Montgomery Parks

Ready to paddle, or weed and cleanup with a purpose? Get active and give back this summer with these hot volunteer opportunities: Weed Warriors: Saturday, July 13 | Various times and locations | Ages 16+ Skilled Kayak Instructors and Event Volunteers: Saturday, July 20 | 2:30 to 7:30 pm | Ages 16+ | Seneca Landing Special Park Weed Warriors: Sunday, July 21 | 8:30 to 10:30 am | Ages 16+ | Long Branch Stream Valley Park Find all these and so much more here: https://lnkd.in/e5bXdir2

Brookside Gardens seeks a creative, highly motivated facility and special events manager to supervise the daily operations of the Visitor Center as well as coordinate logistics for large scale garden-wide special events like Garden of Lights, an annual winter lights display, and Wings of Fancy, a seasonal butterfly exhibit. Apply by 7/9: https://lnkd.in/eCJgYYvk

We have a long tale/tail for you this #FloraAndFaunaFriday! The Five-lined Skink is a type of lizard that can be identified – in part – by the five distinctive stripes running along the length of its body. Juveniles have a bright blue tail used to distract predators from more vulnerable body parts. Like many lizard species, the Five-lined Skink can regenerate its tail once lost – but at a cost! In addition to lending itself for a quick escape, the tail stores fat to help the individual in-between meals and as it grows. Energy then has to be used to regenerate the tail, which will come back a bit weaker, shorter, and duller in color and pattern. Tails also help with balance and mobility, so a skink without a tail might not be as lucky the next time around. If you notice a skink with a short, stubby tail, give it some credit for its survival skills!

Celebrate Independence Day with Montgomery Parks! Get ready for a star-spangled long weekend! Montgomery Parks has announced their July Fourth operating hours and events, including fireworks displays, Shakespeare in the Parks, and extended open parkways access. For more information and a full list of events, visit: https://lnkd.in/eVXSHT_y

Are you ready for the best month of the year? It's Park and Recreation Month and this July we are celebrating the people, spaces and programs that help to create a sense of belonging at Montgomery Parks. Join us and the National Recreation and Park Association as we partake in #ParkandRecMonth #WhereYouBelong #WhereIBelong #ParkandRecMonth24

We're seeking an entry-level Public Information Specialist to join our dynamic and vibrant team and spearhead digital marketing initiatives for Montgomery Parks. Apply by 7/8: https://lnkd.in/egexJufz

The reopening celebration of Columbia Local Park in Burtonsville was a smash! Thank you to the local community, elected officials, and agency partners for your input, support, and patience in making these updates possible! We’ve transformed the park into a vibrant recreation area featuring dedicated pickleball courts, a tennis court, a soccer court, a plaza with seating and charging stations, a new parking lot, and a renovated shelter. Come check out the park for yourself! Learn more about the updates to Columbia Local Park: https://lnkd.in/ejs8xEPh

Summer is getting hot but our programs are even hotter! Check out this weeks edition of our newsletter that has a ton of programs coming up that you DON'T want to miss out on: https://lnkd.in/e-KcWzE3 Subscribe to keep up to date on the latest and greatest! https://lnkd.in/eUnztAwH

We are currently seeking a dynamic, highly professional Building Operations Manager. This position is responsible for the management and maintenance of the Wheaton Headquarters building. Opened in only 2020, WHQ is Maryland’s first LEED Platinum government building. Apply by 7/5: https://lnkd.in/e-hV3kj6

Program Spotlight: Montgomery Parks is unique in many ways, including that we have a biological monitoring program! Staff head to streams every June through September to collect quantitative data on fish, amphibian, and reptile species, as well as on other parameters to examine water quality. Streams are assigned a stream health rating score that reflects measures of sensitivity, structure, and function. Some stations are monitored annually, including this segment of Sligo Creek, which has supported healthier fish communities over time. The total number of fish species has increased and there are changes in abundance of the most commonly encountered species. For example, in 2006 the two most abundant fish species – the Blacknose Dace and Longnose Dace – represented 96.4% of the total number of individuals identified. In 2023, the same two species were still the most abundant, but only represented 63.9% of individuals identified. A pollution intolerant species, the Northern Hogsucker, has also been encountered since 2016, suggesting positive changes in water quality for this portion of the Sligo Creek Watershed!