Park Authority

The Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) is seeking teenagers looking to develop their leadership and communication skills to become Counselors in Training (C.I.T.). The C.I.T. program is open to teens ages 14 and older and provides real-world experience in planning and leading activities for elementary-aged children participating in FCPA camps and Rec-PAC. Participants often return year after year, eventually accepting paid staff positions when they turn 18.

Serving alongside adult leaders, participating C.I.T.s assist counselors with programming, gain experience working as part of a team, develop new communication and leadership skills, and have fun helping elementary school-age children. Each participant receives a T-shirt and will receive an assignment for a specific Rec Center, park or school site.

To participate, applicants must submit the C.I.T. application and complete an interview. Once selected to the program, there is an application fee and initial online training that must be completed before the start of the summer program. Specific instructions for summer camp and Rec-PAC C.I.T.s are included below:

Summer Camp C.I.T.s: Applicants must submit their application to the camp program directors at the location they are interested in being assigned to. Camp C.I.T. training will be held virtually on Tuesday, June. 6 from 6:30 to 8 p.m.

Become a Camp C.I.T.

Learn more about FCPA’s camps by visiting the Camps website.

Rec-PAC C.I.T.s: Applicants must note their preferred location and submit applications by Friday, June 9 and attend an in-person training event on June 17. Accepted applicants will be assigned to a site and work daily on weekdays from June 26 through Aug. 3, from 8:15 a.m. through 4 p.m.

Become a Rec-PAC C.I.T.

Learn more about the FCPA Rec-PAC program by visiting the Rec-PAC website.

Don’t wait, submit a C.I.T. application today!

Explore a thriving wetland sanctuary during Wetlands Awareness Day! Join us in celebrating the significance of Huntley Meadows Park and get connected with the treasured homes and habitats of the wildlife throughout the park on Sunday, May 7, from noon to 4 p.m.

Huntley Meadows Park is home to a nationally significant historic house, majestic forests, wildflower-speckled meadows and vast wetlands bursting with life. Some of the best wildlife watching in the Washington Metropolitan Area is here.

Enjoy an up-close view of live raptors, reptiles and amphibians and interactive displays and activities. Bring the whole family, and your neighbors too, to stroll the forested paths and immersive boardwalk trails throughout the park. See the plants and animals that live in the park and learn how they play vital roles in the ecosystem. Grab a discovery guide when you check in and visit different activity stations, receiving a stamp at each station to earn a prize.

This free, family-friendly event will be held rain or shine. Come discover the importance and value of our local wetlands.

Register for Wetlands Awareness Day

Huntley Meadows Park is located at 3701 Lockheed Blvd., Alexandria, Virginia. For more information, please call 703-768-2525 or visit Huntley Meadows Park.

It’s National Poetry Month and Arab American Heritage Month. Celebrate both at Ellanor C. Lawrence Park with the first in a series of Poetry in the Parks events.

Enjoy poetry from the Fairfax Poet Laureate featuring local Arab American poets Zeina Azzam, Rayan Afif and Danielle Badra. Poetry in the Parks is a partnership between ArtsFairfax and the Fairfax County Park Authority, highlighting the relationship between nature and poetry. Experience the serenity of the Ellanor C. Lawrence wooded amphitheater, while experiencing the natural surroundings.

The event will be held on April 15 from 3 to 4 p.m. Admission is free, but please register for the program.

Register for Fairfax Poet Laureate

Ellanor C. Lawrence Park is located at 5040 Walney Road, Chantilly, Virginia. For more information, please call 703-631-0013 or visit Ellanor C. Lawrence Park.

Meet Kimeshia!

Name: Kimeshia Junkins 
Position: Operations Branch Manager, Park Services Division, Fairfax County Park Authority

Growing up I stayed in the Rec Center learning all the different sports there were because at the time I was the only girl with two brothers, and I had to beat them. I also remember countless practices being coached by my dad as the only girl on the boys’ basketball team. As a military kid it was hard moving every few years, but one thing that was constant was I always had a Rec Center to go to! The Rec Center was the perfect outlet for my two brothers, sister, and I to compete and see who was the best! From those long days spent in the Rec Center I was able to achieve a full ride scholarship to play division 1 basketball. Without knowing it my class choice choose my major of Health Promotion. I was truly inspired by all my years spent in a Rec Center to find a career that would help me give back to the community and give an outlet for others to experience activities that they love. Fairfax County truly has an environment and workplace that is fun and wholistic for any and everyone. I am honored to be a part of #teamFCPA and look forward to all the fun times ahead and growing a team of inspirational community leaders. 

#joinFCPA

Meet Roberta, Marketing Research and Analysis Manager

Name: Roberta Korzen, CPRP
Position: Marketing Research and Analysis Manager, Marketing and Communications Office, Fairfax County Park Authority

My name is Roberta Korzen and I am an award-winning professional with over 20 years of experience in marketing, communications, public relations and event management. I have served in the public, private and government sectors, and in parks and recreation for the past 12 years. I was born and raised in Virginia and graduated from George Mason University with a bachelor’s degree in communication.

I got my start in the parks and rec world as the Communications Manager for Arlington County Parks and Recreation. For the past seven years I have served as the Golf Marketing Specialist for the Fairfax County Park Authority’s (FCPA) seven courses. Despite never playing golf prior I immersed myself in the sport and became a subject matter expert and avid golfer. I have helped to move golf into the digital age and championed efforts to grow the game through diverse programs and events.

I have been involved with the Virginia Recreation and Park Society throughout my career and am currently the Chair-Elect for the Northern Service Area Board. I became a Certified Park and Recreation Professional in 2021 through the National Recreation and Park Association.

I was recently promoted to the position of Marketing Research and Analysis Manager and am beyond excited to help shape the future of FCPA’s marketing efforts. Working for FCPA has been an amazing journey with great people and facilities to support!

#joinFCPA

Meet Hannah!

Name: Hannah Hutton
Position: Business Support Analyst, Park Services Division, Fairfax County Park Authority

Growing up, I always enjoyed activities so in hindsight, it makes sense that I ended up working in recreation. Karate, soccer, piano, art classes, dance classes, summer camp, you name it, I participated and had fun. I studied Community Health at the University of Maryland and then began my career at the YMCA in the Wellness Department.

At the Y I had the opportunity to further my passion for community well-being through every avenue I could think of. It was especially great to be able to connect the smallest wellness programs to the greater mission of the Y. Eventually it was time to further my education and I earned a Masters of Science in Health Promotion Management at American University. While working at the Y, I interned at Uniformed Services University of Health Sciences doing epidemiological research and worked at the American University Recreational Sports and Fitness department as the front desk manager. After grad school I ended up back at the Y as a wellness director, a trainer for the YMCA Diabetes Prevention Program, and Healthy Kids Day Core Champion. Immersing myself in the opportunities that were available eventually led me to the Fairfax County Park Authority and a job as the Fitness Programmer at Oakmont Rec Center.

The Park Authority has a very similar mission and structure to the work I’ve done in the past but more resources, organization and opportunities than I could have ever imagined. After a few years at the rec center, I took a new position at Park Authority Headquarters as a Business Support Analyst. I love that I get to work on lots of different rec center initiatives. Navigating the county regulations and processes in place is incredibly fun and interesting to me. I’m excited that I’m now in a role to help others achieve their goals on a larger scale.

My favorite thing about working for the Park Authority is getting to be part of more than a rec center and learn about the agency as a whole. There’s lots of opportunities to serve on committees, partake in professional cross training, and work at special events in areas outside of the normal day-to-day operations. It’s also great because I regularly learn about fun things to do during my personal time that I probably would not have been exposed to in any other profession. An example of this is hiking around Scotts Run Nature Preserve, taking family to Clemyjontri Park and attending the Summer Concert Series!

#joinFCPA

Meet Marcos!

Name: Marcos Suarez
Position: Area 4 Manager, Park Operations Division, Fairfax County Park Authority

I was born and raised in Venezuela and moved to the United States (Burke, Virginia) at the age of 16. While I was in school, I played baseball and basketball at the varsity level. In school, extracurricular activities helped me a lot to learn a new language and to exceed in my future. I graduated from Lake Braddock Secondary School in 2003. After graduating high school, I worked full time and went to Northern Virginia Community College part time for many years. I am a devoted husband and father of two children, I enjoy engaging with my community as my son’s little league baseball and basketball coach, spending time at many of our county’s parks with my family, and additional outdoor activities with friends such as hunting and fishing.

I am also a park professional with almost 10 years of experience with the Fairfax County Park Authority. I began my career with the county as an athletic field maintenance worker, holding positions such as Area 2 Park and Recreation Specialist I and Turf Crew Assistant Manager before being selected as a Parks and Recreation Specialist IV. I am a former member of the Virginia Turfgrass Council and a graduate with a landscape design and horticulturist degree from Northern Virginia Community College. I continue to increase my knowledge and expertise through the county’s Leadership and Management Training Program. I joined the county with over ten years of experience as a Landscape Design and Grounds Maintenance Manager. 

I have worked so many years in the service-oriented field. I love taking care of others, communicating with others and helping solve problems. Also, I love working with a group of people that are on the same path to accomplish something meaningful. As an area manager, I get to help others, manage park expectations, talk to many people and try to impact other people’s lives. 

The Park Authority gave me the opportunity to start and exceed in my career as a public servant. I love the environment and the fact that we are so diverse in so many ways. I am thankful that we have a team that helps each other and that is always willing to mentor you so that you could exceed in anything that you set your mind to. I think the best thing about the Park Authority is that you get to work outside, enjoy all the parks and trails, and become one with nature and with our environment. 

#joinFCPA

Get to know Gina Sando!

Name: Gina Sando
Position: Visitor Services Manager, Resource Management Division, Fairfax County Park Authority.

I was born in New Jersey to a Deaf family. My parents are Deaf along with my sister and an uncle, indicating that it may be a recessive trait. I grew up fully immersed in American Sign Language (ASL). I attended preschool and part of kindergarten at the New Jersey School for the Deaf prior to our family’s move to North Carolina. I finished kindergarten and first grade at the Central North Carolina School for the Deaf. 

More than 90% of Deaf children are born to hearing parents, and as a result many of them experience language delays as they are not exposed to language until school (unless their parents learn sign language). Teaching a Deaf child to speak is notoriously difficult as most sounds and mouth movements are actually made at the back of the mouth and in the throat, and even after years of speech therapy many individuals’ speech patterns are still difficult to understand. I am fortunate and privileged to have been born in a Deaf family, so I was exposed to ASL from birth. As a result, I was ahead of my peers in school. Due to this, my parents made the decision to mainstream me. This means that I was placed in “the mainstream” of public school, with hearing children close to my age, and with an ASL interpreter. 

This was the type of education I received throughout most of my K-12 school years. I attribute this to my work ethic and motivation, as I have always had to work three times as hard as my peers. I receive information in a different language and have to translate it to take accurate notes. After high school, I attended Rochester Institute of Technology and received two degrees there, a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a Master of Science in Environmental Science. As an undergrad, I was hoping to work in a zoo (and actually had worked at a local zoo and at a big cat sanctuary during these four years). In graduate school, my focus shifted to working for the federal government, perhaps in the EPA. I had lofty goals of being a consultant at the White House, or perhaps in Congress. 

Clearly – my path to a career in park & recreation was a roundabout one!

That changed with my first service corps experience. As a Student Conservation Association volunteer, I got a natural resources management internship with Palisades Interstate Park Commission, based out of Bear Mountain State Park, roughly an hour north of New York City. From there, I was hooked. I served as an AmeriCorps intern at York River State Park and then was hired at Smith Mountain Lake State Park. 

I still wanted to add to my knowledge and skills, and that White House consultant dream was still there, so I made the difficult decision to move to Northern Virginia and start graduate school (again!) at Johns Hopkins University, studying Energy Policy and Climate. I was hired at Lake Fairfax Park as an assistant manager and naturalist, figuring it was a temporary gig until I finished my degree and got that elusive White House gig. 

Three and a half years later, almost two years since I finished my degree, and I’m still here and loving what I do every day. I love that the Park Authority gave me an opportunity to truly realize my potential, and I have never gotten a “no” to any sort of access request. The Park Authority’s mission aligns closely with my values and personal beliefs, and I am incredibly thankful to continue to grow professionally with such an incredible team. The best part? Now that I’m based out of Huntley Meadows Park as a program manager, I have the ability to go out and be one with nature whenever I have a minute. 

#joinFCPA  #NDEAM 

Meet Charlie!

Name: Charlie Allen (They/Them/Theirs) 
Position: Intern, Access and Inclusion Branch, Park Services Division, Fairfax County Park Authority.

I was a sick child who had a lot of fevers, stomach problems, and always getting injured due to my clumsiness. However, it wasn’t until about age 11, when I received my first major diagnosis, that I started my journey towards accepting that I am disabled. This first diagnosis was Celiac Disease. I am now 22 years old and have acquired many other diagnoses over the last decade. The diagnoses I have received that have had the most impact on my life, apart from Celiac, include Hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome (hEDS) and Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS). When I started middle school, I started to really struggle. I started experiencing many of my first major symptoms, including lightheadedness, joint dislocations/subluxations, migraines, stomach issues, fatigue, and chronic pain. However, receiving these diagnoses was affirming because many people didn’t even believe that I was sick or believed that I was faking it. I still receive these comments from others, and this is something I continue to deal with. 

It’s a daunting task to find work that fits your needs when you have a disability. Many people with disabilities need accommodations in the workplace. It can be hard for an individual to ask for them, and sadly, in many cases, results in the individual being treated differently. Many individuals with disabilities face discrimination in the workplace, and it is important that we change that. Finding and keeping a job must be made more accessible. More part-time jobs need benefits, more virtual and hybrid opportunities would greatly improve how accessible a full-time job is, and most importantly, awareness needs to be raised. 

I am very lucky that I have the opportunity to complete an internship at Fairfax County Park Authority, working with Monica Klock and Jennae Asborno. Thanks to them, I have experienced a very welcoming and accommodating workspace that fits my needs. I hope that one day this will be a more common experience.  During my internship I have been helping at adapted aquatics classes, completed a variety of tasks for the Access & Inclusion branch, and attended an ADA assessment walkthrough. I am currently working on creating a training for FCPA staff to raise awareness about invisible disabilities and how they may or may not present. Many individuals are unaware of what it’s like to live with a disability, and they don’t understand those people’s needs. By raising awareness, a more accessible work environment can be created.

#joinFCPA  #NDEAM 

Fishing is a sport that everyone can participate in and brings many people pleasure. Fish is also one of the healthiest dinners people may choose to eat. Our fisheries are not a finite resource, so we must learn to protect them to ensure that future generations may enjoy the sport. Here are a couple of tips to follow that will help each angler be a steward of the angling community.

• Practice catch and release. Catch a fish and return the fish immediately to the water for others to enjoy.
• C.P.R. - If you are a tournament angler, participate in tournaments that focus on “catching” the fish, “photographing” the fish, and then “releasing” the fish immediately without putting them in a livewell.
• Responsible Tournament Angling. Participate in tournaments that use “no puncture” culling tools and sponsored by organizations that have a reputation for releasing fish at the weigh-in in a responsible and respectful manner and promote conservation of fisheries.
• If planning on keeping fish for table fare, fish larger bodies of water and only keep what you need for a single meal or two.
• If keeping fish, keep fish that are not of breeding or mature sized if they are legal to keep. The mature fish are important as reproducers, so that more fish can breed and be available to younger and new generations.
• Be aware that smaller bodies of water can be over-harvested faster than larger bodies of water.
• When practicing catch and release, keep the fish out of water for the shortest amount of time. Take your time in reviving fish that may be tired from being caught.
• Remember when sharing your favorite fishing places that smaller bodies of water are more susceptible to fishing pressure than larger bodies of water.
• Remember to take time to clean up trash at your favorite fishing hole.
• Remember to share your favorite conservation ideas with new anglers.