Volunteer Opportunities

Share your time, skills, and talents!

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.

Effective November 1, 2021, all individuals must be fully vaccinated against the COVID-19 virus or receive an exemption from the Department of Parks and Recreation before volunteer service can begin.

Parks & Trails

Safe, accessible, and attractive parks are part of all healthy and vibrant communities. We operate and maintain more than 28,600 acres of Prince George’s County park land used by thousands of visitors each year for outdoor activities such as hiking, walking, cycling, fitness, and nature education.

Local volunteer and service groups partner with the Department of Parks and Recreation to assist in the beautification and maintenance of these parks and open spaces. This is your group’s opportunity to help protect and preserve our land and natural habitats and create a desirable and safe park system for everyone to enjoy.

Volunteer Groups

Groups can volunteer for a one-day project or dedicate themselves to a particular park or trail for long-term beautification and maintenance. All volunteers receive project coordination, safety orientation, and materials needed for the specific project from M-NCPPC Park Rangers prior to the start of their service.

Anyone can become a trail volunteer!

Volunteer groups can include:

  • Clubs and service organizations
  • Corporations
  • Faith-based organizations
  • Families
  • Fraternities and sororities
  • Girl Scouts and Boy Scouts
  • Groups of friends and neighbors
  • Locally-owned businesses
  • Neighborhood associations
  • Non-profit organizations
  • Recreation councils
  • Schools
  • Volunteer Projects

Adopt a Park

Volunteer groups may adopt one of our parks, natural areas, or facilities. Responsibilities include park beautification, reporting park needs, installing and monitoring bird nesting boxes, and other environmental projects. Groups are recognized with signage at the adopted park.

Adopt a Trail

Volunteer groups adopt sections of paved or natural trails, reporting trail needs, and performing small projects. Groups are asked for a commitment of at least 2 years and are recognized with signs along their section of the trail.

Park Police

 Park Police Community Volunteer Academy 

he 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 8 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.

Student Service Learning Hours

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

Training Topics

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.

Court Ordered Service

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 volunteer opportunities. 

Summer Program Volunteer Opportunities

Important Reminders for Summer Program Volunteer Opportunities:

  • Volunteer applications are accepted online from March 1- May 1
  • Youth can sign up to volunteer at only one Summer Playground or Summer Day Camp. Youth cannot volunteer at a site where a younger sibling 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 ages 15 and older must complete a criminal background 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.

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 safe keeping.

Additional Information

For more information about the Park Police Volunteer Association (PPVA) contact the Volunteer Services Office below.

Volunteer Services Office

MOBILE: (301)446-3324