Volunteer & Internship Opportunities

The Department of Environmental Protection offers volunteer and internship opportunities throughout the year.

Volunteer Opportunities

Volunteer to Protect Our Local Waters

Become a Stream Steward! We offer the following watershed volunteer opportunities:

  • Organize a Community Cleanup
  • Join our Plogging program
  • Participate in Storm Drain Marking
  • Make Storm Drain Art

Learn more about the Stream Stewards Volunteer Program 

Recycling Volunteer Program

Montgomery County has a goal to reduce waste and recycle more, aiming for Zero Waste. To extend the reach of the Montgomery County, Maryland, Recycling & Resource Management Division’s (RRMD) resources, the Recycling Volunteer Program in was created in 1991 to educate neighbors, friends, and co-workers about the County’s waste reduction, reuse, and recycling programs.

Learn more about the Recycling Volunteer Program

Internships

Department areas of focus:

  • Water, Watershed Restoration and RainScapes
  • Biological Monitoring Internships (available over the summer season)
  • Outreach, Education and Communications
  • Energy
  • Trees and Air Quality
  • Sustainability and Climate Change
  • Compliance and Community Concerns

Submit your resume and cover letter by email to AskDEP@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov. You will hear from DEP if there is an interest in your application. We are unable to respond to everyone.

Summer Biological Monitoring Internship (Unpaid)

Location: Throughout Montgomery County, MD. Meet daily in Laytonsville, MD.

Compensation: Unpaid

Duration: Approximately May 21 to August 22, 2025

Description: Under the supervision of MCDEP stream monitoring staff you will:

  • Assist in the completion of dual-pass electrofishing surveys of first to fourth order streams using Maryland Biological Stream Survey (MBSS) based protocols.
  • Calibrate, inspect & prepare equipment dependent on daily needs.
  • Complete herpetofauna presence/absent surveys at all biological sampling sites.
  • Assist in developing draft content for social media posts.
  • Possible office activities include entry of field data into the Department’s database and completion of independent projects based on the needs of the Department and intern’s interests. 

Minimum Requirements:

  • Demonstrated interest in ecology or aquatic biology.
  • Ability to operate with minimal supervision.
  • A current undergraduate or graduate student.
  • Ability to work in all environmental conditions and lift 40lbs.
  • Minimum availability of two full business days (7:30 am to 4:00 pm) per week.

Application Deadline: April 11, 2025

Apply for the Biomonitoring Internship

Send any questions to AskDEP@MontgomeryCountyMD.gov.