Prince George's County Parks and Recreation - Volunteer Opportunities

A recession-proof investment - your community parks

For one day this past August, students who are part of the University of Maryland honor program, College Park Scholars, were nowhere near books, computers, or algebraic equations. Instead, they were planting trees.

College Park Scholars is just one of the many groups volunteering with Prince George's County Parks and Recreation. Businesses, neighborhood associations, faith-based organizations, scouts, and individuals are flocking to well-organized volunteer offices like the Prince George's Parks Volunteer Services Office. It's a trend that both MaryBeth Dugan, PG Parks Volunteer Coordinator, and Trail Voice hope will continue.

Volunteers digging in the ground to plant trees

Partners n' Parks

It may be hard letting go, but Prince George's County has decided to put their parks up for adoption. Not intent to stop with parks, the PG Parks team added day-long events, projects, and trails to the adoption list as well. How does this make them feel? How about...thrilled!

Adopt-A-Park, Adopt-A-Day, Adopt-A-Project, and Adopt-A-Trail are the four main components of Partner's n' Parks - a program designed to offer the community an opportunity to directly invest, through volunteer service, in the County's parkland. The concept is simple and opportunities are numerous:

Adopt-A-Day: The PG Parks department strictly adheres to the national service calendar featuring events like National Trails Day, Make A Difference Day, and Youth Service Day.
Adopt-A-Park: Beautification, facility help, environmental initiatives, and so on - chances are the park staff can use your help.
Adopt-A-Project: Projects, which span across parks, include Weed Warriors (a familiar term to Trail Voice readers), Stream Savers, Nature Seekers, and Playground Partners).
Adopt-A-Trail: Similar to the Adopt-A-Park program, PG County Park Rangers need you to be the eyes and ears of the trail.

Jug Bay Park Ranger hiking on the trails

MaryBeth Dugan, the PG Parks Volunteer Coordinator, offers two shining examples of park partners: AARP and College Park Scholars, the organization profiled above. As a charter member of the Partners n' Parks program, AARP employees and PG Parks organize a day of service event every year. College Park Scholars do the same - and continue to learn about the environment, conservation, and the importance of stewardship following their Service Day. It's action-oriented organizations and individuals like these that are making a difference in Prince George's County and beyond.

Upcoming Opportunities - Winter '09-'10

Outdoor volunteer work tends to dry up in the winter. Luckily, Prince George's Parks entices potential park partners with excellent opportunities to work with nature centers and archaeology labs.

Nature Centers: Prince George's three nature centers - Clearwater, Watkins, and Mt. Rainier - are always looking for help with their wildlife and nature programs.
Archaeology: The digging season has shut down for the season, but Don Creveling, the County's resident archaeologist, needs a few good lab assistants in the Upper Marlboro office.

When spring eventually rolls back around, expect a whole new set of PG Parks volunteer postings. Indoors or outdoors, volunteering with Prince George's Parks and Recreation is an investment worth making.

More Information: For all questions, contact the Volunteer Services Office at 301-446-3400

- Tree planting image courtesy Flickr CC user Unlikely to Hesitate