Montgomery County Recreation will begin accepting applications for 2026 Rec Assist, the department’s financial assistance program, on Monday, Dec. 8.

Rec Assist provides County residents who receive eligible public assistance an opportunity to receive a scholarship to use toward most Recreation classes, activities and memberships that have a cost associated with them. 

County residents who receive public assistance from any of these programs are eligible for Rec Assist:

• Care for Kids
• Free and Reduced-Price Meal Services (FARMS)
• Heat and Eat (H-EAT)
• Housing Assistance from a Shelter
• Maryland Energy Assistance
• Maryland Medicaid
• Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program (SNAP)
• Supplemental Social Security Income
• Temporary Cash Assistance (TCA)
• WIC 

Any student who attends a Montgomery County Public School participating in Community Eligibility Provision is eligible for Rec Assist. Proof of enrollment must be provided.

Once approved, each eligible family member will receive $400 placed on the qualifying individual’s ActiveMONTGOMERY account for use. Rec Assist 2026 funds are available for use from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2026, or until the funds are depleted. Funds are available on a first come, first served basis.  

Rec Assist applications will be accepted online, by mail to Montgomery County Recreation Attention Rec Assist, 2425 Reedie Drive, 10th Floor, Wheaton, MD, 20902 or can be dropped off at that same address Monday to Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. 

Once your application is approved, the amount of eligible assistance will be placed on your ActiveMONTGOMERY account within 10 business days. If you applied and received Rec Assist in 2025, it can be used on your account until the end of the year, Dec. 31, 2025, or until the fund is depleted. 

For more information or to apply online, visit mocorec.com/recassist. 

Make sure to save the dates for our FREE summer camps fairs taking place: 

• Saturday, Jan. 10 at Germantown Community Recreation Center
• Sunday, Jan. 11 at Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center

Both events will take place from 1 - 4 p.m. At the fairs, families can meet with MoCoRec staff and talk to instructors to ask questions and learn more about the offerings.

There will be crafts, games, snacks and more for the whole family to enjoy! You will also be able to apply on site for Rec Assist. These events are a great opportunity to get information about our hundreds of offerings as well as get in the camp spirit.

And get ready! Registration for summer camps will begin Tuesday, Jan. 20 at 6:30 a.m. for County residents. Registration will be available at ActiveMONTGOMERY.org. The digital GUIDE will be viewable online on Friday, Jan. 2.  

Thank you to everyone who participated in a Montgomery County Recreation program this fall. We hope you had a great experience!  

We have a lot of great events planned at our Montgomery County Recreation centers! Make sure to check out the full calendar on our website.

• Friday, Dec. 5:
  • Holiday Puppet Show, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Wisconsin Place Community Recreation Center
  • Winter Festival, 7 - 9 p.m. at Long Branch Community Recreation Center
• Saturday, Dec. 6:
  • Holiday Craft Show, 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center
  • Selfies with Santa, 10 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Marilyn J. Praisner Community Recreation Center
  • Letters to Santa, 1 - 4 p.m. at Germantown Community Recreation Center
  • Winter Wonderland with the Flash Bus, 4 - 7 p.m. at East County Community Recreation Center
• Sunday, Dec. 7: Holiday Craft Show, 1 - 5 p.m. at Clara Barton Neighborhood Recreation Center 
• Friday, Dec. 12:
  • Seniors 55+ Holiday Party, 11 a.m. - 1 p.m. at Potomac Community Recreation Center
  • Teens Night Out: Laser Tag, 6:30 - 8:30 p.m. at Long Branch Community Recreation Center
• Saturday, Dec. 13:
  • Cocoa and Crafts, 12 - 2 p.m. at Ross Boddy Neighborhood Recreation Center
  • Snowflake Festival and Games, 1 - 4 p.m. at Upper County Community Recreation Center
  • Teens Night Out: College Sports Recruiting Panel, 3 - 6 p.m. at Bauer Drive Community Recreation Center
  • Snow & Ice Family Festival, 3:30 - 6:30 p.m. at Nancy H. Dacek North Potomac Community Recreation Center
  • Deck the Halls with Spaghetti and Meatballs, 5 - 8:30 p.m. at Good Hope Neighborhood Recreation Center
• Thursday, Dec. 18:
  • Winter Wonderland Social, 1 - 4 p.m. at Silver Spring Senior Center
  • Sports Advisory Committee, 6 - 8 p.m. at Wheaton Community Recreation Center
• Saturday, Dec. 20:
  • Therapeutic Recreation - Santa's North Pole Express, 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. at White Oak Community Recreation Center
  • Winter Puppet Show, 10:30 a.m. - 12 p.m. at Longwood Community Recreation Center