Volunteer

Opportunity Details

FrogWatch Community Scientist

Location:

Parks as assigned by staff
Montgomery County
MD 20902

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Parkland managed by Montgomery Parks makes up more than 10% of Montgomery County's land and serves as the County's "backyard". It is also home to upwards of 14 frog and toad species, each of which can be recognized by unique breeding calls made at wetlands and other aquatic habitats!

Volunteer FrogWatch Community Scientists will receive training and special permission to monitor for calling frogs at natural, created, and enhanced aquatic habitats on parkland at night in order to extend the reach of the biological monitoring, stormwater management, and environmental review programs conducted by staff.

*CLICK ON DUTIES AND REQUIRMENTS TO LEARN MORE*

TIME COMMITMENT:
Perform monitoring AT LEAST once a month (but hopefully more) in designated park areas, 30 minutes after sunset. March through August.

Participants may also volunteer to canvas parkland during the day (year-round) to locate and assist with registering trail-accessible wetlands and additional frog listening locations.

This is not eligible for SSL hours, but family groups are welcome. Those under 18 must be with a parent or guardian, and do not need to register.


Website: https://www.montgomeryparks.org/caring-for-our-parks/natural-spaces/water-quality-information/

Background check required: No

Minimum age of volunteers: 18

Job type: Seasonal (2-6 months)

Volunteer type:  Adult, Family

RESPONSIBILITIES:
- Complete online and supplemental training
- Visit one or more assigned aquatic habitat sites, at least monthly, 30 min. after sunset
- Adhere to established monitoring protocol and expectations
- Enter data into an online database
- Maintain communication with the Montgomery FrogWatch Chapter Coordinators
- Assist with locating and registering wetland habitat for new listening locations (optional)
- Track volunteer efforts in volunteer database.

TRAINING:
A virtual information and training session for the 2023 season will be held on Tuesday, February 28th from 7:00-8:30 PM. Trained Montgomery Parks volunteers may also attend a field-based review session at Meadowside Nature Center (Rockville, Maryland) on Tuesday, March 14th from 7:00-8:30 PM.

You will receive a link to training registration after submitting your FrogWatch Community Scientist application.

Pre-recorded training sessions and other resources are available at https://mygreenmontgomery.org/frogwatch/.

Park Planning and Stewardship | Frogwatch

Rachel Gauza

(301) 650-4393


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