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 Greetings!
Each day, volunteers like you help the M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation provide fun and educational programs and quality services to the members of the Prince George's County community. This newsletter highlights the service of volunteers, provides information to help you in your volunteer service and shares news of upcoming events and activities. Click here to see photos of our volunteers in action. Read on to see what great things are happening in our volunteer community. |
I make a difference more.
| |  Help those in need in our community. Bring canned goods for donation to local food banks when you visit the Winter Festival of Lights, November 25 - January 1, at Watkins Regional Park. This spectacular holiday drive-through event features more than one million twinkling lights.
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Did you know...?
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 The M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation now has gift cards available for purchase! M-NCPPC gift cards are redeemable at most Department of Parks and Recreation facilities in Prince George's County. The cards never expire and make great gifts for family and friends! To purchase please visit the Park and Planning Help Desk at 6600 Kenilworth Avenue, Riverdale, 20737. For more information, call the Help Desk at 301-699-CALL (2255).
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Spotlight on Service:
Bladensburg Community Center Basketball Volunteers
| |  The summer basketball league is a tradition at Bladensburg Community Center. It is a competitive league with a strong focus on skills development and an atmosphere of enjoyment for all ages - providing neighborhood youth with a fun, safe place to spend their time. Everyone from former players and their families to elected officials come out to show their support. The league and its twice-weekly games are extremely popular due in part to the atmosphere created by the community center's staff and volunteer coaches, referees and assistants.
Seven excellent youth volunteers ages 13 to 15, representing Bladensburg, Northwestern, and Herbert H. Flowers High Schools, helped make this summer's league a super success. Collectively, these volunteers donated over 1,000 hours. In August 2011, Bladensburg Community Center Facility Director Jeremy Weiss sat with the group of volunteers to talk about their volunteer experience.
"We learned the books, clock and all the rules of the league. We also learned how intense some coaches and parents can get, but we learned how to keep our composure around a large audience." The teen volunteers had a range of responsibilities. Prior to the games, volunteers advertised league news and game times on the community center marquee, cleaned and helped set up the gym, and ushered audience members to their seats. During games, teen volunteers helped keep audience members off the court, ran the official game clock and kept the score books. At the end of each game, the teen volunteers and staff cleaned the gym. "It involved a lot of responsibility because if we messed up there were over 200 people plus coaches plus players staring and sometimes yelling at us...but I loved volunteering because they treated me like staff not as a kid. We proved that young people are capable of real work and real responsibilities not just picking up trash."
Why would a teenager sign up to spend summer volunteering in a gym? "My mom wanted me to do something this summer instead of playing video games. Also, I wanted to do something that would be positive during the summer." Although this isn't the first volunteer experience for these youth - they have volunteered at their schools and their churches - this summer was different. "I think I was there all the time because the staff made it fun and they didn't look at us like we were just teens. They trusted us to get the job done...Also, I can put it on my resume."
"The last day of the league, an awards ceremony was held. Youth volunteers received certificates of thanks and prize drawings. Adult volunteers were treated to a "Coaches Dinner." With the end of summer, it's back to school for these youth volunteers but not the end of their volunteering. "I am planning to volunteer at Bladensburg Community Center when I can or during breaks."
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It's not too early...
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|  It's not too early to begin thinking about summer volunteering! The M-NCPPC Department of Parks and Recreation sponsors day camps and playgrounds at many County locations throughout the summer. To volunteer as a day camp or playground assistant, individuals must be:
- At least 14 years of age before June 1, 2012 to volunteer as a playground assistant and
- At least 15 years of age before June 1, 2012 to volunteer as a day camp assistant.
All prospective summer volunteers must complete the mandatory pre-service training (dates to be announced). Volunteers who are 15 years or older must complete a criminal background check, including fingerprinting, before they can begin volunteering. Students who successfully complete the training and volunteer satisfactorily for summer day camp or playground will earn student service learning hours. Registration for summer volunteering begins March 1, 2012 at www.pgparks.com. You'll need your volunteer user ID and password to sign up. |
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