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[Extensions of Remarks]
[Page E1511]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
RECOGNIZING THE 50TH ANNIVERSARY OF HIDDEN OAKS NATURE CENTER
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HON. GERALD E. CONNOLLY
of virginia
in the house of representatives
Tuesday, November 26, 2019
Mr. CONNOLLY. Madam Speaker, I rise to recognize the Fairfax County
Park Authority and the staff and volunteers of Hidden Oaks Nature
Center on the occasion of the Center's 50th anniversary.
Founded in 1969, Hidden Oaks Nature Center has become an invaluable
part of the Annandale Community Park and serves as an example of
Fairfax County's ongoing commitment to the preservation of our natural
environment. The Center offers a variety of programs and activities
designed to promote the engagement of the public with their surrounding
environment including live animal displays and a trail network
featuring ponds, creeks, woodland and a rain garden. Hidden Oaks Nature
Center also offers programs throughout the year to teach children and
families about nature, including summer camps, tea parties, campfires,
and animal feedings.
This rich bounty of natural resources has led to Hidden Oaks Nature
Center becoming a staging location for community groups looking to
assist with connecting the community with the natural world. One of the
key partners has been the Boy Scouts, who use the Center for hundreds
of hours of merit badge classes each year, as well as for support for
Eagle Scout projects. Fairfax County's Environmental Quality Advisory
Council, the citizen volunteer group charged with advising the Board of
Supervisors on environmental matters, holds their monthly meetings at
Hidden Oaks. These meeting are open to the public, providing another
avenue for Hidden Oaks to continue its important mission.
The efforts of the staff and volunteers at Hidden Oaks have produced
significant results. Chief among these is the designation of the
greater Mason District as the fourth-largest certified Community
Wildlife Habitat in the United States by the National Wildlife
Federation. As Fairfax County continues to grow, with a population now
exceeding 1 million, the continued preservation of our natural capital
will only become more important. Even in the midst of the concrete
jungles of New York City, the architects of that metropolis knew that
it was critical for the wellbeing of the city's residents to have
access to green space. The same is true for Fairfax County and the work
done by the staff and volunteers at Hidden Oaks Nature Center helps to
ensure that the environment remains a priority for our community. This
prioritization of nature and of access to green space is one of the
many reasons why Fairfax County residents continues to enjoy such a
high quality of life.
Madam Speaker, I ask that my colleagues join me in once again
congratulating the Fairfax County Park Authority and the staff and
volunteers of Hidden Oaks Nature Center for their continued stewardship
of our natural environment. The fact that this stewardship has
continued unabated for half a century is a testament to the impact that
Hidden Oaks Nature Center has had on our local community and how deeply
it is valued as a resource. I thank them for their service to our
community and wish them continued success in all their future
endeavors.
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