- Mission: To support the Park Authority by raising private funds, obtaining grants and creating partnerships that supplement tax dollars to meet our community's needs for park land, facilities and services.
Scholarships
Children in Fairfax County enjoy three scholarship opportunities through your generosity. While Rec-PAC is our primary focus, children also benefit from Parks and Community Together (PACT) and Fairfax County Park Authority (FCPA) Class scholarships.
Rec-PAC Scholarships
You can help provide summer camp scholarships to elementary school-age children who are eligible for free and reduced-price lunches. The children are enrolled with other kids in the Park Authority's Rec-PAC Summer Camp Program. Rec-PAC is a six week, five days per week, day camp held in over 50 schools throughout the County. Camp activities include fitness and nutrition, indoor and outdoor games, sports, nature, crafts, talent shows and community service activities.
The camps incorporate the Fairfax County Public Schools' Character Counts program which focuses on the development of good decision-making skills through the six pillars of character - trustworthiness, fairness, respect, caring, responsibility and citizenship.
Most Rec-PAC scholarships are awarded to children whose parents are employed and, without the camps, these kids would be unsupervised throughout the summer. Lack of structured activity and boredom can lead otherwise good kids to involvement in unhealthy and dangerous activities, or just wasted days of television and video games.
Your tax deductible gift of $50 will provide a week of summer camp to a low income child. A gift of $300 will provide a child with six weeks of camp and a full summer of positive, supervised activities.
Please help us provide low income kids with bright futures and the same summer camp experience as other children. Your contribution will benefit the kids, their parents and our entire community.
Here's what some campers said were their favorite things:
- "Being with my friends."
- "Playing bumper pool."
- "Making bracelets and keychains from gimp."
- "End of summer party!"
PACT Scholarships
Children living in homeless shelters and transitional housing have limited options for summer fun. The Fairfax County Park Authority, looking to expand these options, provides eligible children with free summer camp opportunities. Since 1997, PACT in partnership with the county's homeless shelters and generous private sector sponsors, has provided summer fun and education for almost 470 children, ages 3 to 15.
In the summer of 2011, PACT successfully integrated 40 children from local shelters into Park Authority camp programs. Partners include Bethany House, Embry Rucker, New Hope Housing, Good Shepherd Housing and NOVACO. These organizations have come to depend on this program during the summer months for children and their parents. The benefits of this camp experience go beyond the wonderful adventures and nurturing times the children receive. This camp also provides an opportunity for parents to seek employment or learn valuable skills without having to worry about childcare.
PACT is fully funded through contributions from local businesses, foundations and individual donors. Special appreciation is extended to our preliminary 2011 sponsor.
Fairfax County Park Authority Class Scholarships
Contribute to fund need-based scholarships for individuals to register for Fairfax County Park Authority classes.
Thanks in part to the generosity of donors, income-eligible senior adults and adults with disabilities who reside in Fairfax County may receive up to one class scholarship per quarter. See Parktakes online for details.
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