The VSOC program provides:a VA Vocational Rehabilitation Counselor assigned to each VSOC school to provide vocational testing and career, academic, and readjustment counseling services, and a VA Vet Center Outreach Coordinator, co-located on many campuses, to provide peer-to-peer counseling and referral services. The grounds at Fort Hunt Park are open year-round from sunrise to sunset. Fort Hunt Park is located on the George Washington Memorial Parkway between Alexandria, Virginia and the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens. 8999 Fort Hunt Road Alexandria, VA 22308 Tel. With first light and last light times, and a graphical view of local daylight hours Fort Hunt Sunrise / Sunset Times, VA 22308 - WillyWeather WillyWeather 67,693.

Single and looking for love? While there are always obstacles to meeting the right person, these tips can help you find lasting love and build a healthy, worthwhile relationship.

Obstacles to finding love

Are you single and looking for love? Are you finding it hard to meet the right person? When you’re having trouble finding a love connection, it’s all too easy to become discouraged or buy into the destructive myths out there about dating and relationships.

Life as a single person offers many rewards, such as being free to pursue your own hobbies and interests, learning how to enjoy your own company, and appreciating the quiet moments of solitude. However, if you’re ready to share your life with someone and want to build a lasting, worthwhile relationship, life as a single person can also seem frustrating.

For many of us, our emotional baggage can make finding the right romantic partner a difficult journey. Perhaps you grew up in a household where there was no role model of a solid, healthy relationship and you doubt that such a thing even exists. Or maybe your dating history consists only of brief flings and you don’t know how to make a relationship last. You could be attracted to the wrong type of person or keep making the same bad choices over and over, due to an unresolved issue from your past. Or maybe you’re not putting yourself in the best environments to meet the right person, or that when you do, you don’t feel confident enough.

Whatever the case may be, you can overcome your obstacles. Even if you’ve been burned repeatedly or have a poor track record when it comes to dating, these tips can help put you on the path to finding a healthy, loving relationship that lasts.

What is a healthy relationship?

Every relationship is unique, and people come together for many different reasons. However, there are also some characteristics that most healthy relationships have in common, such as mutual respect, trust, and honesty. In a strong, healthy relationship you also:

• Maintain a meaningful emotional connection with each other. You each make the other feel loved and emotionally fulfilled.
• Are able respectfully disagree. You need to feel safe to express things that bother you without fear of retaliation, and be able to resolve conflict without humiliation, degradation, or insisting on being right.
• Keep outside relationships and interests alive. To stimulate and enrich your romantic relationship, it’s important to sustain your own identity outside of the relationship, preserve connections with family and friends, and maintain your hobbies and interests.
• Communicate openly and honestly. Good communication is a key part of any relationship. When both people know what they want from the relationship and feel comfortable expressing their needs, fears, and desires, it can increase trust and strengthen the bond between you.

Read: Tips for Building a Healthy Relationship

Reassess your misconceptions about dating and relationships

The first step to finding love is to reassess some of the misconceptions about dating and relationships that may be preventing you from finding lasting love.

Expectations about dating and finding love

When we start looking for a long-term partner or enter into a romantic relationship, many of us do so with a predetermined set of (often unrealistic) expectations—such as how the person should look and behave, how the relationship should progress, and the roles each partner should fulfill. These expectations may be based on your family history, influence of your peer group, your past experiences, or even ideals portrayed in movies and TV shows. Retaining many of these unrealistic expectations can make any potential partner seem inadequate and any new relationship feel disappointing.

Consider what’s really important

Distinguish between what you want and what you need in a partner. Wants are negotiable, needs are not.

Wants include things like occupation, intellect, and physical attributes such as height, weight, and hair color. Even if certain traits seem crucially important at first, over time you’ll often find that you’ve been needlessly limiting your choices. For example, it may be more important to find someone who is:

• Curious rather than extremely intelligent. Curious people tend to grow smarter over time, while those who are bright may languish intellectually if they lack curiosity.
• Sensual rather than sexy.
• Caring rather than beautiful or handsome.
• A little mysterious rather than glamorous.
• Humorous rather than wealthy.
• From a family with similar values to yours, rather than someone from a specific ethnic or social background.

Needs are different than wants in that needs are those qualities that matter to you most, such as values, ambitions, or goals in life. These are probably not the things you can find out about a person by eyeing them on the street, reading their profile on a dating site, or sharing a quick cocktail at a bar before last call.

What feels right to you?

When looking for lasting love, forget what looks right, forget what you think should be right, and forget what your friends, parents, or other people think is right, and ask yourself: Does the relationship feel right to me?

Dating tip 1: Keep things in perspective

Don’t make your search for a relationship the center of your life. Concentrate on activities you enjoy, your career, health, and relationships with family and friends. When you focus on keeping yourself happy, it will keep your life balanced and make you a more interesting person when you do meet someone special.

Remember that first impressions aren’t always reliable, especially when it comes to Internet dating. It always takes time to really get to know a person and you have to experience being with someone in a variety of situations. For example, how well does this person hold up under pressure when things don’t go well or when they’re tired, frustrated, or hungry?

Be honest about your own flaws and shortcomings. Everyone has flaws, and for a relationship to last, you want someone to love you for the person you are, not the person you’d like to be, or the person they think you should be. Besides, what you consider a flaw may actually be something another person finds quirky and appealing. By shedding all pretense, you’ll encourage the other person to do the same, which can lead to an honest, more fulfilling relationship.

Tip 2: Build a genuine connection

The dating game can be nerve wracking. It’s only natural to worry about how you’ll come across and whether or not your date will like you. But no matter how shy or socially awkward you feel, you can overcome your nerves and self-consciousness and forge a great connection.

Focus outward, not inward. To combat first-date nerves, focus your attention on what your date is saying and doing and what’s going on around you, rather than on your internal thoughts. Staying fully present in the moment will help take your mind off worries and insecurities.

Be curious. When you’re truly curious about someone else’s thoughts, feelings, experiences, stories, and opinions, it shows—and they’ll like you for it. You’ll come across as far more attractive and interesting than if you spend your time trying to promote yourself to your date. And if you aren’t genuinely interested in your date, there’s little point in pursuing the relationship further.

Be genuine. Showing interest in others can’t be faked. If you’re just pretending to listen or care, your date will pick up on it. No one likes to be manipulated or placated. Rather than helping you connect and make a good impression, your efforts will most likely backfire. If you aren’t genuinely interested in your date, there is little point in pursuing the relationship further.

Pay attention. Make an effort to truly listen to the other person. By paying close attention to what they say, do, and how they interact, you’ll quickly get to know them. Little things go a long way, such as remembering someone’s preferences, the stories they’ve told you, and what’s going on in their life.

Put your smartphone away. You can’t truly pay attention or forge a genuine connection when you’re multitasking. Nonverbal communication—subtle gestures, expressions, and other visual cues—tell us a lot about another person, but they’re easy to miss unless you’re tuned in.

Tip 3: Put a priority on having fun

Online dating, singles events, and matchmaking services like speed dating are enjoyable for some people, but for others they can feel more like high-pressure job interviews. And whatever dating experts might tell you, there is a big difference between finding the right career and finding lasting love.

Instead of scouring dating sites or hanging out in pick-up bars, think of your time as a single person as a great opportunity to expand your social circle and participate in new events. Make having fun your focus. By pursuing activities you enjoy and putting yourself in new environments, you’ll meet new people who share similar interests and values. Even if you don’t find someone special, you will still have enjoyed yourself and maybe forged new friendships as well.

Tips for finding fun activities and like-minded people:

• Volunteer for a favorite charity, animal shelter, or political campaign. Or even try a volunteer vacation (for details see Resources section below).
• Take an extension course at a local college or university.
• Sign up for dance, cooking, or art classes.
• Join a running club, hiking group, cycling group, or sports team.
• Join a theater group, film group, or attend a panel discussion at a museum.
• Find a local book group or photography club.
• Attend local food and wine tasting events or art gallery openings.
• Be creative: Write a list of activities available in your area and, with your eyes closed, randomly put a pin in one, even if it’s something you would never normally consider. How about pole dancing, origami, or lawn bowling? Getting out of your comfort zone can be rewarding in itself.

Tip 4: Handle rejection gracefully

At some point, everyone looking for love is going to have to deal with rejection—both as the person being rejected and the person doing the rejecting. It’s an inevitable part of dating, and never fatal. By staying positive and being honest with yourself and others, handling rejection can be far less intimidating. The key is to accept that rejection is an inevitable part of dating but to not spend too much time worrying about it. It’s never fatal.

Tips for handling rejection when dating and looking for love

Don’t take it personally. If you’re rejected after one or a few dates, the other person is likely only rejecting you for superficial reasons you have no control over—some people just prefer blondes to brunettes, chatty people to quiet ones—or because they are unable to overcome their own issues. Be grateful for early rejections—it can spare you much more pain down the road.

Don’t dwell on it, but learn from the experience. Don’t beat yourself up over any mistakes you think you made. If it happens repeatedly, though, take some time to reflect on how you relate to others, and any problems you need to work on. Then let it go. Dealing with rejection in a healthy way can increase your strength and resilience.

Acknowledge your feelings. It’s normal to feel a little hurt, resentful, disappointed, or even sad when faced with rejection. It’s important to acknowledge your feelings without trying to suppress them. Practicing mindfulness can help you stay in touch with your feelings and quickly move on from negative experiences.

Tip 5: Watch for relationship red flags

Red-flag behaviors can indicate that a relationship is not going to lead to healthy, lasting love. Trust your instincts and pay close attention to how the other person makes you feel. If you tend to feel insecure, ashamed, or undervalued, it may be time to reconsider the relationship.

Common relationship red flags:

The relationship is alcohol dependent. You only communicate well—laugh, talk, make love—when one or both of you are under the influence of alcohol or other substances.

There’s trouble making a commitment. For some people commitment is much more difficult than others. It’s harder for them to trust others or to understand the benefits of a long-term relationship because of previous experiences or an unstable home life growing up.

Nonverbal communication is off. Instead of wanting to connect with you, the other person’s attention is on other things like their phone or the TV.

Jealousy about outside interests. One partner doesn’t like the other spending time with friends and family members outside of the relationship.

Controlling behavior. There is a desire on the part of one person to control the other, and stop them from having independent thoughts and feelings.

The relationship is exclusively sexual. There is no interest in the other person other than a physical one. A meaningful and fulfilling relationship depends on more than just good sex.

No one-on-one time. One partner only wants to be with the other as part of a group of people. If there’s no desire to spend quality time alone with you, outside of the bedroom, it can signify a greater issue.

Tip 6: Deal with trust issues

Mutual trust is a cornerstone of any close personal relationship. Trust doesn’t happen overnight; it develops over time as your connection with another person deepens. However, if you’re someone with trust issues—someone who’s been betrayed, traumatized, or abused in the past, or someone with an insecure attachment bond—then you may find it impossible to trust others and find lasting love.

If you have trust issues, your romantic relationships will be dominated by fear—fear of being betrayed by the other person, fear of being let down, or fear of feeling vulnerable. But it is possible to learn to trust others. By working with the right therapist or in a supportive group therapy setting, you can identify the source of your mistrust and explore ways to build richer, more fulfilling relationships.

Tip 7: Nurture your budding relationship

Finding the right person is just the beginning of the journey, not the destination. In order to move from casual dating to a committed, loving relationship, you need to nurture that new connection.

To nurture your relationship:

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Invest in it. No relationship will run smoothly without regular attention, and the more you invest in each other, the more you’ll grow. Find activities you can enjoy together and commit to spending the time to partake in them, even when you’re busy or stressed.

Communicate openly. Your partner is not a mind reader, so tell them how you feel. When you both feel comfortable expressing your needs, fears, and desires, the bond between you will become stronger and deeper.

Resolve conflict by fighting fair. No matter how you approach the differences in your relationship, it’s important that you aren’t fearful of conflict. You need to feel safe to express the issues that bother you and to be able to resolve conflict without humiliation, degradation, or insisting on being right.

Be open to change. All relationships change over time. What you want from a relationship at the beginning may be very different from what you and your partner want a few months or years down the road. Accepting change in a healthy relationship should not only make you happier, but also make you a better person: kinder, more empathic, and more generous.

Trails built by the Civilian Conservation Corps lead into the shade and provide a respite from summer heat. Joggers, walkers, and bicyclists may use one lane of the paved loop road.

There are several large fields and three softball diamonds. (From April to October these areas are associated with picnic pavilions and must be reserved.) A playground located in Area A is always open to the public.

Visitors may explore the outsides of Batteries Robinson, Sater, Porter, and Mount Vernon. The batteries are closed to the public because they were lined with asbestos during World War II and used to safeguard nitrate film rolls from the National Archives.

Concerts are held at Fort Hunt's Pavilion A on Sunday evenings from 7 pm to 8 pm in June, July, and August.

To request a ranger-led program at Fort Hunt Park please call 703‑235-1530.

Picnics at Fort Hunt

From April to October, Areas A, B, C-1, C-2, C-3, and D are available by reservation. Reservations for the picnic season can be made beginning in January. Each picnic area offers different amenities. Please call 1-877-444-6777 or visit Recreation.gov for descriptions and reservations.

Area E is always open on a first come, first served basis; no reservation is necessary.

Please note that the park hosts a concert series in Area A during the summer. The hook up in hickory. If you reserve Area A on a Sunday in June, July, or August you must end your picnic and clean up the area by 6:00 p.m.

The grounds at Fort Hunt Park are open year-round from sunrise to sunset.

Fort Hunt Park is located on the George Washington Memorial Parkway between Alexandria, Virginia and the Mount Vernon Estate and Gardens.

Address

8999 Fort Hunt Road
Alexandria, VA 22308
Tel. 202‑439‑7325

By Car

From Old Town Alexandria drive south on Washington Street and continue on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Take the exit for Fort Hunt Park and follow signs into the park.

From Mount Vernon drive north on the George Washington Memorial Parkway. Take the exit for Fort Hunt Park and follow signs into the park.

Parking is available in each of the picnic areas from November to March. When picnic areas are reserved public parking is available in Area E and in a small parking lot at the end of the loop road near Area A.

On Foot or by Bicycle

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From the Mount Vernon Trail turn onto Fort Hunt Road and follow signs into the park. Grants speed dating new zealand.

Facilities

Public restrooms, water fountains, and trash cans are located in Areas A, B, and E. These facilities are always open to the public. Specially marked cans for ashes are available in each picnic area.

The following facilities are also available:

• ADA Access
• Parking
• Softball Fields
• Picnic Tables
• Telephone
• Small Playground
• Comfort Station
• Restrooms
• Jogging

For a complete list of rules, please read the Laws & Policies.

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All catering or food service MUST go through the park's concessioner--RGI Events & Public Relations. Contact Christine Humbach RGI Event Service Coordinator, christine@rgievents.com, 202.738.4713 for your options.
Reservations are not issued for commercial use applications. It is unlawful for a business to rent a picnic area at Fort Hunt Park for the purpose of catering someone else’s event.
Recreation.gov rents the picnic areas for the purpose of having picnics (groups of people enjoying the outdoors and an associated meal.) Any additional activities (i.e. moonbounces, amusement rides, active recreational uses, or weddings) may require a Special Park Use Permit or Public Gatheirng Permit. We often find that people renting the picnic areas/pavilions do not realize that a planned activity requires and additional special use permit. If you have questions, please contact a ranger at tel. 202-439-7325.

When you reserve a picnic area at Fort Hunt Park the National Park Service issues you a permit that governs your use of the site. The confirmation email you receive from recreation.gov serves as your permit. You or someone you designate must have the permit (the confirmation email) on site for the entire event, including while you are setting up before and cleaning up after it.

Permits include a list of rules that you must follow. These rules help to protect your national park from damage. If you do not follow these rules a ranger may revoke your permit and ask you to leave Fort Hunt Park.

A Park Ranger will contact you using both the email and phone number you provided on your Recreation.gov to discuss your reservation and park rules. You may also call us at 202-439-7325. If you do not respond to the parks efforts to contact you, your reservation may be cancelled.

Permits are only in effect from 10 am until 6 pm. They give the permit holder exclusive use of the picnic area he or she reserved, but do not give him or her exclusive use of the restrooms in any area or the playground in Area A.

Reservation holders (Areas A-D) have the right to have beer and wine from 10:00 a.m. until 6:00 p.m. Hard alcohol is not permitted. Hired caterers that provide or serve alcohol must have an ABC banquet license from the state of Virginia.
You may not exchange any money at Fort Hunt Park. This includes collecting fees; selling food, beverages, or merchandise; fund-raising; selling raffle tickets; paying caterers; etc.

You (or your group) may ONLY reserve ONE picnic area at Fort Hunt Park per day. All picnic areas have a maximum capacity. Your group's size may not exceed the maximum capacity of each picnic area, which are as follows; A-600 people/150 vehicles, B-350 people/ 140 vehicles, C1-100 people/ 40 vehicles, C2-120 people/ 40 vehicles, C3-100 people/ 40 vehicles, D-120 people/ 30 vehicles.

Smoking is not permitted within 25 feet of any structure. Grills must be at least 10 feet away from any structure. Electrical outlets in area A may only be used with a picnic permit.
All areas have a maximum capacity. Your group's size may not exceed the maximum capacity of the area you reserved.

Dating Times Fort Hunt Vacation

You must be quiet enough to not disturb other people in Fort Hunt Park or the nearby neighborhood. If park staff feels the music or sound is too loud, a Park Ranger will ask you to reduce the volume. Code of Federal regulations state no audio disturbance can exceed 60 decibels measured on the A-weighted scale at 50 feet from the source.

You may only drive on the paved loop road, in parking lots, and in designated loading zones. Vehicles may not occupy loading zones for longer than 10 minutes. You may only park in marked parking spaces. Parking off hard surfaces (i.e. grass or dirt surfaces) is prohibited, and vehicles will be towed.

Dating Times Fort Hunt Va

If you have reserved a picnic area, you may only decorate the picnic tables and pavilion in the site you have reserved. You may only tie or tape decorations to the tables and pavilion. You may not attach decorations in a way that will cause permanent damage, such as with nails or staples. Please note that you may not attach decorations to vegetation, or put signs or decorations outside of the area you reserved, such as along the road. All picnic decorations must be removed.

You may not use anything that penetrates the ground, such as wire sign holders, volleyball poles, or tent stakes. You may only use park water for drinking, cooking, and cleaning. Recreational use such as filling water balloons or squirt guns is not permitted.

You may not bring firewood, live plants, or live animals (other than pets) into Fort Hunt Park. You must leave the area you use in the same condition that it was when you arrived. If your use of the park causes damage (beyond what is reasonably inherent in its use) you can be held financially liable for that damage. If park staff must clean up an area that you reserved after you leave, you can be held financially liable for associated costs.

You may not use motorized or wind-propelled recreational devices, such as skateboards, in Fort Hunt Park.

You may bring a pet to Fort Hunt Park, but you must keep it on a six foot long (or shorter) leash and you must clean up after it.

Failure to comply with these rules and regulations may result in the cancellation of your reservation and/or legal action.