Park Authority

CONTACT INFORMATION: Open during regular business hours 8 a.m. - 4:30 p.m., Monday - Friday
703-324-8700 TTY 711
12055 Government Center Pkwy.
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
Jai Cole
Executive Director

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.

How to Earn Your Patch

250th scout patch
  1. Complete two activities from each category:
  2. Document your activities with a photo or brief reflection.
  3. Bring your completed Adventure Guide to a designated pickup location to receive your patch.

Category 1: Learning (Discovery and Education)

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

  1. Visit a Network to Freedom Site
  2. 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.
  3. Learn About Indigenous History
  4. 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.
  5. Discover Native Plants
  6. 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.

Category 2: Sharing (Storytelling & Community)

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

  1. Complete the Lafayette Spy Game
    • Learn about Revolutionary War spies.
    • Share one thing you learned with a friend or family member.
  2. Visit a Historic Landmark
    • Take a photo and help others discover local history.
  3. 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.
  4. Interview a Family Member or Longtime Resident
    • Ask how Fairfax County has changed over time.
    • Share their story with your family, troop or group.
  5. Practice Civic Engagement

Category 3: Doing (Service & Action)

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

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

Bonus Scout Option

Scouts and troops can attend a Fairfax County Park Authority patch program to complete select activities toward the Fairfax 250 History Adventure Patch.

Sign Up

Track Your Progress

Record the activities you complete in each category. Have an adult initial and date each activity.

Download Form

Claim Your Patch

Bring your completed Adventure Guide to one of the following locations:


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