(3-Adult) Enjoy activities including guided star gazing, looking through the telescope, and listening to ancient stories about the constellations around the campfire. Participate in other activities and games throughout the evening. Hot chocolate included with price of registration. Canceled if raining or snowing.

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.

Satisfies most of the requirements to earn the badge. See site’s website for details.

(5-9 yrs.) This patch will help you understand the importance of dark skies and how you can protect this resource. You will learn about light pollution, see the effect of light pollution yourself, learn how you can make changes to reduce light pollution, and share what you have learned with others. This program was made possible by support from the Fairfax County Park Foundation. Patch included.

This program meets all the requirements to earn the badge.

(8-Adult) Explore planets orbiting distant stars and learn how scientists find them using cool techniques like watching stars flicker or wobble. Dive into what these planets are made of, whether they could host life and catch up on the latest discoveries. Perfect for anyone curious about space, this course promises an eye-opening adventure into the exploration of planets beyond our own. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park.

(8-Adult) The inner planets Mercury, Venus, Earth and Mars, plus Earth’s Moon, all have mostly rocky compositions compared to the outer gas giant planets. Of the inner planets, likely only Earth has the conditions to support life. Examining handheld globes of the planets, we will explore their similarities and differences and find out why life is unique to Earth. The program includes observing of planets and the night sky in telescopes, weather permitting. The program is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park.

(8-Adult) The Moon is as old as the Earth, and its surface is marked by craters, mountains and lava flows billions of years old. Find out how these lunar features formed and observe them in high-powered telescopes. Learn about the Apollo program discoveries and future Moon missions. The program is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Advance registration required, no walk-in registration available.

(8-Adult) This course provides a general introduction to some fundamentals of astronomy and the universe. We will discuss the basic types of astronomical objects from the small to the large, the motions of planets and stars, and interesting phenomena in the night sky. A classroom discussion is followed by an observatory session with telescopes, weather permitting. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner.

(8-Adult) For those who are new to using a telescope or contemplating purchasing one, this course goes into introductory basics of astronomy, observing the sky and what you need to know to setup and use your telescope. Class will provide hands-on use of telescopes and observing objects in the sky in the Roll-Top Observatory if the weather allows. Attendees can bring their own telescope for assistance and advice. FCPA, its staff, and volunteers are not responsible for personal equipment.

(8-Adult) This class is an introduction to meteorites as we explore what they are and where they come from. Participants will be able to examine actual meteorites including specimens from the Moon and Mars. A discussion is followed by an observatory session with telescopes, weather permitting. The course will be held in the Roll-Top observatory classroom at Turner Farm Park. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) We are familiar with the stars and planets that we can see when the Sun sets. However, the night sky contains many wonders that are visible with binoculars or modest telescopes. This fun and interactive presentation is designed as an introduction to the most common of these astronomical “deep sky” objects. After the class, look through the telescopes in the observatory, weather permitting. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) Electronically Assisted Astronomy (EAA) combines traditional optical telescopes with modern electronic sensors and imaging technology. This allows amateurs to visualize the night sky in ways rivaling professional observatories from a few decades ago. The instructors will cover examples of this emerging and relatively inexpensive field. The program is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) Take a tour of planets, constellations, stars, nebulas and galaxies in the night sky at Turner Farm Observatory Park using telescopes or just your eyes. In case of inclement weather, we will discuss and show images of objects that could be observed in clear skies. No knowledge of astronomy is needed. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park.

(8-Adult) We all want to know how our universe began, how stars and galaxies evolved, and what is this stuff called dark matter and dark energy. In this seminar we'll look at what astronomers try to answer these big questions about the big bang. We'll also look at some of the astronomers and what their observations revealed. The course will be held in the Roll-Top observatory at Turner Farm Park with an optional observing session (weather dependent). Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(6-Adult) This program is a tour of the planets and moons of our Solar System which are viewable in the current night sky. The classroom discussion is followed by an observatory session of planets and the stars beyond in telescopes, weather permitting. No knowledge of astronomy is needed, just an interest in learning about the universe. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Children must be accompanied by an adult also registered in the program.

(8-Adult) This presentation will cover what we know about Pluto, the 2006 decision to designate Pluto as a "dwarf planet" and explain why that decision is still controversial. The discussion is followed by an observatory session with telescopes, weather permitting. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(6-Adult) Learn about common and some uncommon phenomena you can see in the day or night skies such as rainbows, haloes and glories. We will also explore sunrise and sunset phenomena like the green flash, the purple light, and simple questions like why the sky is blue and sunsets are orange. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top observatory classroom at Turner Farm Park. It is recommend parents accompany younger children. Advance registration required, no walk-in registration available. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

Calling all girl scouts and cub scouts to the Observatory Park at Turner Farm for a night under the stars! At this event, scouts will visit stations where they will complete crafts and activities to fulfill requirements for astronomy-related badges. Most requirements will be fulfilled during this workshop and should only take about 1.5 hours to complete but scouts may stay for the full duration of the event. Badges covered include: Space Science Badges from Daisies to Juniors, Daisy/Brownie Dark Sky Patch, and Tiger Scouts: Sky is the Limit.

(8-Adult) Binoculars offer a fine introduction to the sights that lie in our night sky. Learn about different types of binoculars and how to use them to find planets, galaxies, star clusters, nebulae and to visually stroll through the beautiful star fields of the Milky Way. Attendees are welcome to bring binoculars. Program includes an observing session to help you find objects visible in the night sky, weather permitting. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.

(8-Adult) This course covers the basics of observing the night sky and objects with a telescope and astronomy resources. Class will provide hands-on observation with telescopes weather permitting. Attendees can bring their own telescopes to use and receive assistance. FCPA, its staff, and volunteers are not responsible for personal equipment. The course is held rain or clear skies in the Roll-Top Observatory at Turner Farm Park.

(8-Adult) Sundials are the world's oldest clocks, seen in alignments of Stonehenge and Newgrange. Ben Franklin had exploding sundials and Thomas Jefferson built a new type of sundial for that time. Learn about the many kinds of sundials and make your own paper sundial. The course will be held in the Roll-Top observatory classroom followed by telescope observing of the sun. Instruction for this program is provided by volunteers of the Analemma Society.