Parks and Rec

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge will collect donations for the Fort Belvoir Fisher House as part of series of events honoring the victims of the Sept. 11, 2001 terrorist attacks in New York City and Virginia.

Between now and Sept. 14, the park will collect donations for the center that provides a “home away from home” for military families while visiting a loved one in the care of the Fort Belvoir Community Hospital, according to a press release from Virginia State Parks.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — A hike for breast cancer held at Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge on Saturday netted $2,511.

The “Hike for a Cause” benefited the National Breast Cancer Foundation, and covered four miles of multi-surface terrain, through Leesylvania State Park’s historical, wooded trails bordering the Potomac River, said park spokeswoman Sarah Percival.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — Leesylvania Park in Woodbridge offers children young and old the chance to rent a backpack to explore the park. Backpacks are free and can be rented at the Visitor Center:

Birding – Get to know our feathered friends with this backpack. Inside you will find binoculars, a book that will tell you everything there is to know about being a bird, an Identiflyer bird song identifier, and two color field guides to help you. Also included are a nature journal to record your observations, coloring pages and park trail guides.

WOODBRIDGE, Va. — It’s estimated that one in five Americans watches birds. Now, a professional bird watcher is coming to Leesylvania State Park in Woodbridge to help those just starting out in the hobby as well as experienced watchers.

Joe LaFleur from 9 to 10 a.m. Saturday, June 5, will guide a bird walk along Carriage Road in the park and along swamp trails, featuring hands-on identification of birds in habitats like woodland and marshy areas. Afterward, LaFleur will host an audiovisual program at the park’s visitor center that will help visitors identify birds by sights and sounds.