| August 2025

• Fall Program Registration Begins Tuesday, Aug. 12
• Party with MoCoRec at the Second Annual Big Bloom Music Festival
• Facility Closings for Annual Maintenance and Cleaning
• Bring Your Pup to Our Pooch Pool Party on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24
• Mark Your Calendars for the Outdoor Pools' Postseason Schedule
• Summer Camps are Winding Down
• Flag Football Returns this Fall
• Jazzlyn Flores and Her Maryland Senior Olympics Journey
• Afterschool Fun with Club Adventure
• MoCoRec Celebrates with Eight NACo Achievement Award Wins!
• Upcoming Events with Montgomery County Recreation 

Watch The Rec Insider on YouTube

Want a quick recap of everything that's happening with Montgomery County Recreation this month? Watch the August edition of The Rec Insider on our YouTube channel!

Fall Program Registration Begins Tuesday, Aug. 12

It may not feel like it outside, but fall is quickly approaching and that means registration for programs and activities is almost here! Registration begins Tuesday, Aug. 12 at 6:30 a.m. for County residents for most programs and activities. Registration for all senior programs, including popular offerings such as Bone Builders, Day Trippers and Senior Outdoor Adventures in Recreation (SOAR) will begin at 9 a.m. on the same day. 

Non-County residents can register for fall programs beginning Thursday, Aug. 14, at 6:30 a.m. 

The Fall GUIDE is now available online! This comprehensive digital guide provides detailed information on hundreds of programs, classes, sports leagues, trips, events and other activities available this fall. Offerings include fitness, aquatics, sports, education, art, music, health and wellness, therapeutic recreation and adult 55+ programming.

Residents are highly encouraged to register online at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. Be sure to log into your ActiveMONTGOMERY account ahead of time to ensure your information is up to date. Learn more here about how to create or update an online account and get answers to other frequently asked questions.

Registration is also available in person, by mail or by drop-off. In-person registration will begin on Aug. 12 at 6:30 a.m. at the County's administrative office in Wheaton (10th floor, 2425 Reedie Drive) and at any County indoor aquatic center. Additionally, registration can be completed in person at all other Montgomery County Recreation facilities during business hours.

For more information about registration, visit mocorec.com or call the customer service team at 240-777-6840.

Party with MoCoRec at the Second Annual Big Bloom Music Festival

Looking for a great event for the whole family to enjoy? Look no further and join Montgomery County Recreation for the second annual Big Bloom Festival at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center this Saturday, Aug. 9, from 5 to 8 p.m.

There will be live performances featuring a Tina Turner tribute by vocalist IO and The Experience Band & Show. There will also be food trucks, County resources, a moon bounce, arts and crafts and additional specialty activities.

Attendees are encouraged to bring their own lawn chairs and blankets. Registration is not required.

The Big Bloom Festival is a part of the Bloom at Good Hope concert series designed to expand access to the arts through community collaborations and partnerships. The concerts are made possible through a partnership with Strathmore. Mark your calendars for performances taking place this fall as part of the Bloom at Good Hope concert series:   Saturday, Sept. 13, Dante Pope (Soulful sounds of Chicago legends) Saturday, Oct. 11, Alex Hamburger (Flute and Voice celebrate Women Composers) For more information, check out the Strathmore website.

Facility Closings for Annual Maintenance and Cleaning

Some of our locations will be closed throughout August and September for annual maintenance and cleaning. Here are the closing dates and locations:

Aquatic Centers

• Closed through Aug. 15: Martin Luther King, Jr. Indoor Swim Center
• Closed Aug. 10 - 24: Olney Swim Center
• Closed Aug. 16 - Sept. 1: Germantown Indoor Swim Center
• Closed Aug. 30 - Sept. 14: Silver Spring Recreation and Aquatic Center

Recreation Centers

• Closed through Aug. 10
  • Damascus Community Recreation Center
  • Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
• Closed Aug. 10 - 17
  • Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center
  • Clara Barton Neighborhood Recreation Center
  • Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Recreation Center
• Closed Aug. 17 - 24
  • Long Branch Community Recreation Center
  • White Oak Community Recreation Center
• Closed Aug. 24 - 31
  • Mid-County Community Recreation Center
  • Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center
  • Upper County Community Recreation Center
• Closed Aug. 31 - Sept. 7
  • Wisconsin Place Community Recreation Center
• Closed Sept. 7 - 14
  • Germantown Community Recreation Center
• Closed Sept. 14 - 21
  • Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center
  • Potomac Community Recreation Center
• Closed Sept. 21 - 28
  • Bette Carol Thompson Scotland Neighborhood Recreation Center
  • Wheaton Community Recreation Center

Bring Your Pup to Our Pooch Pool Party on Aug. 23 and Aug. 24

Celebrate the 'dog days' of summer at our annual summer Pooch Pool Party at Upper County Outdoor Pool in Gaithersburg on Saturday, Aug. 23 and Sunday, Aug. 24 from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

Bring your canine companion and join us for fun in the water as we open the pool exclusively to the dogs! Dogs will be allowed to swim and frolic at the pool before it is closed and cleaned for the winter.

Registration, with a $10 fee, as well as written proof of current rabies vaccination are required for admission. Each dog must be accompanied by a responsible adult. 

Check out photos from last year's Pooch Pool Party in our Flickr album!

Mark Your Calendars for the Outdoor Pools' Postseason Schedule

On Saturday, Aug. 16, we will splash into the post-season schedule at our Montgomery County Recreation outdoor pools. 

Make sure to visit the website for complete schedule information. Take note of: 

• Weekday hours change to 1 - 7 p.m.
• Weekend hours change to Noon - 6 p.m. 
• Upper County Outdoor Pool's (8211 Emory Grove Road, Gaithersburg) last open day will be Sunday, Aug. 17 (a reminder that the pool is also closed on Fridays) 
• All pools will be closed Aug. 25 - 29.
• Pools will open on Monday, Sept. 1 for Labor Day sessions from 11 a.m. - 2 p.m. and 3 - 6 p.m.

It's not too late to get a punch pass to use for the remainder of the summer and throughout the fall at the indoor aquatic centers! Check out all aquatics memberships available here. 

Summer Camps are Winding Down

Our summer camp season is almost complete, and we'd like to thank all of our campers and families for their role in helping make this the best summer yet! 

From team games, making creative crafts, dynamic sports, field trips and more, it's been a blast for us at Montgomery County Recreation, and we hope you've enjoyed this summer with us as well.

Check out our favorite photos that we have received from our wide array of camps this summer in our Flickr album!

We want to hear from YOU. If you had a camper participate in one of our programs in 2025, please complete the survey. Community feedback helps us continue to improve our offerings.

Flag Football Returns this Fall

Our Montgomery County Recreation NFL Flag Football League is back for another exhilarating season!

The league is an exciting, non-contact alternative to traditional tackle football and promotes fitness, teamwork and fun for all participants. Whether you're a seasoned veteran or a rookie to the sport, you'll have a great time engaging in friendly competition with friends while improving your skills on the field and making lasting memories.

Registration is now underway with locations at Damascus Community Recreation Center, Wheaton High School and Albert Einstein High School in Kensington. This program is offered for youth ages 6-14 and costs just $60. We will host a kickoff event on Sunday, Sept. 7 at Wheaton High School, followed by five weeks of games and practices on Sundays between 8 a.m. and 5 p.m. Practices will be one hour before game time. 

Registration ends Sunday, Aug. 17. Teams and divisions will be established after the registration period ends.

Jazzlyn Flores and Her Maryland Senior Olympics Journey

The latest episode of Inside Recreation is out and delves into the story of County resident Jazzlyn Flores and her journey to competing and winning silver medals in swimming at the Maryland Senior Olympics!

Joined by Stacy Sigler, who is a Recreation Supervisor on our Senior Programs Team and the State Coordinator for the Maryland Senior Olympics, learn more about Jazzlyn’s experiences with the Maryland Senior Olympics, the organization itself and how you can participate and volunteer at upcoming events this year.

Listen to this episode of Inside Recreation now on major streaming platforms including Buzzsprout, Spotify, Apple Podcasts and iHeart. You can also watch this episode on our YouTube channel.

Afterschool Fun with Club Adventure

It's almost time for students to head back to school and that means we're about to kick off our Club Adventure afterschool program for the 2025-2026 school year!

Club Adventure takes place monthly at a number of our community recreation centers and is for students from kindergarten to fifth grade. For just $75 each month, Club Adventure provides an affordable alternative to other daycare options while maintaining exciting programming and is led by professional and dedicated staff. 

Registration for Club Adventure, along with all of our fall programs, begins on Tuesday, Aug. 12. Club Adventure will be held at the following locations this fall:

• Damascus Community Recreation Center
• East County Community Recreation Center
• Gwendolyn E. Coffield Community Recreation Center
• Long Branch Community Recreation Center
• Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
• Mid-County Community Recreation Center
• Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center
• Plum Gar Community Recreation Center
• Upper County Community Recreation Center
• White Oak Community Recreation Center

MoCoRec Celebrates with Eight NACo Achievement Award Wins!

Montgomery County Recreation is proud to have received eight recognitions in the 2025 National Association of Counties (NACo) Achievements Awards! Since 1970, the NACo Achievement Awards have recognized outstanding county government programs and services. Noteworthy programs receive awards that cover a vast range of county responsibilities.

Learn more about the Department's programs that were recognized:

Our Aquatic Egg Hunt combined the traditional fun of an egg hunt with the excitement of water-based activities!  The event promoted exploration and discovery while encouraging teamwork and creativity among participants of all ages, in order to locate the eggs. The event also helped raise awareness about the importance of water safety for County residents.

The Cardboard Boat Regattas brought members of the community together to transform simple materials into multi-month engagement initiatives across the County.  Participants collaborated to design and build boats using only cardboard, duct tape and garbage bags. Our Senior Cardboard Boat Regatta was held at the Martin Luther King Jr. Swim Center and the Rec Regatta event was held at Olney Swim Center. Teams competed for awards in speed, creativity, team spirit and leadership.

The frequency of fire-related disasters has been on the rise nationally and includes incidents such as unattended cooking fires, lithium battery fires, gas explosions and more. Building on the success of the 'Coffee with a Cop' program at Holiday Park Senior Center, the 'Fire Safety, One Cup of Cocoa at a Time' program allowed residents to meet with public safety officials to learn about fire safety.

Montgomery County Recreation teamed up with Montgomery County Fire and Rescue Service again to help train youth in Recreation's after-school programs in the Hands-Only CPR Campaign. Students gained the knowledge and skills to perform the emergency procedure and to make a lifesaving impact. Participants also learned about potential career paths in becoming firefighters or emergency medical services personnel.

Montgomery County Recreation’s Skateboarding Program is designed to foster self-confidence, community and skill development (with a focus on girls) in a traditionally male-dominated sport. The program offers learn-to-skate workshops, structured camps and community skate events led by skilled instructors. The number of participants in the skateboarding program increased 229 percent between fiscal year 2024 and fiscal year 2025.

The Rock-reation: Indoor Rock-Climbing Program was a one-day adaptive recreational experience designed to introduce youth – particularly neurodivergent participants – to the fundamentals of indoor rock climbing. Research shows that rock climbing enhances mindfulness, executive function and self-esteem, making it an ideal activity for those seeking a mentally and physically engaging sport.

MoCoRec teamed up with Montgomery Parks for Under the Lights, an initiative that provides free drop-in access to high-quality outdoor field space in the evenings for teenagers. Under The Lights offers athletic experiences in soccer and flag football to youth in a safe environment.

The Youth Cricket Academy provides a range of year-round programs to learn about and play the second-most popular sport in the world.  Since the start of the program, the County has seen positive feedback from coaches and players, and the visibility of cricket has increased in the area. Check out our recent Inside Recreation podcast episode to learn more about the Youth Cricket Academy.

Upcoming Events with Montgomery County Recreation