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. 

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.

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

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

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.

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.

Adopt a Project

Nature Seekers
Support a variety of environmental and wildlife efforts that include conducting wildlife and plant inventories and assisting with wildlife habitat projects.

Stream Savers
Improve local streams, ponds, and rivers through ongoing clean-up projects along the Anacostia, Patuxent, and Potomac Rivers or their tributaries. Work side-by-side with a Park Ranger conducting water-quality testing, identification of living organisms, and planting aquatic plants.

Weed Warriors
Identify and remove non-native plants found within the park system to help improve the overall health of our forests and allow native plants to flourish.

View the different Volunteer Opportunities here!

Department policy requires that all individuals age 15 and older who volunteer and have access to children, seniors, or other vulnerable populations must undergo a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, before volunteer services can begin. Once you have been interviewed, the coordinator will schedule a time for you to be fingerprinted.

• Park Police Volunteer Association
• Park Police Community Volunteer Academy