Location:
Description
*All students receiving SSL hours must pre-register*Individual and family volunteers can join a cleanup hosted by Montgomery Parks staff and volunteers! - Children under 14 years old must volunteer with a parent/guardian.- Students must register with their name to receive SSL hours.- All cleanups are pre-approved for SSL hours. Forms are provided at the cleanup.- This opportunity is not eligible for court-ordered service.- To add volunteers to a family group send us an email.- Wear clothes that can get dirty and shoes that can potentially get wet. Bags and gloves are provided.Click schedule tab to register for the next cleanup. Please note that when an event fills up, it disappears from the schedule. Cleanups will be added throughout the season, so check back often!For questions contact: volunteercleanups@montgomeryparks.org
Background check required: No
Volunteer Type: Adult, Family, Senior (55+), Youth, Student Service Learning, Group
Job Type: Event (1-7 days)
Click here for details and to apply
Volunteer Weekend Trail Workday projects are a great way to support one of Montgomery Parks most popular facilities.The minimum age to volunteer is 15 years old, however 13 & 14 year old's may volunteer if an adult family member participates with them. All Volunteer Trail Workdays are SSL approved.Click on Job Details (if showing) below and then Duties and Responsibilities to learn more. Click on the Schedule tab to find a date and time that works for you. If there is no Schedule tab, we do not have any workdays at this time. If you would like to get on a mailing list for future workdays, click on Apply.
Minimum age of volunteers: 13
Volunteer Type: Adult, Family, Senior (55+), Youth, Student Service Learning, Group, Scout, Corporate
A variety of non-native, invasive plant species are present in Montgomery Parks. By their nature, these plants can take over an area quickly and threaten our native plant communities and the wildlife that depends on them.Join one of our Weed Warrior workday events to learn how you can help control non-native, invasive plants and preserve the health of our parks! Instruction and tools will be provided. Events are held in parks throughout the county and are led by volunteer Weed Warrior Supervisors and/or park staff. See event description for exact locations, times and meeting points.Each volunteer must register separately with their own account.Most events are for ages 16+. For events that allow younger children, all volunteers 14 and under must be accompanied by a registered, responsible adult. Events are added regularly to the "Schedule" tab; please check back for new events! Please note: if the "Schedule" tab is missing, that means registration is full for all Weed Warrior events. Please check back soon for additional opportunities.** Please note: Court Ordered Volunteer Hours can't be granted through this workday.**** If interested in training to become a Certified Weed Warrior, please visit this page for more information. **
Minimum age of volunteers: 12
Friendly helpers are needed at our Halloween Eye Spy Train ride in Wheaton Regional Park this October!Volunteers will help pass out and collect pencils for our guests' Eye Spy Cards, before and after they ride the train, or assist with art and craft activities in the party room.Family-friendly (NOT SCARY) costumes are required!The train will be operating on Saturdays and Sundays in October. There will be two shifts each day: 9:15am-1:00pm or 1:00 -4:45pm.**Please only sign up for one shift per day!**Volunteers need to be 14 and older (no exceptions!).This activity is outdoors, and Student Service Learning approved. A confirmation letter with an event contact number and more details will be emailed after you are confirmed as coming.For more information and to sign-up, click on Job Details, then Duties & Requirements, and then Schedule (or Calendar) to see available shift times and dates.***Eye Spy Train is cancelled if it rains, and/or tracks are still wet***Minimum age: 14
Minimum age of volunteers: 14
Volunteer Type: Youth, Student Service Learning
Job Type: Event (1-7 days), Short-term (1-8 weeks)
**WE ARE NOT TAKING ON ANY NEW EAGLE SCOUT PROJECTS UNTIL EARLY 2025**Thanks for thinking of Montgomery Parks as a place for your Eagle Scout project! We often have ideas for potential Eagle projects, but the number of Eagle Scout candidates far outnumbers them. We often require the scout to seek out a suitable project and suggest it to us. Choose a park location that is convenient to you and explore the area to see which amenities you can help create or restore. Park staff will work with you to review your project proposal prior to approval. We are looking for scouts that are good communicators, can stick to a schedule and are hard workers!Follow this link to see how we like to work with scouts: Eagle Scout Guidelines
Volunteer Type: Scout
Become a Brookside Gardens Volunteer and support our spectacular annual Garden of Lights display.Join us for this indoor assignment at the Information Desk in our Visitor Center. We are looking for friendly and outgoing people to help our guests have a wonderful experience during their visit.Duties include providing directions, answering phones, and sharing information with guests about our Light Show. Our visitors are required to pre-register for entry, so visitor numbers will be kept to a manageable size.Training will be provided and we'll coordinate with you to accommodate your schedule for an individual training given by staff. After completing training, volunteers will have access to an online calendar and can select shifts. We require volunteers to sign up for at least 3 shifts during this event.The exhibit runs every evening, November 22 thru January 5 (closed November 25-28, December 24-25, and January 1).Evening shifts will be:5:00pm - 9:00pm, Monday-SundaySomeone will be in touch with you after you apply!
Background check required: Yes
Minimum age of volunteers: 18
Volunteer Type: Adult, Senior (55+)
Job Type: Short-term (1-8 weeks)
All Aboard! Volunteers are needed in the Brookside Gardens' Conservatory for the popular Garden Railway exhibit. The exhibit runs seven days a week, from November 30th through January 5th (Closed December 25th and January 1st). Shifts are: 10:00am-1:00pm and 1:00pm-4:00pmWe're looking for individuals who enjoy engaging with a wide array of visitors to enhance their experience as they visit this magical Brookside tradition. We request that volunteers sign up for at least two shifts during this event.
Minimum age of volunteers: 16
Volunteer Type: Adult, Senior (55+), Student Service Learning
Montgomery Parks can be a great place for you to do your Girl Scout Silver or Gold Award projects!Although sometimes Park Staff have projects in mind, the number of applicants far outnumbers them. It is often up to the scout to find a suitable project. We suggest you choose a park location that is convenient to you and explore the area to see what amenities you can help create or restore. Park staff will work with you to review your project proposal prior to approval. The scout will then be responsible for good communication with Park Staff, and completing the project in a timely manner.Sign up here and someone will be in touch soon to discuss the project with you!
Are you a group leader looking to do some Team Building, have your group give back to the environment, or just them get out in the parks? We can help you with that! We are always looking from groups like yours to help us with several types of projects in the parks, including Weed Warrioring (removing bad plants so good plants can thrive); Park Cleanups; Nature Center Projects (can including gardening/mulching/restoring play areas/trails/etc.); Gardening; helping New Trees Survive; Spreading Wood Fiber at Plagrounds and many more.Contact our office by applying to this job, emailing parksvolunteers@montgomeryparks.org, or just give us a call at 301-495-2474.We will need to know some basic information to set you up with the right project, including:- Size and ages of group- When and Where would be convenient for your group- Any restrictions (need bathrooms, running water on site)- Group Leader contact information (and anyone who needs to be copied on any correspondence.Thanks - we look forward to working with your group on setting up a great project in the Parks!When applying, choose the GROUP application with the Leader Contact information. Volunteer Group Leaders must be 18 or older, but group ages can range from 5 on up, depending upon the project.
Minimum age of volunteers: 5
**Looking for skilled ice skaters only!*(Please be prepared to share your past and present skating history including, skating level, test level, and any other skating experience you may have)Wheaton Ice Arena provides a variety of ice skating programs for the public. Adults and children can learn to skate and improve their skills through a variety of group lessons offered at the arena. Ice Skating Instructional Assistants provide the extra hands necessary to provide high quality instruction and improve student success and enthusiasm for this wonderful sport. Under the supervision of the Wheaton Ice Skating Director, Instructional Assistants are assigned to help group lesson instructors in the arena's "Learn to Skate" program, which include lessons, clinics, and camps.We are looking for volunteers that can commit to an entire skating season.For more details, please click on Duties and Requirements.
Volunteer Type: Adult, Senior (55+), Youth, Student Service Learning
Job Type: Seasonal (2-6 months)
Park Police Volunteer help keep parks safe by providing additional eyes and ears for the Park Police. Volunteers are trained in non-enforcement police duties that include foot, vehicle, horse or bike patrol; traffic control; parking; community events; and outreach programs. Please follow this link to learn more, and to see what the requirements are for these positions:Park Police Volunteering*The next Volunteer Academy has not been scheduled yet, but if you apply here, you will be notified when it will be open for signing up.*
Job Type: Long-term (6 months+)
Scout troops, corporate groups, student groups, and community organizations can schedule a private Park cleanup event. Work with your team to remove trash & litter from our Parks! We ask for a two weeks notice before your cleanup. Group Leader requirements:- Must be 18 years & up- Must communicate all requirements and park policies with group members, and ensure fulfillment- Participants in the cleanup may be of all ages, but those under 14 years old must have a parent/guardian with themIf you and your group can meet these requirements, register here (as a group) and we'll proceed with the next steps:1. Confirm cleanup details (qualified park or trail, date, time, # volunteers)2. Pick up your Cleanup Kit3. Have a fun and safe cleanup!4. Submit your cleanup results and your volunteer sign-in sheet Click here for the complete guidelines to organize your cleanup!If you are interested in offering SSL hours at your cleanup, please contact us for more information.
The Montgomery Parks Stream Striders volunteer program is accepting applications! Stream Striders lead cleanups and educate participants about watersheds, litter, and the environment. Applications are open for adult volunteers interested in leadership, education, & community service at their local parks and trails.How do I become a Stream Strider?1. Apply here2. Volunteer at 2 cleanups3. Complete a background screening4. Complete an online training5. Co-lead a cleanup!QUALIFICATIONS: - Must be 18 years+- Complete a background check with Montgomery Parks - Follow park protocols and safety measures - Ability to work with a variety of groups in a leadership position - Ability to present information and educate others- Able to walk outdoors for up to 3 hours in a variety of trail surfaces and weather conditions (not including severe weather)- Must be comfortable accessing areas off trail & in streamsCOMMITMENT: - Minimum of 4 months- Minimum of two cleanups per year- Scheduling is flexible!VOLUNTEER BENEFITS:- Improve the water quality at your local stream- Strong resume builder, long-term opportunity to build your leadership skills- Work with volunteers from all ages, backgrounds, and abilities- Access to stream/nature workshops happening in our parks- Earn service credit toward your program/course (verification letters available)- Volunteer on a flexible scheduleQuestions?volunteercleanups@montgomeryparks.org
Volunteer Type: Adult, Family, Senior (55+), Intern