by Ann Marie Maher
President/CEO Discover Prince William & Manassas
School may be out for summer, but the learning doesn’t have to stop, thanks to the numerous children’s programs offered throughout Prince William and Manassas. From outdoor adventures to educational camps and scavenger hunts, there is something to keep every child busy during the break.
One of the newest programs combines history and the great outdoors at Manassas National Battlefield Park. This year the Kids in Parks program launched TRACK Trails, which gets kids “unplugged” and connected to nature. At the battlefield, kids can pick from four different TRACK Trails brochures that help turn ordinary hikes into fun-filled adventures.
Another way to engage children during a hike is by borrowing a free field pack from Leesylvania State Park. The packs contain the materials needed to do everything from bird watch and insect hunt to sketch nature and identify rocks and fossils. Or at nearby Prince William Forest Park, kids can become junior rangers by completing a downloadable activity book.
Looking to bring those history lessons to life? Send your child to one of Prince William County’s Civil War camps. Organized by the county historic preservation division, the camps teach children about military drills, camp life and Civil War medicine.
For those steamy summer days, stay inside and visit the free National Museum of the Marine Corps, which features different scavenger hunts that engage children as they tour the numerous galleries chronicling the history of the Marine Corps.
Don’t forget to check out our water parks, miniature golf courses, museums and the Prince William Department of Parks & Recreation, which offers an array of summer camps and programs. Stay cool and safe.
Ann Marie Maher is the executive director of Discover Prince William & Manassas. For more information about what’s going on in Prince William and Manassas, visit DiscoverPWM.com.
