Gaithersburg, MD
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Environmental Stewardship Program
The City offers environmental education and stewardship opportunities for volunteers dedicated to restoring and enhancing our community. We are honored to receive a Chesapeake Bay Small Watershed Grant from the National Fish & Wildlife Foundation and a Chesapeake Bay Trust Grant to support these efforts.
These grants have enabled the City to build partnerships with local schools, Homeowners Associations (HOAs), scouting troops, the Izaak Walton League, and various government and nonprofit organizations. Volunteers from these groups have generously contributed time and resources to support stream cleanups, reforestation projects, landscape enhancements, and stream monitoring.
Volunteer Opportunities
The City offers ongoing environmental education and volunteer opportunities for students and adults. We are always looking for volunteers to support these initiatives. If you or your organization is interested in participating, please contact Environmental Services.
Participation in these projects may help students earn Student Service Learning (SSL) credits or become eligible for a Gaithersburg Environmental Award.
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Volunteer Stream Monitoring
The City partners with volunteers to monitor habitats, benthic organisms, and water quality in local waterways. This program provides hands-on knowledge of water conditions, helps track stream health between official assessments, and identifies potential environmental concerns. The City provides training, equipment, and data collection forms to volunteers.Contact the Izaak Walton League to obtain Citizen Science Water Testing Kits
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Community Cleanup & Landscape Projects
The City organizes community cleanup and landscape enhancement projects where volunteers help clean and beautify local streams, lakes, parks, schools, and community spaces.For Community Cleanup Events, the City provides pick-up sticks, gloves, and trash bags for volunteer groups. The collected trash will be picked up by the City on the next business day and taken to the transfer station.
To request City support for a cleanup event, please fill out the form below. City staff will respond within two business days.
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Reforestation Projects
Volunteers are needed to plant native species to help restore riparian forest buffers, enhance parks, and restore wetlands. -
Invasive Exotic Species Removal
Invasive plants threaten local ecosystems. Volunteers help remove these species, creating space for native plants essential to the environment.The City recognizes Montgomery County Weed Warriors and offers reciprocity for their certification. If you are a certified Weed Warrior and would like to host an event at a City park, please contact environment@gaithersburgmd.gov.
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Storm Drain Stenciling
Help spread awareness about protecting our waterways! The City provides storm drain stenciling kits for students and community volunteers to mark storm drains with "Chesapeake Bay Drainage – Don’t Dump" messages. Instructions and City maps for tracking progress are included in the kits.G-PARC hosts an annual Storm Drain Art Contest. Click here for more details.