Hidden Oaks Nature Center, 703-941-1065.Head by van to Linden, VA, for the gloriousdisplay of trillium and other spring wildflowers.Wear hiking shoes. Prepay by April 20. $12

Goodnight Walk: Sounds of the NightSaturday, May 24, 7-8pm, Hidden OaksNature Center, 703-941-1065.Explore animal sounds and take a night-timestroll along the 1/3 mile Old Oak Trail to prac-tice your new listening and identifying skills.Reservations, advance payment required. $3

2nd Annual River FestivalSaturday, May 31, Riverbend VisitorCenter, 703-759-9018.Celebrate the Potomac’s natural beauty. Con-servation groups, outfitters, guides, fishingcontests, kayaking, water safety demonstra-tions, a silent auction, raffles, and games andactivities for children. $5/person, 3yrs. andunder FREE

Children’s Day at Hidden Oaks

Battle of Bladensburg re-creation

OrienteeringSaturdays, April 5 and 12, 2-3:55pm,(ages eight and up), Hidden Oaks NatureCenter, 703-941-1065.Learn compass skills and begin enjoying thesport of orienteering. Advance payment, regis-tration through Parktakes or Hidden Oaks. $41

Remove An Invasive Plant DaySaturday, April 12, sites throughout thecounty. Contact Kathy Frederick, 703-324-8681or [email protected] through the Invasive ManagementArea program, www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/IMA/.

Eco-Savvy ExpoSunday, April 13, (Families), noon-4pm,Huntley Meadows Visitor Center,703-768-2525.Everything you’ve ever wanted to know aboutattracting local native wildlife! We’ll send youhome with the best native plants, bee boxes,rain barrels, wildflower seed mixes, shade-gardening tips, rain garden plant lists and wild-life brochures. $3/adult

Spring 2008 3

P A R K F O U N D AT I O N

ARTS IN THE PARKS is entertainment in the parks. It’s a programthat delights children, teaches them the importance of protectingour natural resources, introduces them to live arts performances inan informal, kid-friendly atmosphere and forges a connectionbetween kids and parks.

Arts in the Parks features some of the finest children’s entertainersand introduces young audiences to theater and music. It is, for manychildren, their first exposure to live performances. Families have beencoming to Arts in the Parks since 1989. Performances are held onSaturdays at 10 a.m. for ten weeks, June through August, in theamphitheaters at four parks: Mason District, Burke Lake, Ellanor C.Lawrence and Lake Fairfax.

Sousan Frankeberger, the program director, selects artists whoencourage children to get involved in shows by singing along,dancing, acting and playing instruments. The children are entrancedby storytellers, puppets, rhythms and sounds. The outdoor settings,amidst woodlands and singing birds, inspire imagination. There arefields, playgrounds and other park amenities for children to burnextra energy before or after the events. They learn to associateperforming arts with movement and delight.

The Arts in the Parks program is funded through charitabledonations of individuals and groups who have made gifts to theFairfax County Park Foundation. Large supporters include The Friendsof Mason District Park, the Fairfax Symphony and the VirginiaCommission for the Arts.

Kids and Arts in the ParksBy Nancy Russo, Fairfax County Park Foundation

Put a little art in your child’s heart with a visit to a park.

You can support Arts in the Parks by sending your checkmade payable to the Fairfax Park Foundation, 12055Government Center Parkway, Suite 404, Fairfax, VA22035, with memo “Arts.”The Fairfax County Park Foundation is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, and allcontributions to the Foundation are tax deductible to the fullest extent allowedby law.

Members of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra perform with Photo by Keely Patefuture members of the Fairfax Symphony Orchestra

What’s RMD?RMD stands for Resource Management Division. It’s part ofthe Fairfax County Park Authority. RMD connects people tonatural, historic and horticultural resources. We’re online atwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/.

Mason District Supervisor Penny Gross, representing the Friendsof Mason District Park, says, “The Arts in the Parks program providesan excellent opportunity for parents and grandparents to introduceeven their littlest ones to theatre-style entertainment at absolutelyno cost — free entertainment and free parking in a beautiful countypark setting. What more could a parent ask? When funding for theprogram was at risk, the Friends of Mason District Park were happyto step up to provide support for this very worthwhile communityevent.”

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S T E W A R D S H I P

Planting Ideas in Fertile Ground

Stephanie Roche says there are kids who don’t go outside, andshe’s working to change that. She wants children to under-stand that there’s a real, touchable, natural world beyond the

scientific studies in a classroom.

Roche is an elementary science education specialist with FairfaxCounty Public Schools (FCPS). She’s creating something new, theEcosystems unit, for the county’s fourth grade curriculum. Rochesays the idea behind it is “to get students outside, especially in theschoolyard, so that they see the connection between what they’relearning and the world outside their window.”

She wants children to be outside long enough to experience andobserve the natural world. Her efforts are similar to others in a nationalgrass roots movement called No Child Left Inside, a coalition ofeducation and environmental organizations.

As part of the FCPS program, students will make observations intheir schoolyards about soil, insects and plants. They’ll take samples,study runoff and erosion, and track progress as the weeks progress.Then, Roche says, “they can start to make recommendations aboutwhat they think can be done to make their school an area wherethere’s more biodiversity.”

She hopes to tailor the program to each of the 137 schools,because each school has a different setting and unique naturalresources.

“It’s ultimately stewardship.

How do you instill that in them in hopes that they will appreciate

what’s around them beyond all the science standards?”

– Educator Stephanie Roche

The Fairfax County Park Authority is helping. Roche met withSenior Interpreters Melissa Gaulding of Huntley Meadows and KarenSheffield of Riverbend parks for guidance in drafting the program.Gaulding and Sheffield helped Roche shape her plan to make aconnection between the people who are in charge of school groundsand parks, especially parks that are next to schools.

Roche says park employees “have a lot of information and datathey can bring to the schools” about nature, and the Park Authorityhas printed guides that can help students identify trees and differentorganisms at their schools.

The goal is to have the program in the curriculum in the spring of2009. It would be a precursor to the watershed studies the studentshave in middle school and the wider, global environmental studiespresented in high school. Roche says her goal is for students to makeconnections along the way between the things they learn in all ofthose studies.

That fits with the Park Authority goal of connecting people tocounty park resources. As Roche says, “We really want them toappreciate the natural world.”

Children connecting to nature Learning to appreciate thenatural world

Spring 2008 5

P A R T N E R S H I P

J ust like other preschoolers inFairfax County, these childrenlearn their letters and numbers,

play with blocks and sing songsduring circle time.

But the children at Farm Preschoolalso are petting chicks and goats andlearning about life on the farm.

That’s because Farm Preschool isa private school, licensed by Virginiaand run by a private contractor, thatjust happens to be located in a parkwith a real working farm — FryingPan Farm Park.

Park Historian Yvonne Johnsonsays there’s been a school on the sitecontinuously since 1876. The school-house in use now was built in 1911.Johnson adds, “Even though we are a

suburban mecca now, we have a chunk of our history preserved that we all can enjoy.”

The preschool was started in 1991 by Kate Plummer, who loved visiting thefarm with her children and wanted to share that love with other children. It hasgrown from a dozen or so students and one teacher to a five-day-a-week operationwith room for 106 three-, four- and five-year-olds.

Plummer and her staff make sure the children explore their surroundings. Thechildren walk to the Kidwell Farm area of the park, where they see horses, chickens,peacocks, rabbits, sheep, goats, cows and pigs. Petting is definitely allowed! Lambsand chicks are brought into the classroom for children to hold. New babies aresomething to look forward to in the spring, and the children take tractor rides andhayrides in the park.

School Director Jennifer Vannoy says the farm “is an important part of ouratmosphere and an important part of our philosophy.” Vannoy, whose grandmotherwas a student in the schoolhouse, says, “It’s like a field trip every day.”

Park Manager Todd Brown says the support from Katydid, Inc., which operatesthe school, “has been a huge contribution to the park’s success. With past campersand preschool kids now adults, another generation is arriving through Katydid withparents that grew up at Frying Pan.”

Parents and students love the farm. Three-year-old Stevie says he likes the cowsbest because they give milk to people, and he likes the tractor rides. Ruth-McCoyand Abigail say the sheep are their favorites, while Sarah likes the turkey.

Pam Thomas of Herndon drives about 30 minutes each way to bring her three-year-old son to Farm Preschool, while other parents commute from as far awayas Loudoun County. Thomas says her son loves to go to the farm and see theanimals. She says it’s what attracted her to the school and, otherwise, she probablywould have chosen a school closer to home. ’’I think it’s great. We’re definitelycoming back.’’

Preschool Down on the FarmBy Lori K. Weinraub, Park Authority Volunteer

Preschoolers at the farm Photo courtesy of Katydid, Inc.

Farm Preschoolers visit a neighborPhoto courtesy of Katydid, Inc.

Farm Preschool classmates Photo courtesy of Katydid, Inc.

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S T E W A R D S H I P

Kids love to do this kind of thing. Just grab a stringy handful ofsomething that’s slightly sticky and give it a rip! A bundle ofyoungsters recently got to do that in a Fairfax County park.

Rutherford Park got a face lift thanks to Fairfax Villa ElementarySchool and its program, Super Kids, that helps the students createand carry out volunteer opportunities.

The Super Kids recently took on invasive English ivy. They teamedwith the Park Authority’s Invasive Management Area VolunteerCoordinator, Kathy Frederick, and learned about the ivy, how toidentify it and why maintaining our parks is important. They spentalmost an hour ripping and removing ivy and talked afterward aboutwhat they had learned.

Parent volunteer Katharine Schultz says the students loved thefield work. “They loved getting out doing something that was physical,and they could relate to it because they all use the parks.” She saysthey also took information about English ivy home to their parents.

The Super Kids after-school volunteer program was started in2004 by former school counselor Christy Partlow. It’s now headedby counselor Janelle Buchheit. Schultz, whose sons Alex and Samare in the program, has been with Super Kids since the beginning.She says it’s “kind of a club, an outreach where the children are ableto do projects to help with different organizations in the community.”

Super Kids Do a Super Job for a ParkKids and parks go together. So do schools and parks.

They’re good for each other, like peanut butter and jelly. Here’s proof.

The 6-to-12-year-old youngsters in Super Kids

have made baby blankets for Inova Hospital’s

newborn nursery, worked with a food drive,

visited nursing homes and beautified their campus.

Information on English ivy: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/nrp_englishivy.htmSee the Super Kids video online at www.fcps.edu/schlbd/sg/community.htm.

They meet once a month and do projects on Mondays, when countyschools have a half-day of classes. Though awards can be earned,Principal Dale Mann says it’s a program designed “to give and notreceive anything for it.” He adds, “Our kids just enjoy doing it.”

The Park Authority’s Frederick was impressed. “The wholeprogram is so neat. I wanted to take my son out of his school andsend him there so he could be in the program,” she said. “It teachesthem stewardship and all the different aspects of volunteerism.”

Fairfax County Public Schools and the Fairfax County ParkAuthority understand, in Schultz’ words, that “there’s an importantrelationship between them and the community.” They’re all workingtogether to educate children, preserve parks and improve the qualityof life in Fairfax County.

Photo by Elizabeth Cooper

Spring 2008 7

Paper Butterflies are Flying NorthThe return of symbolic monarch butterflies is a sign of spring in Fairfax County.

Some county students, in conjunction with Park Authority sites, have been exchangingpaper monarchs with Mexican students who attend schools near the real monarchs’winter sanctuaries. The exchange takes place simultaneously with the monarch

migration through a program called Journey North, which tracks wildlife migration patterns.

Students in Fairfax County make papermonarchs to symbolize the monarchmigration.

Hidden Oaks Nature Center AssistantManager Suzanne Holland says the studentsinclude a greeting in Spanish, a sort of“goodwill butterfly message.” The papersare mailed to a clearinghouse in Minnesota,which ships them to schools in Mexico. Thestudents in Mexico either make new papermonarchs or send the originals back to NorthAmerica with handwritten messages andgreetings. Some are then returned to FairfaxCounty schools through Hidden Oaks.

The nature center assists a tri-nationalorganization based at the University ofKansas, Monarch Watch, which tracksmonarch migrations. You can be a part of it,too. Hidden Oaks and Green Spring Gardensare Park Authority sites that have butterflytagging programs.

P R E S E R V AT I O N

Butterfly GardeningSaturday, April 5 and 12, 10-10:55am,Hidden Oaks Nature Center,703-941-1065.Learn how to use native plants to create anattractive and successful butterfly garden.$30. Advance payment and registrationthrough Parktakes or Hidden Oaks.

Read about Suzanne Holland’s trip to see a “living confetti of butterflies,” and learn more about monarchs locallyon the Internet at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/. Type “monarch butterfly” in the search box.

Interested in having a butterfly garden in your yard?❦ Research the kinds of butterflies in the area and match your plant selection to

what they eat. Think native. Many caterpillars are selective about their food.

❦ Limit pesticides. They may harm butterflies.

❦ In general, butterflies prefer flowers that are, in order, purple, pink, yellowand white.

❦ Flowering plants require sun. So do butterflies.

❦ Several local park sites, including Colvin Run Mill, have butterfly gardens.

Paper butterfliesdrawn to a smile. Monarch butterfly; the real thing.

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A W A R D SC O N N E C T I N G T O N AT U R E

Take A Hike — and Learn a Little Something!By Carol Ochs, FCPA Volunteer

Take a family backpack hike in a county park!

If you want something a littlelighter to tote, other parks offerbrochures for self-guided walks.

Huntley Meadows’ trail is almostthree miles long and includes 14different stops. Program DirectorMelissa Gaulding says, “one of thereally popular stops is the one aboutpoison ivy.” The brochures changewith the seasons.

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site invitesvisitors to take “A Walk ThroughHistory” past a general store, barn,blacksmith shop, miller’s house andthe mill.

At Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, youtake “A Walk Through Time.” Explorethe grounds and learn about thedairy, ice house and smokehouse thatwere part of a farm. ECLP also haspacks for scout groups.

Sully Historic Site offers a brochurethat includes 14 points of interest,such as the log schoolhouse andgazebo, stone dairy, wine cellar anda representative slave quarter.

It’s no walk in the park.

It’s an outdoor adventure you can enjoy withyour family at your own pace. These FairfaxCounty Park Authority sites can supply all you

need.

Families with preschoolers will enjoy theDiscovery Bags offered at Hidden Oaks NatureCenter. Small sacks inside the totes are num-bered to correspond with signposts along awoodland trail. A guidebook helps parentsencourage their children to use all of their sensesin the woods. Bag contents change with theseasons.

The preschool crowd also can enjoyRiverbend Park’s Duff and Stuff bag. This bagcontains a squirrel puppet and its story. Asfamilies explore the park, parents can pull outactivity bags that correspond with events in thesquirrel’s story. In addition, Riverbend offersscavenger hunt sheets for preschool and elemen-tary age children.

Frying Pan Farm Park allows explorers topurchase a Junior Naturalist badge after com-pleting activities along its backpack trail. FryingPan’s backpacks help hikers identify animaltracks, use their sense of smell to discover a spicebush, and use their sense of touch to recognizethe surrounding trees.

Green Spring Gardens has backpacks forplant and insect lovers. Each themed backpackincludes books and picture cards to help iden-tify flowers and bugs. The packs also containcrayons and a notebook so budding naturalistscan journal what they see.

And coming this spring — a new backpackprogram at Hidden Pond Nature Center.

Maps for these self-guided tours can often be found in racks outside the parknature or visitor centers. Packs which can be carried along the trails can onlybe used when the park offices or stores are open, and you may need to leavean ID while using them.

Backpack contents at Green SpringPhotos by Carol Ochs

Resource Management Division sites in Fairfax County hosted over 212,000 peoplein more than 11,000 tours and programs last year.

There’s a program that’s right for you in a park close to you.

Spring 2008 9

DIAMONDS IN THE SUBURBS continued from page 1

P A R T N E R S H I P S

Lane’s Mill(www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/gmp/lanesmillgmp092502.pdf)Confluence of Cub Run and Big Rocky Run14901 Lee Highway, CentrevilleLane’s Mill, one of numerous mills that once dottedthe county landscape, is a Cultural Resource Parkwith a significant number of wildflowers. The millraces are still there, as are ruins of the stone gristmill, which appears to have been built in the 1760s,shortly before the Revolutionary War. The eight-acre archaeological and historic site is part of 318acres purchased in 1752 by William Lane. In 1760,his son was granted County Court permission tobuild a mill. Its ruins are among the oldest structuresused for light industry in Fairfax County and anexample of industry in Northern Virginia during the18th and 19th centuries. Lane’s Mill is eligible forlisting on the National Register of Historic Places.

You could visit a park a day for a year and still not see all of the more than 400 park sites in Fairfax County.Get started and learn more about where you live.

Freedom Hill Fort(www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/archives/freedomhill.htm)8531 Old Courthouse Road, Tysons CornerFreedom Hill Fort is important as an example of small earthen batteries, calledredoubts, which were constructed all around Washington during the Civil War. Therewas no protection from weather or cannon, only from rifle fire. Redoubts had interiorslined with timber cut from surrounding woods. Drainage ditches ringed the exterior.

Small batteries like Freedom Hill were outposts of a ring of larger fortificationsthat protected Washington. Freedom Hill protected Peach Grove Federal Depot, whichtoday is Tyson’s Corner. Eight men, led by a sergeant, were stationed at Freedom Hillto protect couriers and patrols on Chain Bridge Road. They stayed for one week androtated with other soldiers from the main unit two miles to the east. Diaries of soldiersstationed here tell of looking forward to hard labor in order to get away from theboredom of outpost life. Popular legend says Freedom Hill got its name because ofthe large number of free blacks living nearby in the 19th century. Freedom Hill wasone of Fairfax County’s earliest black communities.

Riverbend Park Manager Marty Smith and Resource Stewardship Manager MichaelRierson contributed to this article.

Good stewardship is like a good recipe.It gets noticed and shared.

Hidden Oaks Nature Center Manager Michael McDonnell and AssistantManager Suzanne Holland recently met with representatives of a UnitarianUniversalist Church group planning to build a Low Impact Development (LID)parking lot. Hidden Oaks recently used LID techniques for its new lot — aninnovative approach to storm water management. (See the Fall 2007 issue ofResOURces at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/printpub.htm.)

The Hidden Oaks lot was the key to the Park Authority’s recent selection asa winner in the 2007 Community Appearance Alliance Award competition. Theawards are granted for design and construction projects that enhance the visualquality of Northern Virginia, and are sponsored by The Community AppearanceAlliance of Northern Virginia.

Parks and School ProgramsYour Children, Your Parks.

The Fairfax County Park Authority and Fairfax County PublicSchools educate future environmental stewards. The parksand the schools work together to teach your children.

You can learn a bit about park and school partnerships inthis issue of ResOURces.

You can learn a little more online at www.fcps.edu andwww.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks. You can learn a lot moreby visiting the parks as a family.

MAKE AN IMPACT.Help clean Fairfax County waterways thatfeed the Potomac River. Be part of awatershed cleanup on Saturday, March 29.

Call one of these sites:

Frying Pan Farm Park ... 703-437-9101

Hidden Oaks Nature Center..................................... 703-941-1065

Hidden Pond Nature Center..................................... 703-451-9588

Huntley Meadows Park..................................... 703-768-2525

Riverbend Visitor Center..................................... 703-759-9018

Sully Historic Site ......... 703-437-1794

Walney Visitor Center in EllanorC. Lawrence Park ......... 703-631-0013

Learn more about the PotomacWatershed Cleanup at http://trashfreepotomac.org/trash_initiative/trash_cleanup.html

10 ResOURces

Archaeologically speaking, 30 years isn’t muchtime, but for Fairfax County, the past 30 yearshave been essential for the discovery, study,

and protection of cultural resources. County-sponsoredprofessional archaeological activities began in 1978.County archaeologists have identified, studied, andrecorded over 3,000 historic and prehistoric county sitesranging from small-scale stone tool-making sites tolarge industrial sites, such as Colvin Run Mill.

Michael Johnson has been there from the begin-ning. An archaeologist for 34 years, Johnson startedwith County Archaeological Services in 1978. He hassurveyed thousands of county locations and is anexpert on Native American sites.

Archaeology now falls under the Park Authority’sCultural Resource Management and Protection Section(CRMPS). Leading the CRMPS is Dr. Elizabeth Crowell,who first worked with Fairfax County in 1978 whilein graduate school. Her extensive background in archae-ology includes more than 30 years in both prehistoricand historic work. She’s spent many years in culturalresource management and has extensive experiencewith sites in the Middle Atlantic Region.

Fairfax County Marks 30 Years of ArchaeologyBy Aimee Wells, Park Authority Archaeologist

C U LT U R A L R E S O U R C E S

Learn more at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/resources-crp.htm.

Richard Sacchi has been with the county for 20 ofhis 29 years in archaeology. Of his work he says, “Eachexcavation has its own moment of instant magic thatfurthers the understanding of historical change andprovides useful insights into cultural changes.” Heconducted excavations at Sully, Historic Huntley andMount Air and directed the extensive Fairfax CountyCivil War Sites Inventory.

John Rutherford, a professional archaeologist for26 years, is well-known for his skill in using computer-based Geographic Information Systems (GIS) tosupplement on-the-ground archaeological studies.John says, “GIS, when combined with historic aerialphotography, is mind-boggling, literally a time machineat your desk top.” He cites research in which acomputer finds something new and “you walk out inthe field, and then there it is…something you saw ina 70-year-old photograph.”

Volunteer coordinator and archaeologist RobertWharton is the senior member of the group with nearly50 years of experience. Bob has worked at the Universityof California at Berkeley and at Flowerdew HundredPlantation in Prince George County, Virginia, one ofthe earliest English settlements in the New World.

The CRMPS has relied on hundreds of volunteersfor archaeological field and laboratory work. C.K.Gailey has given more than 10,000 hours in the fieldand in the laboratory, teaching proper lab techniquesto other volunteers. Gailey’s work with GIS and withregistering new archaeological sites with the state isof the utmost importance.

Savannah River knife

Popes Creek pottery

Savannah River point

Five people, over one and a-half centuries ofexperience, studying the centuries

Bob Wharton (white hat) at a Lorton archaeology site

Jackie Cuyler, a 25-year volunteer, says,

“What better way to combine my love of

history and the outdoors than to join the

Fairfax County archaeology program? 

The best part of being a volunteer has been

the lifelong friends made through our shared

interest in excavating and interpreting the past.”

Spring 2008 11

A W A R D S

he county Board of Supervisorspresented the 2007 Environ-mental Excellence Award to

the Invasive Management Area (IMA)volunteers of the Park Authority’sResource Management Division. Volun-teer Coordinator Kathy Frederickaccepted the award on behalf of the20 honored volunteers.

Resource Stewardship Manager Michael

Awards for the Park AuthorityPark Authority staffers recently collected a string of awards.

Kathy Frederick making a park site a little better.

IMA volunteer leader Duane Murphy Michael Rierson

e’ve formed committees, reviewed what we do and how we do it, made improvements,filled out and submitted the application and now, after a year and a-half, company is coming.

The Fairfax County Park Authority is working to become an accredited park and recreationagency. Accreditation is one way to assure Fairfax County residents that their Park Authority is agood steward of county resources. Out of 3,000 park and recreation agencies nationwide, 73have received this distinction from the Commission for Accreditation of Park and RecreationAgencies (CAPRA, www.nrpa.org/).

CAPRA representatives will visit the Park Authority in May. They’ll verify the materials we’vesent them, meet with Park Authority personnel, maybe ask for more information about us, andthen report to the commission on their visit. A final decision on accreditation for the FairfaxCounty Park Authority will come in October.

Rierson was one of seven Park Authority employeesto receive a Fairfax County Outstanding PerformanceAward (OPA), which recognizes outstanding work bycounty employees. Rierson is versed in construction,history, budgets and stewardship. Other Park AuthorityOPA recipients were engineering technician Gary Best,

senior maintenance worker Jorge Bonilla,electronic equipment technician DonaldBrowning, engineer James Duncan,planner Cynthia McNeal and adminis-trative assistant Janet Rahman.

Golf Digest magazine selected LaurelHill as one of America’s Best New Coursesof 2007. Park Authority Golf EnterprisesManager Peter Furey says, “there is muchto be proud of” in making the list.

Want information about the accreditation effort?See the Fall 2007 issue of ResOURces at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/resources/

printpub.htm, call 703-324-8665 or contact [email protected].

JOURNEY TO ACCREDITATION

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❑ Nature centers

❑ Local history

❑ Kids’ projects

❑ Hiking

❑ Birds

❑ Archaeology

❑ Events

❑ Historic sites

❑ Gardening andhorticulture

❑ What else?

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S T E W A R D S H I P / P A R T N E R S H I P

HISTORIC PROPERTIES RENTAL SERVICESRent a piece of history!Historic properties inside Fairfax CountyPark Authority parks are available forweddings, corporate and social gather-ings. Rent one for your next soiree.

Call 703-827-0609 or see the siteson the Web at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/weddings.htm

• Cabell’s Mill in Centreville

• Clark House in Falls Church

• Dranesville Tavernin Dranesville

• Great Falls Grangein Great Falls

PRST STDU.S. POSTAGE

PAIDPERMIT 45FAIRFAX VA

12055 Government Center ParkwayFairfax, Virginia 22035-1118

A Fairfax County, Va., publication

EQUAL ACCESS/SPECIAL ACCOMMODATIONSThe Fairfax County Park Authority is committed to equal access

in all programs and services. Special accommodations will be providedupon 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 703-803-3354www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/ada.htm

p

Dranesville Tavern

• Hunter House in Vienna

• Forestville Schoolhousein Great Falls

• Stone Mansion in Alexandria

• Wakefield Chapelin Annandale

Great Parks, Great CommunitiesA Great Idea

Parks will be our legacy.They are yours and mine to enhance and protect.

You can help plan our parks. Because nearly 80% of FairfaxCounty residents visit county parks, we know there are a lot ofideas out there.

Great Parks, Great Communities is an exciting planning processthat brings your ideas into county parks. It’s designed aroundcommunity workshops this spring. Those workshops will producea guide for planning and development of the Fairfax County parksystem that will serve diverse community needs and protect parkresources.

Parks reflect environmental values. They preserve nature. Theymake cultural heritage come alive. They unite diverse countyresidents. They’re for leisure, recreation, and improving physicaland mental well being. They’re for the future.

Be a part of Great Parks, Great Communities, and pass onthis great legacy.

Information and schedules: contact Park Planning BranchManager Sandy Stallman at 703-324-8643.

Email: [email protected].

Online: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/plandev/greatparks.htm.

Sunset, Lake Accotink