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.

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Court Ordered
Criminal History Check
Park Police Opportunities
Student Service-Learning
Summer Opportunities

Court Ordered

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.

Criminal History Check

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 Opportunities

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 3 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

Student Service-Learning

Students can earn Student Service Learning hours for many volunteer opportunities. Check out the different options here.

Student Service-Learning in PGCPS (PDF)

Summer Opportunities

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 Playground 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:
- Playgrounds: 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.

For more information, contact the Volunteer Services Office at

TEL: 301-446-3324

Volunteer Newsletters

Park Police Community Volunteer Academy

Park Police Volunteer Association

KidsPrint

Additional Information

Volunteer Newsletters

2024

2023

2022

2021