chesapeake bay trust

 
Call for Chesapeake Conservation Corps Host Organizations:

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to announce the third year of the Chesapeake Conservation Corps initiative, a program that provides service-learning opportunities and green job training for young people through environmental and energy conservation projects. This initiative, supported by Constellation Energy, the Trust, and the State of Maryland, pairs young adults with watershed organizations that provide hands-on environmental, leadership, and technical training opportunities for a one-year term of service to begin late August 2012.

Currently the Trust is soliciting applications for Host Organizations that describe the types of environment, energy, agriculture, forestry, and/or K-12 environmental education activities in which the Corps Volunteer will be engaged. All applications are due by March 16, 2012.

The purpose of the Corps Program is two-fold: the first is for stipend Volunteers to work with Host Organizations and communities throughout Maryland to implement on-the-ground restoration and energy conservation projects. The second is to provide leadership and training opportunities for young adults pursuing environmental and conservation careers. The specific objectives of the Corps are to:

1) Promote, preserve, protect, and sustain local streams, rivers, the Bay, and Maryland’s other natural resources;

2) Provide young adults with opportunities to become better citizens, students, and workers through meaningful service to their communities and the State;

3) Mobilize, educate, and train young adults to work with communities and schools to promote energy conservation and mitigate and prevent threats to the environment;

4) Provide opportunities for young adults, especially disadvantaged young adults, to be trained for careers that will be part of the emerging green economy; and

5) Educate and train communities and individuals about the long-term actions needed to promote, preserve, protect, and sustain the environment.

To apply to be a host organization, download the application form here.

Contact Tara Baker or 410-974-2941, ext 102, with questions.

Chesapeake Conservation Corps Class of 2012

The Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to announce the second class of its Chesapeake Conservation Corps, a program that provides career and leadership training for young people interested in environmental careers and Chesapeake Bay protection. This initiative, established by the Maryland Legislature in 2010, matches young people, ages 18-25, with organizations throughout the state for paid, one-year terms of service. In its inaugural year, 16 Corps Volunteers worked on a variety of environmental initiatives including energy efficiency programs, restoration activities and clean-ups, water quality monitoring programs, reforestation projects and job training programs for youth. Due to the success of last year’s program, the Corps has expanded this year to include 21 participants, who will gain valuable work experience and partner with local communities to advance conservation initiatives in Maryland.

The new Corps volunteers were introduced to the 21 Maryland watershed organizations, county governments, and other nonprofits at which they will serve for the next year at the Severna Park Community Center on August 29, 2011. The Corps Volunteers are between the ages of 18 and 25 and bring diverse experience and backgrounds to their host organizations, ranging from international climate change and marine biology to experience working with volunteer organizations such as the Red Cross. Notably, four of last year’s Corps participants (25 percent) have already been hired by their host organizations as full time employees, thus providing sustained employment for young people in Maryland.