(12-Adult) Discover how people of the past patched, stitched and darned to mend worn clothing. See and touch examples of mending techniques. Learn how to thread a needle, make basic stitches and sew on a patch to extend the life of your own garments. Materials will be provided.

(All Ages) Bring up to eight people and learn how to use an old-fashioned cider press by making your own cider. Your group needs to bring approximately 100 apples of their choosing and tightly sealable containers for transporting approximately 2 gallons of cider. Participants will carry and press their own apples and cider. Dress accordingly. All participants will be contacted prior to their program with full details. Colvin Run Mill offers weekday timeslots, call 703-759-2771 for availability.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

This program satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. Scouts must complete all prework before the start of class. Pre-work and program details available at www.fairfaxcounty.gov/parks/scouts. Scouts unable to complete all requirements may receive partial credit from their merit badge counselor.

Experience history through as you churn your own butter, sample historic foods, gain traditional crafting skills and play historic games.

(3-Adult) Bring your child to the Mill and celebrate Fall. We’ll have tea, savory and sweet treats and play 19th century games. All participants, including accompanying adults, must register and pay for the program.

(14-Adult) African Americans' labor, experience, and knowledge were crucial to 19th-century grist milling. Explore a historic mill as you discuss the contributions of African American millers in Fairfax County. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax 250 commemoration.

(6-10 yrs.) Help us in the kitchen garden and practice your seasonal cooking skills.

(3-Adult) Enjoy a summer afternoon like the miller's family did in the 1800s. Churn and eat ice cream. Play with historic games and toys, then make a toy to take home.

(14-Adult) Try your hand at this traditional American wood art form. Carve a decorative Canvasback duck decoy with Northern Virginia Carvers. Participants should have some carving experience, such as having taken the beginner carving course. $60.00 supply fee to be paid on the first day of class. Class 5 carving glove(s) and a thumbguard required. Sessions are three consecutive Saturdays Oct 10, 17, 24 from 9 a.m. to 4.p.m. to carve and paint your decoy.

(4-Adult) Explore 200-year-old Colvin Run Mill as we grind grain using the power of the waterwheel. Hear and smell the grindstones at work. Learn how automated gristmills revolutionized flour production. Visit the 19th century Miller's House and stop by Colvin Run General Store to purchase our ground grain. This program links to the VA250 and Fairfax250 commemoration.

(2-5 yrs.) Explore Colvin Run Mill with your toddler or preschooler through STEAM activities, hands-on history, crafts, stories, and games. Adults must participate with children. Prepaid reservations required. A different program each week: 9/14: Discover Waterwheels; 10/5: Making and Drinking Apple Cider; 10/19: Fall Colors; and 11/16: Giving Thanks.

(7-Adult) Discover our native trees, how they helped people of the past and how we use them in the modern day. Learn how to use the iNaturalist app to identify things you find along the way. Each walk will feature a different theme and may include different trees, seasonal features like fruit and flowers and a variety of uses.

(16-Adult) Needle Felting is a recent craft with a rich history. Learn to combine wool and other fibers with a wire armature to create a cute, posable mouse figure. Supplies for the project are provided as part of the class fee.

(6-12 yrs.) Explore a wide range of concepts from electricity to electronics with hands-on activities and experiments with Stemtree. Robots inspire young engineers to learn skills and apply science knowledge in computer programming, model construction, circuits and problem-solving.

(6-10 yrs.) Bubbles are a great way to explore science and history. Come to Colvin Run Mill for a morning of experiments and play as we investigate shape, surface tension and other bubble science. We'll use soapy, bubbly water to make giant bubbles and clean up like the Miller's family did in the 1800s.

(6-10 yrs.) Discover how flight developed from birds and insects to balloons and kites, then to planes and rockets. Conduct hands-on experiments to see how lift, drag, weight and thrust make flying possible.

(1-4 yrs.) Get moving with your toddler as we explore the park using our senses. Each month, we will make, taste, dance, walk, sing and tell stories. Different topics and activities every session.

(12-Adult) What do our legends say about us? Learn about local ghost stories, legends, and tales of the supernatural on this nighttime lantern-lite tour. The tour guide will lead you through the historic house and the 19th century gristmill.