Charles County briefs

Find out what to do in the county this summer

The summer edition of “The GUIDE” is available online at www.CharlesCountyParks.com. “The GUIDE” features classes, sports programs and leagues, special events, swim lessons, guided kayak tours, historic sites and places to visit in Charles County, as well as opportunities to experience the outdoors.

You can view “The GUIDE” digitally at www.CharlesCountyParks.com. Connect with the parks and recreation department and find out more about programs at www.facebook.com/CharlesCountyParksRecreation.

Fatherhood program available

The Charles County Department of Social Services, with the support of A Father’s Place, Prince George’s County, offers fatherhood program virtual cohort sessions for eligible fathers, expectant fathers, and male role models who live in Charles County. Instructors will assist fathers, expectant fathers and male role models with developing long-lasting relationships with their children, communicating better with the mother of their children and employment support services and other supportive services. Complete a referral form at https://forms.gle/eDuktEnzangLT1zP9/. For more, email ccdss@afppgc.org or call or text 240-391-8892.

Apply now for Maryland Corps/Service Year Option

Applications are open for the Maryland Corps and the Service Year Option Program, two options for public service for those 18 and older. The programs were launched last year when the state’s newly created Department of Service and Civic Innovation piloted the service pathway to education and career opportunities for community members who either recently completed high school or are looking for a career change.

Members, who must be 18 or older, are required to serve full-time at a sponsoring organization and participate in targeted professional development. The program requires a minimum 40 hours per week time commitment between the service at the host site partner and the required professional development.

Participants in the program will be matched with a partner organization that will provide job training, mentorship and other resources. Additionally, participants will earn at least $15 an hour and receive weekly focused professional development.

Recent graduates can apply online at https://serving.md.gov/auth/signup?role=CANDIDATE by Sept. 11. To learn more, go to dsci.maryland.gov.

School system updates volunteer process

Charles County Public Schools updated its volunteer processes to establish a network of community members interested in supporting schools. The new Community Volunteer Program provides an opportunity for community members who are not the parent/guardian of an enrolled Charles student to volunteer their time in supporting schools.

Community members interested in volunteering with the Charles public school system can visit www.ccboe.com/parents/volunteer-information to complete an interest form. All volunteers are required to complete a prescreening questionnaire, online training and required background check. For more information, contact Sylvia Royster, director of community engagement and equity, at sroyster@ccboe.com.

VanGo moves to tracking app

Charles County government recently announced that VanGO replaced its current app with TripShot. The app features a suite of tools including live bus tracking, real-time schedule updates and custom notifications. The app also features trip planning and other capabilities. TripShot is available on smartphones, as well as on the computer.

To access online, visit www.go-Vango.com, select your desired routes and choose a stop nearest you to view estimated time of arrival.

To access the app on your smartphone, search “TripShot” on your app store, and download it for free. Once downloaded, Type “VanGo” in the system selection tab. From the main screen you can plan your trip, view nearby stops, and add specific routes to your favorites tab. You can also set up custom notifications for your route from the trip planner screen.

Call 301-645-0642 for more information.

Digital gift cards available now

Charles County’s digital gift card program, “With Love From Charles,” launched in May. Co-organized by the county’s economic development and the recreation, parks and tourism departments, “With Love From Charles” allows consumers to support participating local businesses using just one gift card. Once purchased, the gift cards will be emailed for immediate access.

The digital gift card acts like a physical card, making it user-friendly for both consumers and businesses. Gift cards will only be redeemable at participating Charles County businesses.

To purchase a digital gift card or for more information, go to https://app.yiftee.com/gift-card/charles-county--md.

Sheriff’s office implements program for records requests

The Charles County Sheriff’s Office recently announced the implementation of the NextRequest application, a solution designed to enhance and expedite the process of obtaining police records and Maryland’s Public Information Act requests. All requests for police records and PIAs can be done by accessing the NextRequest Portal on the agency’s website at www.ccso.us or directly at ccso-md.nextrequest.com.