From now until Labor Day, you can make the most of the summer sun with an exciting outdoor challenge. The annual Discovery Trail Map celebrates 75 years of the Fairfax County Park Authority and its nature, recreation, and conservation.
“The Discovery Trail Map began in 2014 and has been a popular summer activity with families ever since. Each year the Discovery Trail Map has occurred, a committee of Park Authority staff has chosen a theme,” says Jai Cole, executive director of Fairfax County Park Authority.
Visit at least eight of the 15 featured park locations across Fairfax County and you can win fun prizes. Stops along the trail include Frying Pan Farm Park, Burke Lake Park, and Sully Historic Site. There are also new locations, such as the award-winning Woodlands Stewardship Education Center.
How to Begin
To begin, pick up a trail map at one of the featured locations — except for Grist Mill — or download it virtually from the Discovery Trail Map website. At each of the parks you visit, answer a trivia question by recording it on the map.
Since the week of July 28, three new sites have been added to the Discovery Trail, including Huntley Meadows, Grist Mill Park’s historic barn, and Mount Vernon Rec Center’s recently opened recreation facilities.
Once your self-guided adventure is completed, turn in your map by September 1 to one of the five designated redemption sites: Frying Pan Farm Park, Lake Fairfax Park, South Run Rec Center, Spring Hill Rec Center, and Mount Vernon Rec Center.
You will then earn an amusement prize pack and be entered to win one of 25 grand prizes, including a backpack with binoculars, foldable frisbee, boat hat, and more. Winners will be selected and notified in September.
“As the Fairfax County Park Authority celebrates its 75th anniversary, participants will be able to explore the parks and learn of the history dating back thousands of years,” Cole says. “Today, the Park Authority is incorporating innovative solutions at sites to preserve parks for generations to come.”
Feature image courtesy Fairfax County Park Authority
