Hidden Oaks interpreter honored

Holland

Naturalist Suzanne Holland, the visitor services manager at Hidden Oaks Nature Center in Annandale, was honored as one of 30 “Shining Stars of Interpretation” in the United States by the National Association for Interpretation (NAI).

Holland is credited with increasing programming and visitation at Hidden Oaks, which is operated by the Fairfax County Park Authority. She helped create and obtain funding for Nature Playce, an outdoor area aimed at helping children forge deeper connections with the natural world.

Holland also played a significant role in securing more than $200,000 in grants enabling Hidden Oaks to provide free programs to more than 4,000 people a year, most targeting underserved communities.

“Those of us who’ve worked with her daily, or with projects, or who’ve had the privilege to have been one of her interpretive students through NAI, have known Suzanne was our interpretive ‘secret weapon’ here at Hidden Oaks,” says Hidden Oaks Manager Michael McDonnell. “This is quite an honor, and we are proud to call her our colleague.”

Mason Supervisor Penny Gross presents a Board of Supervisors resolution honoring the Friends of Green Spring to FROGS President Sarah Munroe at a concert and celebration at the park June 26.

In other park news, the Fairfax County Board of Supervisors passed a resolution honoring the Friends of Green Spring (FROGS) for the volunteer group’s 25th anniversary.

Over the past quarter-century, FROGS has donated more than $1.9 million to support operations and special projects at Green Spring Gardens, such as the Frances Tyler Fund, which subsidizes educational programs for children from schools that serve a high percentage of lower-income students.

The group has also helped fund renovations to the greenhouse, repairs to the Historic House, vehicle maintenance, expansion of the Garden Gate plant shop, Spring Garden Day, Fall Garden Day, summer concerts, art shows, and the Harry Allen Winter Lecture Series.