Work together, learn together, earn together

by Genny Brune

Quick Facts: This summer Montgomery Village Foundation (MVF) Recreation and Parks Department will select five teens to form a Youth Conservation Corps. For 6 weeks, they will meet five mornings a week to make our parks cleaner, safer and more beautiful for residents and wildlife. Earn SSL hours or get paid!

It is hard to imagine in March when the parks show patchy snow mounds, but by mid-summer, Montgomery Village parks are bursting with activities all day and into the evening. As soon as the sun rises, pickleball players fill the courts and residents hit the Outdoor Fitness Park at Watkins Mill Recreation Area. In the afternoon, campers visit the pools and playgrounds, and evening birders watch the cormorants fish on Lake Whetstone. This constant bustle of activity creates a unique opportunity for a select group of young people. What is it like to work in parks management during the busiest time of the year? Five local students will get firsthand experience with each aspect of this exciting field.

The Montgomery Village Conservation Corps is made up of five teens, ages 14 to 16, and one adult leader. This year this 6-week program will start on Monday, June 22 and conclude on Friday, July 31. Since most of the youth corps’ work is outdoors, they will meet from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m. each weekday to take advantage of the cooler hours of the day.

The youth corps starts their summer off preparing for the Montgomery Village Independence Day Parade and Celebration. The youth corps joins the entire MVF Recreation and Parks team to ensure this Village-wide celebration goes off smoothly. During the event’s preparations, the crew gets to know each other, learns more about Montgomery Village parks and properties, and starts building the groundwork for other summer projects. 

Each year brings different projects and challenges, but every Conservation Corps crew participates in basic park maintenance. This includes trash cleanups, playground inspections and gardening tasks. Opportunities for learning blend with projects as the crew takes on plant identification, trail maintenance, wildlife damage mitigation and equipment repair. For example, in 2025 the Conservation Corps installed a native plant garden at Whetstone Community Center, helped teach fishing at summer camps, and refurbished wooden park signs in addition to general maintenance projects around the parks.

This is a fantastic opportunity for young people who enjoy being outside and working with peers to make their community a better place. Applications for this summer may be obtained at the MVF Office, 10120 Apple Ridge Road, or online at www.montgomeryvillage.com. Once on the site, select “MVF” and then “Job & Volunteer Opportunities.” Please don’t delay if this opportunity excites you. The application deadline is Wednesday, April 1. For more information, contact Genny Brune at 240-243-2341 or This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it..