The 2019 Discovery Trail came speeding into your summer. Speeding, because this year’s theme is transportation. Are you keeping pace?

We’re offering you a tour of parks and tons of fun plus a chance to bring home a prize package or a free bike after a trek along the Discovery Trail. Both children and adults are eligible to win.

This is Discovery Trail Map’s sixth summer of fun, and it gets bigger every year. Did we say fun? Read what Springfield’s Judy Szabo told us last summer: “We have LOVED the Discovery Trail Maps program this summer. It was so much fun and very exciting to go to new places.”

This year’s map, in a nod to the 50th anniversary of man’s first footprints on the moon, chronicles the history of transportation in Fairfax County. Different types of transportation are featured in each of the 12 select parks on the trail.

Here’s how it works:

• Pick up a map at any staffed Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) location, any Fairfax County Public Library, any of the five Northern Virginia Spokes, Etc. locations, your Board of Supervisor’s office, or download one from www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/discovery-trail-map.
• Visit eight of the 12 featured parks and collect a sticker to place in the corresponding box on your map before September 3, 2019.
• Redeem your map at Burke Lake Park, Green Spring Gardens or Frying Pan Farm Park for a prize packet that includes admission tickets for a round of mini golf, a carousel ride, a train ride, a tour boat ride, a pedal boat outing, camping, a wagon ride, a RECenter pass and a boat rental!
• While you’re there, fill out a form to enter the drawing for one of four bicycles donated by Spokes, Etc. and Trek through the Fairfax County Park Foundation.

Still need convincing? Check out what the mother of one of last year’s bicycle winners said about the activity:

“It was seriously one of the best things we did this summer aside from our vacation. We discovered parks that we didn’t know existed. Had incredible time with family and friends. Discovered different animals, plants, habitats, and learned about them. Did things we haven’t done before like pedal boating. The reward at the end of the season completely exceeded our expectations and made all of us so happy because it continues the fun and we get to explore the other parks that we didn’t get a chance to go to. If you guys do this every summer, I’ll be singing its praises to all my mom friends for next summer!” -Rebecca Collegio, Falls Church

Discovering fun at Burke Lake Park.

While at the parks this year, keep an eye out for a photo opportunity with our travelling astronaut and rocket. Snap a selfie with them and post it on Instagram with #FCPAmoonwalk for a chance to win one of several weekly prizes.

Participating sites are Burke Lake Park, Colvin Run Mill, Ellanor C. Lawrence Park, Frying Pan Farm Park, Green Spring Gardens, Hidden Oaks Nature Center, Hidden Pond Nature Center, Huntley Meadows Park, Lake Accotink Park, Lake Fairfax Park, Riverbend Park, and Sully Historic Site. Directions to each of the parks can be found on the Park Authority website and in Parktakes magazine.

The Discovery Trail Map is a great way for students to keep the knowledge flowing during summer months and for families to explore parks close to home. Pick up or download your Discovery Trail Map, explore your parks and win!