Volunteer Opportunities
Opportunities to volunteer with M-NCPPC, Department of Parks and Recreation, Prince George’s County are almost unlimited! Individuals and groups can help on a one-day project or on an ongoing basis.
- Court Ordered
- Criminal History Check
- Park Police Opportunities
- Student Service-Learning
- Summer Opportunities
- Weed Warrior
The Department of Parks and Recreation does not accept court-ordered volunteer service. Visit the SHARE Food Network or Prince George’s County Animal Services Facility for court-ordered volunteer opportunities.
A criminal history record check is required for volunteers who are:
Assigned to care for, or have custody or control of, children;
Assigned to childcare facilities, day camps, recreation programs primarily serving children, or to adaptive/therapeutic recreation programs that serve individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities*; or
Age 18 or older who:
- Provide service lasting longer than three consecutive days (excluding those who are only assigned to serve on a board or committee);
- Have access to confidential or personally identifiable information; or
- Handle financial assets (e.g., money, checks, credit cards).
* “Assigned to childcare facilities, day camps, recreation programs primarily serving children, or to adaptive/therapeutic recreation programs that serve individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities” means the individual is interacting with (or has the potential to interact with) children or individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities, respectively. This does not include (i) setting up, taking down, or monitoring equipment that is used for the program, and (ii) being in the presence of children or individuals with intellectual or physical disabilities when a Commission employee/volunteer who has undergone a criminal history record check is present.
Volunteers are also required to complete a repeat criminal background check every twelve (12) months.
Park Police Community Volunteer Academy
The Park Police Community Volunteer Academy is offered to the community to inform participants about the functions of the Park Police and the law. The academy training is offered annually, one night a week for eight weeks. Students receive instruction from experienced Park Police officers, Park Police Volunteer Association members, prosecutors, and others who work in law enforcement or public safety.
Topics of discussion include:
- Crime scene management
- The role of the prosecutor
- Current drug trends
- Gang awareness
- Traffic and criminal law
Certifications
Those who fully complete the training receive a certificate of completion. Academy participants can also obtain first aid and CPR certifications.
Park Police Volunteer Association
After successfully completing the volunteer academy, graduates may volunteer as members of the Park Police Volunteer Association (PPVA). Volunteer opportunities include, but are not limited to the following; bike and foot patrol, fingerprinting, and assisting at festivals and bicycle rodeos. The volunteers have proven to be a great asset to the Park Police Division.
KidsPrint
This year PPVA improved its “KidsPrint” program by purchasing a child digital fingerprinting machine through a grant from the Governor’s Office of Crime Control and Prevention. The program offers a series of child digital fingerprinting events where parents bring their children, ages three to 15 years old, to be fingerprinted and photographed. No information is stored or uploaded to a database; the parent receives a printout of the child’s information to store for safekeeping.
Additional Information
For additional information, please contact ParkPolice.Community@pgparks.com
Students can earn Student Service Learning hours for many volunteer opportunities. Check out the different options here.
Important Reminders for Summer Program Volunteer Opportunities:
- Volunteer applications are accepted online from March 1-May 1
- Youth Individuals can sign up to volunteer at only one Summer Playtime or Summer Day Camp. Youth Individuals cannot volunteer at a site where a younger sibling or child is a registered participant.
- Youth volunteers must be the required age on or before May 31 to volunteer:
- Summer Playtime: 14 years old
- Summer Day Camps: 15 years old
- Youth volunteers Individuals ages 15 and older must complete a criminal background history check.
- All youth volunteers must attend pre-service training in May/June.
- Volunteers are scheduled 12-15 hours per week; transportation is not provided.
- These volunteer opportunities are approved by Prince George’s County Public School to earn Student Service Learning Hours.
Invasive plants are silently dismantling the health of our urban forests. Invasive vines, in particular, are strangling native trees, degrading vital habitats, and destabilizing ecosystems that ultimately feed into the Chesapeake Bay. This growing threat is not just an environmental issue; it’s a matter of equity, public health, and climate resilience. The good news is that you can help!
The Weed Warrior Volunteer Program was created in 1999, by Montgomery Parks, to empower community members to help staff manage invasive plants on parkland. As of October 2025, we are starting a similar program on Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation lands.
How to Get Involved:
At this time, there are two ways to get involved and make a difference in our parks: join an event and/or become certified to remove invasive plants on your own.
1. Join a Group Weed Warrior Event
- We have Weed Warrior events open to the public and would love your help.
- The events take place throughout the year at parks across the county — no advanced training required. All tools are also provided.
- These invasive plant management events are led by specially trained volunteer Weed Warrior Supervisors and/or Parks staff.
- Events are approximately two hours in duration, and they’re a great way to start learning how to identify and remove invasive species!
- Please visit our Volunteer Opportunity page to learn more about our upcoming events and to register.
2. Become a Certified Weed Warrior Volunteer
Certified Weed Warriors are authorized to control invasive species on Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation lands without supervision. Newly Certified Weed Warriors start at Level 1, authorized to control our top six priority invasive vines on Parkland. Level 2 Weed Warrior Certification includes further training and authorizes volunteers to control an additional twelve priority invasive species.
- The minimum age for certification is 18 years.
- Level 1 certification requires completing the Invasive Species Basics and Weed Warrior 101 online courses, participating in at least two Weed Warrior events led by trained supervisors, and attending an in-person training.
- Level 2 certification includes all of the requirements of Level 1 plus an additional Weed Warrior 102 course.
- Anyone with an interest in helping out the local environment is encouraged to attend the trainings and events.
Please visit our Volunteer Opportunity page to learn about upcoming virtual training and invasive plant removal events.
We know it’s tempting, but it’s against Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation rules and regulations to remove plant material from a park without prior authorization.
Current Certified Weed Warriors
Are you a certified Weed Warrior for Montgomery Parks? If so, please contact our Vegetation Ecologist, Kerry Wixted at Kerry.wixted@pgparks.com for more information on how to get certified in Prince George’s County.
Please remember to log your volunteer service hours and keep your contact information up-to-date. When logging hours, please indicate which park(s) you conducted work in and approximately how many trees you freed with the removal.
Want to Know More About Invasive Plant Management in our Parks?
Check out our invasive species page to learn about Prince George’s Department of Parks and Recreation management goals and current projects.
If you are interested in being added to our email list for updates on our invasive species management program, including volunteer opportunities, please contact our Vegetation Ecologist, Kerry Wixted at Kerry.wixted@pgparks.com or fill out this interest form:
For more information, contact the Volunteer Services Office at
TEL: 301-446-3324
Volunteer Newsletters
2024
2023
2022
2021
December 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
November 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
October 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
September 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
August 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
July 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
June 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
May 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
April 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
March 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
February 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
January 2021 Volunteer Newsletter
