Department Resources

Earn Your Fairfax 250 History Adventure Patch

Celebrate America's 250th anniversary by exploring the people, places and stories that shaped Fairfax County.
Complete activities in learning, sharing and service to earn your Fairfax 250 History Adventure Patch.

Category 1: Learning (Discovery and Education)

Explore Fairfax County's history, innovation and natural world. Choose two activities.

Visit a Network to Freedom Site
Explore Historic Technology
- Visit Colvin Run Mill.
  - See how 18th-century technology powered early communities.
  - Watch milling demonstrations and learn how innovation shaped daily life.
- Visit Frying Pan Farm Park
  - Explore an antique equipment shed with horse-drawn and mechanized farm equipment.
  - Learn how changing technology shaped farming, transportation and daily work.
- Alternative: Visit a regional air and space museum and compare technology across time.
Learn About Indigenous History
- Learn about the Indigenous peoples who stewarded this land long before the American Revolution.
  - Attend a program
    - Hidden Oaks Nature Center - Find Hidden Oaks Programs
    - Huntley Meadows Park - Find Huntley Meadows Programs
  - Visit exhibits:
    - Riverbend Park
Visit Sully Historic Site
- Explore life in the early United States.
  - Learn about the diverse people who lived at Sully Historic Site.
  - Discover the challenges of building a new nation.
Discover Native Plants
- Visit any Fairfax County park trail.
  - Identify three native plants that were used 250 years ago for food, medicine or tools.
Compare Past and Present Landscapes
- Explore historic maps and aerial images.
  - Compare past and present landscapes.
  - Discover what existed before your neighborhood, school or local park.

Share what you learn and connect with others. Choose two activities.

Complete the Lafayette Spy Game
- Learn about Revolutionary War spies.
- Share one thing you learned with a friend or family member.
Visit a Historic Landmark
- Take a photo and help others discover local history.
Explore a New Park
- Use the Fairfax County Discovery Map or Story Map
  - Visit a park you've never visited before.
  - Share one surprising thing you learned.
Interview a Family Member or Longtime Resident
- Ask how Fairfax County has changed over time.
- Share their story with your family, troop or group.
Practice Civic Engagement
- Visit a historical marker or site.
  - Recite the opening lines of the Declaration of Independence.

Category 3: Doing (Service & Action)

Take action to support your community and environment. Choose two activities.

Volunteer at a Fairfax County Park
- Complete at least two hours of volunteer service. Examples include:
  - Trail cleanup
  - Habitat restoration
  - Invasive plant removal
Complete a Community Cleanup
- Pick up litter in your neighborhood or local park.
- Take a photo or track how much you collected.
Create a Thank-You Project
- Create a card or artwork for:
  - Nursing home residents
  - Deployed service members
Support Sustainability
- Visit the Watch the Green Grow program online.
  - Report a green action you have taken to support a sustainable community.
Create History-Inspired Art
- Create artwork inspired by history. Examples include:
  - Pottery
  - Weaving
  - Drawing
  - Needlework
- Base your project on an artifact you have seen.
Participate in National Public Lands Day
- Join a conservation project at a Fairfax County nature center during National Public Lands Day.

Park Authority

Alert:

Department Resources

Earn Your Fairfax 250 History Adventure Patch

How to Earn Your Patch

Category 1: Learning (Discovery and Education)

Category 3: Doing (Service & Action)

Bonus Scout Option

Track Your Progress

Claim Your Patch

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax

Park Authority

Alert:

Department Resources

Earn Your Fairfax 250 History Adventure Patch

How to Earn Your Patch

Category 1: Learning (Discovery and Education)

Category 2: Sharing (Storytelling & Community)

Category 3: Doing (Service & Action)

Bonus Scout Option

Track Your Progress

Claim Your Patch

Recent Interactions

Ask Fairfax