Leesylvania Elementary school children were invited to get outside and experience Northern Virginia nature on Nov. 21, 2009 at the Turkey Trot. This event was the result of a wonderful, past employee, current volunteer and all around star, Erin.
Erin was a Junior Ranger leader for the park for several summers. After Erin left the park she started working in the Leesylvania Elementary P. E. Department. Erin works every day to make being active and fit fun for all of the school’s students. She’s also an avid outdoors person and I often see her riding her bike or hiking Leesylvania’s trails and doing her best to keep them clean and well maintained.
Knowing all of this it only seems natural that Erin would think about how much her students would enjoy getting outside and running through the park, especially at this time of year. So, the Leesylvania Turkey Trot was born. 
The Turkey Trot consisted of a series of races of varying distances on the trails and gravel parking lots around the picnic ground. The 4th -5th graders ran a mile, the 2nd-3rd graders a half mile, the K-1st a quarter mile, and for younger brothers and sisters there was an Itty Bitty Kiddy Dash.
Erin measured the courses and made sure all of them are very spectator friendly so families will be able to watch and cheer for their student. All of the children that participate were given a goodie bag and trophies and were awarded to the first and second place boys and girls in grades K-5.
We are also very thankful to have a wonderful volunteer like Erin whose caring commitment to children in naturehelped makethis special event possible.