Explore NoVa

Summer is upon us! Now is the time to contribute to the community by participating in a 5K run. This gets you going, challenges your fitness levels and gives you a goal to achieve. Hard to do it alone? Find a running buddy – ask your close friend, significant other, a colleague or a neighbor. You’ll be surprised how many will be ready to take the plunge.

To help you get started, we have narrowed down some 5K runs happening in the area in May.

Kelley Cares 5K Run/Walk
Date:May 19, 2012/8am
Address:GW Middle School
1005 Mt. Vernon Ave.
Alexandria, VA 22301

5th Annual CPES Puma Pounce Fun Run
Date:May 19, 2012/8:30am
Address:Colin Powell Elementary School
13340 Leland Road
Centerville, VA 20120

4th Annual Saint Agnes Fitness Festival
Date:May 19, 2012
Address:Saint Agnes Catholic School
2024 North Randolph Street
Arlington VA 22207

2012 Spring 5K Girls on the Run
Sunday, May 20/8am
Address: George Mason University

Joe Cassella 5K
Sunday, May 20th/8.30am
Great Falls Village Center
750 Walker Road, Great Falls, VA 22066

Tommy’s Run For a Reason
Date:Sunday, May 20th/9am
Algonkian Regional Park
47001 Fairway Drive
Sterling, VA 20165

Middleburg 5K Point to Point Foot Race
Saturday, May 26/9am
Glenwood Park
Middleburg, Virginia 20118

Soaring Eagle 5K
Saturday, May 26, 2012
Osbourn High School

2012 YMCA CIVITAN 5K Run
Date:Monday, May 28, 2012/7am
Address:1201 Caroline St,
Fredericksburg VA, 22401

Ringing in Hope 10K, 5K
Date:Monday,May 28, 2012
Brambleton Town Center Plaza
42395 Ryan Road,
Ashburn, VA 20148o

To find new additions and registeration details, please visit Running in the USA

Image: sxc.hu/thadz

From family friendly events to music, arts and entertainment, there are several things to do in the weekend in the North Virginia area.

Welcome Discovery
14390 Air and Space Museum Parkway
Chantilly, VA 20151
Tuesday, April 17, 2012 – Friday, April 20, 2012
Free – $15 parking

The Smithsonian’s National Air and Space Museum is planning a festival of activities — Welcome Discovery — to celebrate the acquisition of the Space Shuttle Discovery. Activities at the Center will kick off on April 19 when Discovery will be officially transferred by NASA into the Smithsonian’s collection in an outdoor ceremony open to the public.

Swing Dance at Potomac Point Winery
275 Decatur Rd.
Stafford, VA 22554
Thursday, April 19, 2012 (6:00 PM-9:00 PM)
Reservations: (540) 446-2107
An intro lesson followed by social swing dancing at the beautiful Potomac Point Winery.
Admission Fee: $10.00 per person

22nd Annual Leesburg Flower & Garden Festival
Historic Downtown Leesburg
Leesburg, VA 20175
Saturday, April 21, 2012 – Sunday, April 22, 2012 (10:00 AM-5:00 PM)
$3 Suggested Donation

Visit the Historic District of Leesburg and walk through award-winning landscape displays and shop for fresh flowers, gifts, trees, fountains, garden furniture, and much more! Enjoy lively music and bring the kids to explore hands-on art and education area featuring puppet shows, story telling, and unique art projects. Rain or shine.

2012 Earth Day at Loudon Family Festival
Willow Creek Farm by Clyde’s
42920 Broadlands Blvd
Broadlands, VA 20148
Sunday, April 22, 2012 (11:00 AM-4:00 PM)
Free

The Earth Day Family Festival, the official Earth Day Celebration of Loudoun County, will feature Live music. Live wildlife exhibits. Petting Zoo. MarketPlace with local artisans arts and crafts. Local Beer and Wine Garden. Over 100 exhibitors; eco friendly products, services of all kinds

Date Night: Chef’s Table at Workhouse Arts Center
9601 Ox Road Lorton
Lorton, VA 22079
Saturday, April 21, 2012 (7:30 PM-10:30 PM)
$70 per couple and includes food, non-alcoholic drink and dancing

Visit for an evening of dancing, cooking and fun. Begin the night at 7:30pm with a 30 minute optional ballroom dancing lesson in the Workhouse Gallery. Work your way downstairs at 8pm to our café area , where you’ll work side by side with your date as our instructor teaches the easy yet impressive techniques behind a menu of dishes designed to inspire the warm fuzzies every time! Students are welcome to head back upstairs after the cooking lesson and take another twirl until 10:30pm!

The Hub Theatre presents John & Beatrice
The Swayze Theatre
9431 Silver King Ct, Fairfax, VA
Friday, April 20, 2012, 8:00 pm – 9.30pm
Saturday, April 21, 2012
25, $15 seniors and students

The Hub Theatre, a Fairfax-based, professional nonprofit theatre presents John & Beatrice by Carole Fréchette. This modern, urban fairy tale is set in a nearly empty room in Beatrice’s 33rd-floor apartment. She’s posted an ad declaring that a “well-to-do heiress is seeking a man who will interest, move, and seduce her.” She offers a substantial reward which lures in John, a self-described bounty hunter. When John climbs the 33 flights to deliver his proposal in person, the rules are laid out, and a battle of the wits begins. Carole Fréchette’s work is a masterful play about the delusions and truths of modern day romance.

Children’s Art Workshop – Reston Museum
11400 Washington Plz W, Reston, VA 20190
Saturday, April 21, 2012, 10:00 am
Pat Macintyre’s ever popular Saturday morning free art workshops for children are now held on the plaza level of Heron House.

Sixth Annual Spring Art Festival
790 Walker Rd, Great Falls, VA
April 21 and 22,10 AM to 5 PM
Free

Great Falls Studios presents the Sixth Annual Spring Art Festival, Saturday and Sunday featuring 20 artists exhibiting their work including painters, potters, photographers, jewelry artisans, and fiber artists.

Reston Salsa Sundays
M & S Grill
11901 Democracy Dr, Reston, VA 20190
Sunday, April 22, 2012, 6:00 pm
Beginner Salsa – 6 PM
Intermediate / Advanced Salsa – 7 PM
After-Hours Salsa Social – 8 PM
$10 Class Admission/$5 After-Hours Salsa Social Only

Learn the basics of salsa dancing along with food and drinks.Don’t forget to get your shoes!

NoVAL 10: 10th Anniversary Art Show in the Northern Virginia
750 Center St, Herndon, VA 20170 (ArtSpace Herndon)
April 21, 2012
10:00 am–5:00 pm
FREE

Artists League in celebrating their 10th anniversary with a delightful exhibit at ArtSpace Herndon. The Exhibit features creative works in a variety of media from watercolors, oils, pastels, acrylics and photography .

Historic Garden Week Tours at Oatlands
20850 Oatlands Plantation Ln, Leesburg, VA 20175
April 20, 2012, 21, 22
12.30pm
$12

This year Oatlands is offering special guided tours of its spectacular gardens during Historic Garden Week in Virginia. The Historic Garden Week Tours at Oatlands are outdoor walking tours that will give visitors a chance to explore the beautiful gardens at Oatlands.

 

Volunteering is a great way for kids to give back to the society, along with building character skills like team work, confidence and selfless giving. It’s also one of the best ways to keep kids occupied during summer – especially when school’s out! Whether you have a young one or a teen looking volunteer opportunities, Fairfax County in Northern Virginia has an array of prospects for them. While some of these organizations offer year round volunteering opportunities, others may be seasonal.

Arlington county

Arlington Department of Parks, Recreation and Cultural Resources

Minimum Age: 13
Minimum Age w/Adult: 10

2121 N. Culpeper
Arlington County, Virginia 22201
(703) 228-4724
Website

Alexandria

Bethany House of Northern Virginia, Inc.

Minimum Age: 13
Minimum Age w/Adult: 13

6121 Lincolnia Road, Suite 303
Alexandria, Virginia 22312
(703) 658-9500
Website

Bucknell Elementary School

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

6925 University Dr.
Alexandria, Virginia 22307
(703) 660-2900
Website

Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS)-Project Sucess

Minimum Age: 13
Website

Hopkins House

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

1224 Princess Street / 8543 Forest place
Alexandria, Virginia
(703) 549-4232, x4086
Website

United Community Ministries

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 13

7511 Fordson Road
Alexandria, Virginia 22306
(703) 768-7106 ext. 328
Website

Wright to Read

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

418 S Washington Street
Alexandria, Virginia 22314
(703) 549-0111, x134
Website

Annandale

Annandale Christian Community for Action

Minimum Age: 12
Minimum Age w/Adult: 8

7200 Columbia Pike
Annandale, Virginia 22003
(703) 256-0100
Website

Arts Council of Fairfax County

Minimum Age: 15
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

4022 Hummer Road
Annandale, Virginia 22003
(703) 642-0862, x7
Website

Arlington

Greenbrier Learning Center

Minimum Age: 15

5401 7th Road South
Arlington, Virginia 22204
(703) 379-6488
Website

Centreville

The Centreville Community Foundation

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

PO Box 1813
Centreville, Virginia 20122
(703) 830-5407
Website

Chantilly

Western Fairfax Christian Ministries

Minimum Age: 12

13981 Metrotech Drive
Chantilly, Virginia 20151
(703) 988-9656, x3
Website

Dunn Loring

Alternative House

Minimum Age: 16

PO Box 694
Dunn Loring, Virginia 22027
(703) 506-9191
Website

Fairfax

Alzheimer’s Family Day Center
Minimum age:15

2812 Old Lee Highway, Suite 210
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
(703) 204-4664
Website

Celebrate Fairfax, Inc.

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

12000 Government Center Parkway, Suite 247
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
(703) 324-5457
Website

Earth Sangha

Minimum Age: 8

10123 Commonwealth Blvd.
Fairfax, Virginia 22032
(703) 764-4830
Website

FACETS

Minimum Age: 14

10640 Page Ave., Ste. 300
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 865-4251
Website

Fairfax County Public Libraries

Minimum Age: 12
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
(703) 324-8332
Website

Fairfax County Park Authority – IMA Program

Minimum Age: 13
Minimum Age w/Adult: 5

12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
(703) 324-8681
Website

Fairfax Court Appointed Special Advocates (CASA)

Minimum Age: 14

4103 Chain Bridge Rd., Suite 200
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 273-3526, x22
Website

Hemophilia Ass’n of the Capital Area

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

10560 Main Street PH-4
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 352-7641
Website

Fairfax ReLeaf

12055 Government Center Parkway
Fairfax, Virginia 22035
(703) 324-1409
Website

Fairfax Station Railroad Museum

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

11200 Fairfax Station Road
Fairfax Station, Virginia 22039
(703) 278-8833
Website

Fairfax Symphony Orchestra
Minimum Age: 16

3905 Railroad Avenue,
Suite 202 N Fairfax, VA 22030
(703) 563-1990
Website

Northern Virginia Training Center

Minimum Age: 15
Minimum Age w/Adult: 11

9901 Braddock Road Fairfax, Virginia 22032
(703) 323-4079
Website

NOVACO Inc.

Minimum Age: 15
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

9677 A Main St.
Fairfax, Virginia 22031
(703) 218-3984
Website

Pathway Homes, Inc.

Minimum Age: 13

10201 Fairfax Blvd., Suite 200
Fairfax, Virginia 22030
(703) 876-0390, x539
Website

Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS)-Project Sucess

Minimum Age: 13
Website

Vienna

American Cancer Society

Minimum Age: 13

124 Park Street, SE, Suite 100
Vienna, VA
(703) 938-5550
Website

Falls church

Inova Fairfax Hospital

Minimum Age: 15
Minimum Age w/Adult: 15

3300 Gallows Road
Falls Church, Virginia 22042
(703) 776-6824
Website

Asian Youth Empowerment Project

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 16

6066 Leesburg Pike, Ste. 170
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
(703) 647-6495
Website

Northern Virginia AIDS Ministry (NOVAM)

Minimum Age: 16

803 W Broad Street, Suite 700
Falls Church, Virginia 22046
(703) 533-5505, x13
Website

Boat People SOS, Inc.

Minimum Age: 18
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

6066 Leesburg Pike, Suite 100
Falls Church, Virginia 22041
(703) 538-2190
Website

Colvin Run Mill Historic Site

Minimum Age: 13
Minimum Age w/Adult: 11

10017 Colvin Run Road
Great Falls, Virginia 22066
(703) 759-2771
Website

Coptic Orphans

Minimum Age: 17

2579 Holly Manor Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
(703) 641-8910
Website

Capital Caring

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 16

2900 Telestar Ct.
Falls Church, Va 22042
Website

Shelter House, Inc. – Patrick Henry Shelter

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

3080 Patrick Henry Drive
Falls Church, Virginia 22044
(703) 538-7105
Website

Goodwin House Bailey’s Crossroads

Minimum Age: 15

3440 S. Jefferson Street
Falls Church, Virginia 22043
(703) 578-7671
Website

Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS)-Project Sucess
Minimum Age: 13
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs

Herndon

Chestnut Grove Cemetery

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 13

831 Dranesville Road
Herndon, Virginia
(703) 435-3480
Website

Herndon Parks and Recreation Department

Minimum Age: 13
Minimum Age w/Adult: 10

814 Ferndale Avenue
Herndon, Virginia 20170
(703) 435 6800, x2134
Website

Herndon-Reston FISH, Inc.

Minimum Age: 12
Minimum Age w/Adult: 9

336 Victory Drive
Herndon, Virginia 20170
(703) 437-0600
Website

Mclean

Claude Moore Colonial Farm at Turkey Run

Minimum Age: 12

6310 Georgetown Pike
McLean, Virginia 22101
(703) 442-7557
Website

Treasure Shop

Minimum Age: 14

6246 Old Dominion Drive
Mclean, VA 22101
(703) 536-7467
Website

Oakton

Northern Virginia Family Service

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 13

10455 White Granite Dr. Suite 100
Oakton, Virginia 22124
(703) 219-2193
Website

Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS)-Project Sucess
(703) 324-5504
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs
Minimum Age: 13

Reston

Reston Association

Minimum Age: 13
Minimum Age w/Adult: 10

12001 Sunrise Valley Dr
Reston, VA 20191
(703) 435-7986
Website

Reston Interfaith, Inc.

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

11150 Sunset Hills, Road, Suite 210
Reston, Virginia 20190
(571) 323-9565
Website

Neighborhood and Community Services (NCS)-Project Sucess
www.fairfaxcounty.gov/ncs
Minimum Age: 13

Manassas

SERVE, Inc.

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 8

10056 Dean Drive, Manassas, VA 20110
Manassas, Virginia 20110
(703) 367-6725
Website

Great Falls

Neighbors International Foundation

Minimum Age: 14
Minimum Age w/Adult: 12

1146-D Walker Road
Great Falls, Virginia 22066
(703) 759-2102
Website

Others

Capital Area Food Bank
Minimum Age: 12

645 Taylor Street NE and 6833 Hill Park Drive
Washington, DC and Lorton, VA, DC 0
(202) 526-5344; (703) 541-3063
Website

Guitars Not Guns – Virginia

Minimum Age: 16
Minimum Age w/Adult: 14

11 locations across the region
(703) 644-1311
Website