Environment, Rockville Reports

Early Bird Earth Month Activities in Rockville

March 1, 2026

Update Friday, March 13: This article has been updated to add information about Pull for the Planet volunteer events in April and May.

Earth Day is Wednesday, April 22, but Rockville and Montgomery County celebrate throughout spring with the following events:

Rockville will turn out the lights in observance of Earth Hour, an international effort in support of climate change action. Learn more and find ways to participate in Earth Hour every day at
earthhour.org.

To commemorate Earth Month, Rockville will waive permit fees for certain environmentally friendly home improvements, including solar photovoltaic panel installations, electric vehicle charging stations and energy-efficient heating and cooling systems, such as heat pumps. Applications must be submitted by Thursday, April 30 via the permitting system at mygovernmentonline.org.

City staff will greet volunteers. Gloves and bags will be provided. Student Service-Learning hours are available. Children younger than 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Bring water and wear sturdy shoes. Space is limited. Registration required.

Help restore native habitat by volunteering to remove non-native invasive garlic mustard from Rockville parks in April and May. Pull sites include Croydon Creek Nature Center, RedGate Park, Twinbrook Park, Dogwood Park and Fallsgrove Park. Student Service Learning hours are available. Children under 14 must be accompanied by an adult. Registration required at rockvillemd.gov/weedwarriors.

Join the Climate Solutions Speaker Series at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 16 for a virtual webinar with Lisa Kuder from the Maryland native plants program at the University of Maryland Extension. Attendees will learn how to use the new “Maryland Native Plant Guide for the Piedmont Region” to select the right native plants for their property and explore helpful resources, including certified native plant retailers.

Be part of a global effort to observe and document local wildlife during the City Nature Challenge. Join nature center staff on a guided walk through the forest preserve, where naturalists will demonstrate using the iNaturalist app to record plants and animals, big and small. Ages 6 and older. Children must be accompanied by an adult. Register at rockvillemd.gov/registration for course #39958, beginning Tuesday, March 3 for residents and March 5 for nonresidents.

The largest annual environmental festival in Montgomery County is organized by a coalition of public and nonprofit partners and offers the chance to celebrate, learn, start or continue the journey to improving the community and the environment.

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Learn more at rockvillesciencecenter.org/rockville-science-day.

Connect with building owners, property managers, developers, energy contractors and sustainability professionals while exploring strategies that take building performance beyond basic benchmarking.

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Bring beauty and biodiversity to your yard with Maryland native plants selected for our local ecosystem. Native plants support pollinators, strengthen watershed health, and create resilient landscapes that thrive in our region.

Every purchase supports Croydon Creek Nature Center’s environmental education programs, community outreach, and conservation initiatives. The sale is while supplies last. Come early!

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Celebrate Kids to Parks Day with a fun-filled spring festival at Croydon Creek Nature Center. The whole family will enjoy nature games and crafts, woodland hikes, live animal meet-and-greets, sustainability exhibits, local vendors and more. This free, drop-in event will take place rain or shine.

Join Rockville Weed Warrior Leaders for non-native, invasive plant removal workdays. Student Service Learning hours are available. Space is limited. Find upcoming events and register at rockvillemd.gov/weedwarriors.

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Sign up for seasonal email newsletter updates on environmental events, volunteer opportunities and climate action news. Visit rockvillemd.gov/newsletters and select “Environment and Sustainability.”