| April 2024

Register for Programs Today!

Registration for 2024 spring programs and summer camps is underway! Programs and activities are tailored to a variety of interests, skill levels and ages. Offerings include aquatics, fitness, sports, visual and performing arts, therapeutic recreation, adult 55+ programming and more. There are hundreds of programs available that promote an active, healthier lifestyle.

Save the dates for upcoming registration dates for programs and activities:

• Summer – Monday, May 13 (Programs Viewable Online Friday, May 3)
• Fall - Monday, Aug. 12 (Programs Viewable Online Friday, Aug. 2)
• Winter - Tuesday, Nov. 12 (Programs Viewable Online Friday, Nov. 1)

There are the registration dates for County residents. Registration for non-County residents will begin two days after the initial registration. Registration begins at 6:30 a.m. for most programs and activities.

Applications are currently being accepted for Recreation’s financial assistance program, Rec Assist, which provides eligible County residents with $400 per eligible family member to use toward most programs and activities.

For more information, visit the website or call the customer service team at 240-777-6840.

Plan ahead for registration by listening to the latest episode of Inside Recreation, Montgomery County Recreation's newly launched podcast. In this episode host Carmen Berrios Martinez speaks with Montgomery County Recreation Countywide Programs Manager Amanda DeFilippo and Customer Service Representative Michelle Martinez (in Spanish) about what County residents should know about the registration process.

The podcast provides community members with another way to get information and updates from the department. You can listen to Inside Recreation on a variety of platforms including Spotify, Amazon Music, Podcast Index and Buzzsprout. 

Fashion Boot Camp 2024 Celebrates Fashion in Movies

Friday, March 22 marked the conclusion of the 8^th season of Montgomery County Recreation’s Fashion Boot Camp program. This year’s theme was “Fashion Within the Movies’’ and 52 students strutted their stuff at the finale. Guest appearances were made by Miss Bethesda (Jenny Nguyen) and Miss Teen Bethesda (Blakley Pfaff).

What started off as an alternative arts and entertainment opportunity for youth has morphed into an incredibly successful program celebrating creativity, discipline, teamwork and commitment. The Fashion Boot Camp program was initially launched under the helpful guidance of Sara Swarr (now Senior Programs Manager) and Adriane Clutter (now Division Chief) in, 2015.    

“We wanted to give the youth a new way to express themselves while highlighting their unique skills and diversity” said Program Division Chief Adriane Clutter. “We were surrounded by artistic kids that needed an outlet and Fashion Boot Camp gave them one. Their dedication, showmanship and creativity astonishes me daily.” 

For 10 weeks, every Friday night, students show up ready to learn and grow. They are taught lifelong skills while learning modeling fundamentals, precision, time management, choreography, leadership and team building. Guest speakers run mindfulness sessions, offer alumni support, mentor students and encourage them on their journey. The program culminates with the finale performance.  

The boot camp elements of the program increase the students’ mental and physical toughness whether it be in the modeling world or their daily activities. Students have grown exponentially in their confidence, communication, socialization and discipline. Graduates of the program have gone on to pursue their passions in fashion, media, education, medicine, law and business.  

Each year the program is modeled after a different theme. Students are responsible for learning themed choreography. Previous themes have included: 

• Fashion in the World 
• Fashion in Media  
• Fashion in Holidays 

This year’s program would not have been possible without the leadership and commitment of Recreation’s Youth Development Team including Lyrisd Charles, Shawn Alvarez and Emily McDonell. Check out this special video from this year’s finale.

Showcasing Our Services: "Coach" Doug Wilson, Jr.

Coach Doug Academy is offered in partnership with Montgomery County Recreation and provides a wide variety of activities at sites across Montgomery County. "Coach" Doug Wilson, Jr. has worked as a contractor with the department for more than 30 years.

In addition to providing a stellar camp experience for children and their families through sports, arts and crafts, nature and more, Coach Doug emphasizes the importance of establishing lifelong skills like building confidence and self-esteem.

“We try to make everybody successful,” Coach Doug said. “It doesn’t matter at what level it is. Confidence is important and something you carry with you your entire life. You can be successful at a low level. You can be successful at a high level. But it’s still important to feel success.”

Following a horrific motorcycle accident in 1991 that left him in a coma for eight days, Coach Doug spent his time shortly after leaving the hospital as a volunteer with Montgomery County Recreation’s Club Friday program. He said it was the inspiration he needed to get through such a dark time and eventually establish the Coach Doug Academy camps.

“Club Friday helped get me back on my feet, so to speak,” Coach Doug explained.

Throughout the calendar year, Coach Doug Academy holds summer camps and classes, seasonal sports camps, spring and winter break camps and We Wanna Be and soccer camps for children ages 3-7.

This summer the Coach Doug Summer Camp Adventures will be held at Tilden Woods Local Park in Rockville, featuring tennis courts, basketball courts, soccer fields, a playground, an indoor structure, nature trails and lots of shade during the hot summer days. Coach Doug and his team also plan fun events to surprise campers throughout the week.

“Every day when the kids come to camp, we try to set up the camp differently,” Coach Doug said. “We break things down at night and then in the morning, we change how we set it up. Each day is different. Thursdays for instance is Carnival Day so that’s when we bring out carnival activities such as a moon bounce and a deejay for the day.”

He said another important goal of the Coach Doug Academy camps is to get children outdoors and provide them a respite from phone and computer screens.

Throughout the years, Coach Doug has received numerous awards for his work in the community, including being named the 1996 Montgomery County Man of the Year and receiving a number of Maryland Governor’s Citations. He hopes that the Coach Doug Academy camps can provide County residents with a little financial relief combined with a great service.

“I feel that our camps offer a great value in Montgomery County. We’re trying to keep our prices modest, if you will. But we try to overdeliver our camps. Try to have fun, be educational, work on character, confidence and self-esteem.”

You can register for one of the Coach Doug Summer Adventure Camps at Tilden Woods this summer through ActiveMONTGOMERY. The camp runs from late June through mid-August. For each week of the camp, you can sign up for either the full day or half days in the morning or afternoon.

April Programming at the Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center

Montgomery County Recreation's Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center (SSRAC) is now open! The SSRAC is located at 1319 Apple Ave., across the street from the Cameron Street Garage (where paid parking is available) and is within walking distance from the Silver Spring metro station.

The fitness center at SSRAC recently opened with brand new equipment ranging from treadmills, weight benches, exercise machines and more to help you on your physical wellbeing journey.

The open gym schedule is packed in April, including pickleball, basketball, volleyball, badminton and futsal. All participants below the age of 11 must be accompanied by an adult over the age of 18 at all times. No food, gum or drinks besides water are allowed in the fitness center or gym and only athletic wear is permitted inside these two areas.

Make sure to sign up for our FREE RecFit pass, which gives County residents access to all of our fitness centers and open gym activities. To get yours visit any Montgomery County Recreation center and provide proof of residency (a photo ID with an address or a photo ID and a current utility bill). The free RecFit pass does not include access to aquatic centers.

The Silver Spring Senior Center offers a wide variety of programs and services for County residents ages 55 and older. Exercise, health, sports, education, wellness and social activities are provided on a daily basis. In addition, workshops, short-term classes and introductory demonstrations are also offered.

Several activities that are held throughout the week include weight room orientation, ballet, bone builders, watercolor painting, needlecraft, cornhole, memoir writing, bridge and much more. 

A few highlighted events this month include:

• Wednesday, April 3 at 1 p.m. - Commission on Aging Ambassador Presentation
• Thursday, April 4 at 1 p.m. - Less Mess: Decluttering Workshop
• Wednesday, April 10 at 1 p.m. - Emergency Preparedness Presentation with the Montgomery County's Office of Emergency Management and Homeland Security

Our aquatic programming at the SSRAC is also in full swing! The center has a competition pool, leisure pool, recreation pool and two hot tubs. Amenities include diving boards, slides, a splash area and an aquatic rock-climbing wall. Accessibility features include ramps, elevators, ladders and lifts. Check out the weekly pool schedule to help you plan for your next visit. Water fitness classes are also now available. Make sure to read up on information about our pool passes and approved swim attire so that way you have more time to enjoy once you arrive.

For more information, please visit our website.

Project Prom Dress Giveaway, Saturday, April 13

Montgomery County Recreation is helping make the dream of attending prom for County high school students a reality. During the third “Project Prom Dress” giveaway event students will be able to choose from gently used and new dresses, suits, shoes and accessories at Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center, Saturday, April 13, from 10 a.m. – 2 p.m.

Items will be dry cleaned and displayed in a special formal boutique at the Center. On the day of the event, any high school student with their I.D. card will be able to “shop the racks” and select an outfit. More than 160 students attended the event in 2023.

Project Prom Dress seeks to eliminate the financial obstacle of attending prom, which for many students, turns out to be one of the most memorable days of high school. View photos from last year’s giveaway event through Montgomery County Recreation’s Flickr album.

JCA and MoCoRec Partner for Travel Training Workshop

Work with Montgomery County Recreation this Summer

We’re looking for energetic individuals with a passion for recreation to join our team! Want to learn more about available positions and how to apply? Join Montgomery County Recreation at upcoming job fairs to learn more about summer employment:

• Thursday, April 4, 6 – 8:30 p.m. at Upper County Community Recreation Center 
• Saturday, April 6, 10 a.m. – 12:30 p.m. at Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center 
• Saturday, April 6, 3 – 5:30 p.m. at East County Community Recreation Center

Applicants should bring their resumes, come dressed for success and be prepared to discuss their experience. The department is looking for dedicated, hardworking and motivated individuals. Applicants should note these job fairs are not job or location specific. Applicants may attend any job fair regardless of where they are seeking to work in the County.  

The part-time/seasonal pay rate begins at $16.70 an hour and increases based on experience. Applicants must be at least 16 years of age at the start of camps (lifeguards must be at least 15). Bilingual applicants are encouraged to apply. 

As a condition of employment, applicants will be required to pass a criminal background investigation. The investigation will include state, federal and sex offender background checks. 

Senior Cardboard Boat Regatta Makes a Splash

With creativity and enthusiasm on full display, it was a great turnout last month at Montgomery County Recreation's 2024 Senior Cardboard Boat Regatta. Teams participated from all of Recreation's Senior Centers across the County, with a special team from Poolesville, with participants and spectators travelling to Martin Luther King, Jr. Swim Center!

It was an exhilarating day of community and camaraderie that, after months of planning, saw participants test their cardboard boats to see which boat went the fastest. Congrats to Wheaton Senior Center on having the fastest vessel with a time of 53.12 seconds!

Want to get in on the fun? Join us at Olney Swim Center for this year’s Rec Regatta on Saturday, April 27 from noon to 3 p.m.  Awards will be given for the fastest boat, best design, team spirit and more.

Boats and paddles can only be created from clean cardboard and duct tape and must hold two people. The bottom of the boat may not be covered with duct tape. Boats may be a maximum width of five feet and a maximum length of seven feet. Family groups can have all ages participate in boat creation but must be 10 or older to be in the boat.

Registration is $10 per boat and can be completed online here: ActiveMONTGOMERY.

Upcoming Events with Montgomery County Recreation