For Kids Whose Parents Work During Break, There Is RECQuest

Fairfax Station kids are home from school this week, and they need something to do.

With that in mind, Neighborhood and Community Services, an agency within the Fairfax County government, created RECQuest, a youth-oriented program designed to give kids a place to learn and participate in various fun activities.

This winter's RECQuest will be held at a handful of community centers across NoVa, including Bailey's Community Center in Falls Church, the David R. Pinn Community Center in Fairfax and the Mott Community Center on Braddock Road in Fairfax.

Winter RECQuest is a three-day program set to take place December 27 through Dec. 29. It will run from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

The sessions will be held for children in grades one through six and will feature activities such as arts and crafts to keep the children occupied.

Chris Scales, regional manager for Neighborhood and Community Services, expects the days to be filled with activities. "We try to keep it fun and interesting," Scales said, adding that children may start the day by doing morning exercises.

"We want it to be fun, because we want the students to come back," Scales said. "We want students to come away with a good experience.

"RECQuest Winter usually is held around Christmas," Scales said. "Whenever school ends, we start the next day," Scales said.

RECQuest Winter is basically an extension of a summer RECQuest program that is offered by Neighborhood and Community Services each year. The summer program runs for 10 to 11 weeks.

"They [RECQuest programs] offer arts, crafts, cooperative games and computer technology. They have it at eight different sites," Scales said.

"Our program fills in supervision gaps when parents can't be around."