Celebrates Anniversary - 10th - Fairfax County
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Healthy Strides
Celebrates
10 th
Anniversary
The Healthy Strides 5k/10k is celebrating a 10-year “Runniversary” this year as the annual fitness
event returns to Burke Lake Park on Saturday, April 30. Race Director Julie Frederickson says, “We
are excited to have some new surprises at our 2022 event to commemorate our anniversary.”
The inaugural race was held in 2012 as part of the Park Authority’s Take 12 community wellness
program. It quickly became the program’s signature event, which was later renamed to reflect its
theme -- Healthy Strides.
Barbara Murillo has been participating in the Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) race since the
beginning when her daughter was an FCPA intern who helped plan the inaugural run. “I love this
event because FCPA does a great job of making this inclusive for everyone, young and old, fast
and not so fast, while emphasizing the importance of good nutrition, consistent training and
having fun to maintain a healthy life.” Murillo shares a love of running with her daughter and
adds, “Now that she’s a mom of a six- year-old and an almost three-year-old, we’ve introduced
the third generation to the Healthy Strides race.”
“The race has many loyal participants and has grown throughout the years,” says Frederickson.
“Our last event at Burke Lake Park was the largest yet with our maximum of 550 runners. Hosting
the event at Burke Lake lets us showcase this beautiful park.” The accessible 5k course goes from
Shelter A to the campground and back, giving runners stunning views of the Burke Lake Golf
Course. The 10k course offers wonderful water views as it winds around the lake.
Due to COVID-19 concerns, the event was canceled in 2020 and registrants were given the option
to defer their registration or receive a refund. The race was held virtually in 2021, and more than
200 participants recorded 1,200+ miles across seven states, raising more than $1,000 for the Fairfax
County Park Foundation’s Trail Building & Care.
“I was thrilled with the success of our virtual event, but I am excited to come together and celebrate
our 10-year anniversary in person,” says Frederickson. “Everyone comes as they are and finishes at
their own pace. I love to see them cheering for each other as they pass the finish line.”
The Healthy Strides 5k/10k is just one element of the Park Authority’s Healthy Strides program. If
you can’t make it to a park, try one of the many Healthy Strides virtual fitness programs. See the
calendar of events on the Healthy Strides web page at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/healthy-
strides.
For more information about the 5K/10K, visit: www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/healthy-strides/10k5k.
4 Special thanks to Cigna, Giant, and the Virginia Pediatric Group, Ltd. for generous multi-year
Spring 2022
sponsorships through the Fairfax County Park Foundation.
Sample Some Park Authority
Style
Trail mix isn’t just for eating anymore.
The Park Authority has cooked up a no-calorie Trail Mix that will satisfy your hunger for an outdoor fitness
program that’s fun for everyone in the family.
Starting February 1, walk, jog or run on designated trails at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and Mason District Park
and look for markers along the way with QR codes offering exercise demonstrations. Stop at the markers in
any order and choose from low impact, medium and advanced exercise options to suit your taste.
“Trail Mix plays on the idea of fitness as a recipe for healthy living,” explains Wellness Coordinator Elizabeth
Ittner, who developed the program with Oak Marr Rec Center Fitness Director Hannah Hutton. “All of the
fitness ‘ingredients’ will provide a complete body workout.”
There are eight markers along each trail, and Ittner says, “The theme of each station
is a measurement of ingredients, just like you would see in a recipe -- dash, pinch,
and dip -- and the exercises coincide with the food ingredients.”
For example, all good trail mixes need a base ingredient, such as granola. Think of the exercise you get
moving from station to station as that firm building block for your Trail Mix. Try some squats or frog
jumps to add a little zing to your mix. Imagine chocolate-covered raisins or popcorn. Do some crunch-
es to get that nutty flavor. Throw in a sprinkle of jumping jacks, a pinch of calf raises and a slice of toe
touches as you add to your fitness recipe.
Since you can mix up your stops in any order, each of the markers contains a code for the exercise
video, as well as introductory and ending messages. The introductory message explains the Trail Mix
theme and introduces users to their fitness instructor guides. The closing message offers a wrap-up
exercise suggestion.
“All you need is a smart device with internet capabilities to scan the QR codes and watch the videos,”
says Ittner. “No exercise equipment is needed, and all of the exercises can be done standing. We under-
stand the importance of outdoor space on health for mind and body, and we wanted to incorporate a
fun, family-friendly activity that would promote that nature-health connection.”
The paved Big Rocky Run Trail at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park and the Meadows Trail at Mason District Park
are the first to get the Trail Mix signage. Big Rocky Run is an out-and-back trail that is just over a mile
roundtrip. Meadows Trail is a .54-mile loop trail that is mostly paved or stone dust.
Ittner and Hutton hope to expand the Trail Mix program in the future to include a variety of health and
wellness themes, such as yoga, ninja warrior or storybook trails.
The Healthy Strides Trail Mix program is supported by the Fairfax County Park Foundation.
For more information, please visit www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trail-mix.
5
Spring on
the Farm
Spring is a fantastic time to visit Frying Pan Farm Park! From February to May, you can
see newborn farm animals almost every week!
Up first are usually sheep and pigs. Individual sheep deliver up to three lambs, while a
single sow can have more than a dozen piglets.
“We give the newborns special care away from the public when they’re first born,”
says Frying Pan Operations Manager Paul Nicholson. “After they’re thriving, we bring
them out to where visitors can see them.”
The kid goats generally arrive in April. Baby goats are often born in pairs or triplets.
On the other hand, cows usually only have one calf at a time. Frying Pan’s cows are
expected to deliver calves in May and June.
“Each spring the farm has anywhere from 30 to 50 new arrivals, and that’s not even counting baby birds,” Nicholson says.
(Frying Pan is home to several peacocks, turkeys, ducks and chickens.)
A great time to see all the new arrivals is during Spring Farm Day on Saturday, May 7.
The annual event was canceled in 2020 and 2021 due to the pandemic but Frying Pan
Farm Park Manager Nicole Mitchell is planning for it to make a comeback in 2022.
“Spring Farm Day is a fun Saturday where families come to Frying Pan and enjoy food,
games, demonstrations, wagon and carousel rides, and lots more. It’s going to be really
special this year after such a long absence!” Mitchell says.
Frying Pan Farm Park in Herndon is open daily from dawn to dusk. There’s no fee to
visit the park or see the animals. To keep everyone healthy and safe, please do not give
the animals anything to eat. Questions? Call the park at 703-437-9101.
6 Spring 2022
This is NOT Your Parent’s
SUMMER CAMP!
Summer camp has come of age. No longer will you find one size fits all camp experiences.
Instead, the possibilities are nearly endless.
The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) has reimagined summer camp and offers a
place for children and teenagers to thrive and explore new lifetime learning experiences.
Just as we stretch our bodies to promote wellness, camps can help children exercise their
imagination, feed their curiosity and take a deep dive into favorite activities.
Donna-Rose Dingee chose Park Authority camps for her kids because the locations were
convenient and the camps were a good fit for her children’s interests. Eight-year-old Elijah
attended ROCS (Rec Centers Offer Cool Stuff), and six-year-old Lydia attended Jr. ROCS.
“I liked the hours, variety of activities (indoor swimming at Cub Run was a huge hit), engagement of the
camp counselors, the nature walks they would take, and most of all that my kids were excited to go to
ROCs every day,” says Dingee. Elijah remembers, “I liked when we would take nature walks down to play
in the creek and look for animals.” And Lydia says, “Oh, it was sooo fun!”
FCPA is the largest summer camp provider in Northern Virginia, offering more than 1,800 weeks of camp
at over 40 locations. Diversity and choice make all the difference. Think chess or perhaps fishing camp.
Discover magic or get better at your favorite sport. When it comes to athletics, there are options such
as swim camp, gymnastics, soccer, basketball and pickleball. From dancing to pottery, nature camps to
virtual 3D game design, mountain biking to adventure camp – there are wonderful choices waiting for
your family.
“Camp comes in all shapes and sizes, just like children,” says Camp Director Deidre “Miss DeDe” Schrader.
Even though the types of camps have changed over the years, she notes, “Our mission hasn’t changed --
friendship, fun and memories.” Camps help children make lifelong connections and build both skills and
character. Quite simply, Miss DeDe says, “A summer without camp is like, well, a boring summer.”
Week-long day camps generally run from 9 a.m. until 4 p.m., Why choose just one
camp, when programs run all summer long! Camps can be focused on specialized
skills or interests, provide specific skill-building opportunities, make lesson-based
curricula such as robotics or Lego engineering fun, and allow parents to help their
children discover new areas of interest – one week at a time.
Get all the details on Park Authority camps at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/camps/.
Spring 2022 l 2021 Keep in mind, many camps fill quickly, so for the best selection, sign up early! 7
It’s Time to Gather Again!
Birds, buds and hibernating bears aren’t the only ones
peeking out again in springtime. Spring is prime season
for people to emerge from their wintry cocoons and
start to gather again, and Fairfax County parks offer
indoor and outdoor rental spots and party packages to
accommodate every group and occasion.
The Facility Rentals web page at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/facili-
ty-rentals is the place to start.
Rickelle Gordon was “searching high and low for a
reasonably priced facility to host our bridal shower” Explore your party options at
when she found her “diamond” in a Club Room at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/parties
Spring Hill Rec Center. Gordon says General Manag-
er Doreen Henry “was more than an event manager If you’re feeling like Goldilocks and trying to
– she was my therapist. It was an amazing experi- find a spot that’s just the right size for an out-
ence from start to finish.” door family reunion, school outing or corporate
gathering, go to the picnic rentals web page at
Chantilly’s Dance 4U Dance Company used the Frying Pan Farm Park www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/picnics. The us-
Visitor Center for a recent recital and as a rehearsal space. Dance 4U’s er-friendly online tools let you search by capac-
Dee Newman says it was great working with the “accommodating and ity, amenities, location and availability. You can
caring” staff at Frying Pan and adds, “I would highly recommend it to even filter for picnic areas that will allow you to
anyone looking for a rental!” bring in a food truck or blast some tunes.
Looking for a fun way to celebrate your child’s next Planning a wedding? The Laurel Hill Golf Club
birthday? Park Authority rec centers, golf courses, and Twin Lakes Golf Course offer spacious ban-
nature centers, historic sites and amenity-filled parks quet facilities in beautiful settings. Work with
offer birthday packages for all ages. Kids can swim, ice an event coordinator to make your day perfect.
skate, meet animals, ride a train, ride a wagon, fish, Find details at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/
golf, mini-golf, garden, have tea, learn about farm life, golf/parties.
go on an insect safari, enjoy a campfire and more.
The Park Authority even has a Showmobile
Michelle Ly, the parent of two adventurous kids says, “Our boys attend- (www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/showmobile) it
ed summer camps at Hidden Oaks and it is one of their favorite places rents to groups such as Scouts, Little League
in the whole world.” That’s why she decided to host a Nocturnal Ani- and local non-profits, as well as Fairfax Coun-
mals-themed birthday party at the nature center when Xavier Ly turned ty-based businesses. The Showmobile is a
six. “It was fantastic. Alex Doumbia was the staffer who led the event. He 32-foot long portable stage that can be used for
was so enthusiastic and kind. Can’t imagine a better host for our group entertainment at outdoor events. Time to put
of children.” the band back together!
8
Get the Par-Tee Started
at Twin Lakes Golf Course
“Everyone’s ‘best day ever’ means something differ-
ent and I’m here to help make that happen- whatev-
er that looks like for you,” says Amanda Mason, Event
Director at Twin Lakes Golf Course.
Since joining the Twin Lakes team last fall, Mason has
been making her mark, coordinating a host of events,
private gatherings and weddings at this popular course
and party venue. The Certified Wedding Planner says,
“Twin Lakes is perfect for couples looking for an afford-
able, large space with a dreamy backdrop. The staff is here to streamline all the
details, pay attention to the small and large things, and ultimately help take the
stress off the bride and groom so they can make memories on their special day.”
Mason has a passion for event planning and is willing to think “outside of the tee
box.” She looks forward to engaging with wedding couples, as well as with busi-
nesses and non-profit organizations looking for a venue for their gatherings. When
it comes to planning a successful event of any kind, Mason says, “The first element
is active listening. When I meet with potential clients I want to hear their ideas.”
As Event Director at the course, Mason is also planning gatherings and organizing
events for the many golfers who consider Twin Lakes to be their home course and
look forward to the fun and engaging social golf outings and activities that are her
planning specialty.
HIDDEN
GEM Cub Run Central Trail
Tucked away behind neighborhoods in Centreville is one of the best places to see bluebells in the
region. The woods here are a sea of blue and purple hues in the spring as the bluebells make their
annual, showstopping debut. Virginia bluebells only bloom for about three weeks in March or April,
and the perennial flowers have a distinct purplish-blue trumpet-shaped flower.
Lifelong resident, Cheryl Sutphin says, “The bluebell trail is a hidden gem in Centreville. Thousands
of bluebells carpet the ground as bicyclists and walkers gaze at their beauty. It is an annual tradition
for our family.”
The fairly level asphalt trail is perfect for walking, biking, and strollers. Along the tranquil trail are
train track ruins and streams.
“The trail offers more than recreational amenities,” notes Jason Sutphin, Cheryl’s husband. “At one
end is a historically significant site, at the other is the Cub Run stream. In between lies a stretch of
woods that illuminates every spring with the blossoms of the bluebell flowers.”.
The Cub Run Central Trail runs through the Cub Run and Rocky Run stream valleys and is approxi-
mately 2.5 miles long. Entrance to the trail is provided through adjacent neighborhoods; no formal
parking areas are available. To find out more about this trail or others in your neighborhood, visit
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/trails/maps. 9
Spring 2022 l 2021
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