Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps · Jobs Corps are considered to be ... school suspension, dropping...

Maryland Department of Natural Resources Conservation Jobs Corps Final Report

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Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps Conservation Service, Reconnecting Youth and Nature

2012 Report


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Table of Contents

About Us…………………………………………………………………………………………………...4

Corps Member Highlight: Christian Merryman………………………………………………………5

Theory That Drives the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps………………………………………...8

Theories on At-Risk Youth……………………………………………………………………...8

Theories on Wilderness Therapy……………………………………………………………….9

Theories on Nature……………………………………………………………………………..10

An Interview with a First Year Corps Member: Mykal Johnson…………………………………...13

Program Structure……………………………………………………………………………………….15

The CJC Enrichment Experience……………………………………………………………………….17

Camping Experience……………………………………………………………………………17

The Friday Enrichment Experience…………………………………………………………...19

Daily Operations………………………………………………………………………………………...20

CJC’s Core Values: The SPIRIT Principles…………………………………………………………….21

Corps Member Highlight: Antoine Brooks…………………………………………………………...23

CJC’s Base Parks…………………………………………………………………………………………25

Assateague Island State Park………………………………………………………………….26

Gunpowder Falls State Park…………………………………………………………………...28

Gwynns Falls Trail Park………………………………………………………………………..30

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary……………………………………………………………………..30

Patapsco Valley State Park……………………………………………………………………..32

Seneca Creek State Park………………………………………………………………………..34

Susquehanna State Park………………………………………………………………………..35

Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps 2012 Camp Staff……………………………………………….37


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Our Partners……………………………………………………………………………………………...38

The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps Summer 2012 Report…………………………………….39

Tangible Results: CJC’s 2012 Accomplishments……………………………………………..41

Youth Development…………………………………………………………………………….43

Retention and Successful Completion of the Program……………………………………...44

An Interview with a First Year Corps Member: Ka’pree Brantley………………………...45

Survey Data……………………………………………………………………………………...46

Corps Member Highlight: Cara Brown………………………………………………………53

Performance Evaluation Data…………………………………………………………………54

Project Highlight: From Start to Finish………………………………………………………………..57

Conclusions………………………………………………………………………………………………58

Works Cited……………………………………………………………………………………………...60


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About Us:

The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps (CJC) is a six-week summer employment program for disadvantaged youth. Operated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, CJC aims to provide a wide array of job and life skills training, while engaging youth in conservation service projects that restore Maryland State Parks and other public lands. CJC combines outdoor experiential activities and the power of nature to challenge and enrich the lives of youth while preparing them for future success in the workforce.

CJC began in 2008, as a special initiative of Governor Martin O’Malley, and today operates in seven parks including: Assateague State Park, Gunpowder Falls State Park, Gwynns Falls Trail, Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary, Patapsco Valley State Park, Seneca Creek State Park, and Susquehanna State Park.

The youth, known as Corps Members (age 14 – 17), report to work five days a week and engage in habitat and facility restoration projects at these parks, as well as in nearby city or county parks. CJC youth learn the necessary skills to remove invasive species, maintain trails, plant native species of trees and plants, construct structures, and maintain historic sites. Not only do these skills provide youth with valuable work experience needed for today’s job market, but also provides youth with confidence and teamwork skills. The opportunities provided by the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps may open youth to new possibilities, including higher education, technical school, or “green jobs” which they may have never previously considered.

The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps has created both a mission and a set of goals which serve as the foundation of the program. On a daily basis, CJC aspires to achieve the following:

Mission:

To provide disadvantaged youth with opportunities for skills training, empowerment, and employment and to restore natural and recreational resources in Maryland State Parks, public lands in general, and the Chesapeake Bay and its tributaries.


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Goals:

1. Teach job skills and life skills through conservation service.

2. Restore natural and cultural resources in Maryland State Parks and other public lands.

3. Develop environmental citizenship through the introduction and application of environmental stewardship principles.

4. Build personal connections to nature through outdoor recreation and nature interpretation.

Corps Member Highlight

Name: Christian Merryman

Park: Susquehanna State Park

Year with CJC: 3rd

Christian began CJC as a High School Freshman who enjoyed being outside, completing tasks and

learning new things. Unlike many first year Corps Members, this was not Christian’s first job, he had

previous experience in the construction industry. In his first year in 2010, he had never been suspended/

expelled from school.

After his first summer in 2010, Christian applied the SPIRIT Principles to his personal life by

volunteering to help at his church and in his community. According to Christian, CJC allowed him to

become more respectful towards other students and teachers at school.

“We abuse land because we regard it as a commodity belonging to us, when we see land as a community

to which we belong we may begin to use it with love and respect.”

-Aldo Leopold


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Christian returned to CJC in the summer of 2011 to gain job experience for the future. In his second

summer with the program, Christian consistently scored excellent and outstanding ratings on his

performance evaluations.

By 2012, Christian was a third year Corps Member with CJC who loved being outdoors. Christian stated

that being outdoors makes him feel happy, peaceful, calm and relaxed. By his third year in CJC Christian

had made good friends and gained new skills which had encouraged him to return. Christian continued

to apply the SPIRIT Principles to his life outside of CJC by working hard in school and making Honor

Roll. He also has grown to value inclusiveness and the importance of accepting individuals for their

differences. Consistent with his previous years in CJC, Christian continued to score “excellent” ratings

on his performance evaluations in 2012. Like many of his fellow Corps Members, Christian indicated

that he enjoys camping, fishing, picnicking, hiking, swimming, and canoeing. In the future, Christian

plans to not litter, recycle, plant trees, encourage others to not litter, encourage others to recycle and

volunteer to help clean his community. He also has plans to graduate from High School and work either

outside or for a construction company. Eventually he would like to start his own business.


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Theory That Drives the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps

Joining Theories on At-Risk Youth Development

and Nature

At Risk Youth Theories: Youth who participate in the Maryland Conservation

Jobs Corps are considered to be “disadvantaged” or “at-risk.” This makes it crucial to

understand the body of research that has been previously conducted on the challenges and

problems that are unique to this population. It has been observed that disadvantaged social

groups are strongly concentrated to American cities, making them hotspots for both

environmental and social disparity. These disadvantaged social groups are observed to be at a

higher risk then the general population for behavioral problems as determined by Bempechat and

Ginsburg (1989) i. It was determined in this study that the most prominent behaviors among at-

risk youth include truancy (unexcused absence from school), grade retention (being held back a

grade level), school suspension, dropping out, poor attitudes, specific beliefs and personality

traits, and poor overall academic achievement v. The problems faced by at-risk youths were also

studied by Peter (2007) who came to similar conclusionsii. Peter concluded that the specific

demographic group of urban, at-risk youths is also at much higher risk for gang involvementvi,

which is on the rise across the nation according to Howell (2010) vii. In the 1970’s nineteen

states reported youth gang problems, by the mid 1990’s this number increased to all fifty statesiii.

According to this research, these youths are attracted to gangs for their social action, parties,

hangouts, music, drugs, opportunities to meet the opposite sex, protection, respect, fun and

family ties vii. Some of the risk factors cited for potential gang involvement included anti-social

behavior, alcohol and drug abuse, mental health problems, victimization (abuse/neglect) and

negative life events vii.

Additionally, Josipa et, al. (2011) looked further into problems that affect at-risk

populationsiv. In this article, young people at-risk are defined as “people who exhibit behavior

points of view or faults considered indicative of subsequent behavioral problems viii.” This


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population has also been observed to suffer from disorders such as anxiety, depression, suicides,

and mental health disorders viii. Also, violent behavior, criminal activity, juvenile offenses,

alcoholic consumption, drug abuse and risky sexual behaviors have been observed at higher rates

viii. Similar to Josipa, at-risk youth and depression was studied by Yu et, al. (2006) who

examined the links between parental involvement, youth depression and youth risk involvementv.

What was concluded was that older youth with previous histories of behavioral problems were at

the most risk for depression because of their decreased levels of parental monitoring and

independent nature ix.

In close relation, Hopkins (2011) observed the effects that increased community

involvement, specifically in community radio, had on at-risk populations in urban Melbornevi.

The theory that drove this research was that there are direct links between arts and skill building

among at-risk youth, which is similar to the nature based theory that drives the Conservation Job

Corps x. Hopkins concluded that the results of such a program are hard to gauge but there are

definite links between youth, media, and becoming better citizens x. Greater community

involvement was also researched by Ramey et, al. (2010) who concluded that greater

engagement has links to reduced suicide rates, which is the leading cause of death among

adolescents in many industrialized countriesvii. Additional research has been conducted by

Mueller et, al. (2010) on the links between youth assets and resources on risky sexual behaviors

displayed by at-risk males versus femalesviii.

Theories on Wilderness Therapy: In response to the growing number of

children with “nature deficiency” and the rising level youth exhibiting problem behaviors there

has been a growing body of research on “Wilderness Therapy xiii.” These therapeutic programs

are often alternatives to in-patient treatments designed for at-risk adolescents. Russell (2000)

explores the effectiveness of these programs and studies four different wilderness therapy

programsix. He discovers that the majority of participants experienced a better relationship with

their families, abstinence from drugs and alcohol and the desire to complete school and try

harder as a result of the program xiii. Another study of wilderness therapy was conducted by

Conner (2007) which evaluated participants newly introduced to the wildernessx. The wilderness

therapy programs studied incorporated therapeutic activities and separated youth from negative

life influences xiv. The study followed fifty-three different children in three separate wilderness


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programs. At the conclusion of these programs, declines in mental health problems, complex

diagnostic issues, suicidal feelings, alcohol and drug use, and high school dropout rates were

observed xiv. These improvements continued past the one year follow up where eighty-two

percent of children reported they were “doing well xiv.”

Russell (1998) echoes the results of Connerxi. Russell studied a program that included a

seven day pack packing trip called “Wilderness Discovery” which was designed to expose youth

to the wilderness and provide them with basic survival skills xv. During the program the

participants kept journals whose themes are indicative of Wilderness Discoveries overall success

xv. These themes that participants wrote about included empowerment, clarity, peacefulness,

respect for nature, and improvement in group/interpersonal skills xv. There was also a high

occurrence of metaphors and creative items such as poems in the journals xv. Similar to the

research of Russell and Conner, Wells et, al. (2004) evaluated a wilderness program called

“Grubs and Grasshoppersxii.” This program is unique because it focuses on entire families,

rather than just the child “at-risk xvi.” These families often had adolescents who were struggling

with communication and problem solving skills which seemed to be resolved by the end of the

program xvi. Many participants saw an improvement in family strength, relationships, problem

solving, parent-child bonds, and social support xvi.

Theories on Nature: Similar to the direct benefits that Wilderness Therapy

programs can have on at-risk youth populations, the benefits to early and prolonged exposed to

nature on the health of children has also been extensively studied. Pretty et, al. (2009)

extensively studied the relationship between children and naturexiii. Their research suggests that

exposure to nature, green space, and green exercise has the ability to bring about positive mental

health, ecological knowledge, and foster social bonds and influence behavioral choices which

translate into positive adult behaviors and choices xvii. Pretty also emphasizes that children in

each of his termed three “ages of childhood” should spend more time engaging with nature in

order to develop a sense of freedom, independence, and inner strength that children can draw

upon when experiencing future stress xvii. Kellert (2005) agrees with Pretty’s research in his

article that discovers that nature is important to children’s development intellectually,

emotionally, socially, spiritually and physicallyxiv. He also asserts that this connection to nature


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is most important during the period of middle childhood when the capacities for creativity and

problem solving are the highest xviii.

Hine et, al. (2009) echo the sentiments of Pretty and Kellert and add that that additional

health benefits associated to contact with nature include stress reduction and recovery, improved

mood, enhanced psychological wellbeing, and improved attention, concentrationxv. Hine

examined multiple wilderness experience programs and their effect on a cohort of at-risk youth

xix. The results indicated that overall the youth’s experience in these programs reduced their

anxiety, stress, sleep disturbances, and hypertension and increased their self-esteem, confidence,

determination and empowerment xix. Many participants also expressed their desire to become a

better person and to change their negative life habits xix.

Townsend and Weerasuriya (2010) also agree that contact with nature is crucial for

humans in their articlexvi. In this article a series of theories are developed to explain this

relationship, the first of which being the “Biophilia Hypotheses xx.” First developed in 1984, this

hypothesis claims that humans have an inherent inclination to affiliate with natural processes and

that these processes are critical for the development of emotions, mental capacity, aesthetic

appreciation, and spiritual growth xx. The second theory is called the “Attention Restoration

Theory” which differentiates between voluntary and involuntary attention xx. The theory makes

the claim that exposure to nature requires involuntary attention because it fascinates the human

brain, unlike the voluntary attention needed for everyday activities xx. Thus, being in natural

environments allows the brain to rest from the fatigue of everyday stress, refreshing and

restoring the ability to concentrate xx. Similarly, the next theory proposed is the “Stress

Reduction Theory” which asserts that nature promotes recovery from stress because little to no

information is being processed by the brain xx. Lastly, Townsend and Weerasuriya propose the

“Environmental Self-Regulation Hypothesis” which simply put predicts that through nature

humans are able to adapt in situations that are emotionally strenuous by using various mental,

physical, social and environmental strategies xx.

There is also a growing body of research surrounding a concept called “Nature Deficit

Disorder.” Richard Louv is the leader in developing this theory which is centered on the concept

that there have been significant changes in childhood in relation to nature over the past several


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decadesxvii. Louv proposes that there is a growing demand on children’s free time which is

contributing to an absence of nature xxi. There are several key findings in his book which relate to

Nature Deficit Disorder xxi. First, direct experience in nature is critical and diminishing xxi. Two,

children spend less time playing outdoors than their mothers xxi. Three, children’s participation

in outdoor activities has declined xxi. Four, time spend indoors in increasing xxi. Five,

discretionary time at home is diminishing xxi. Six, time with multi-media and multiple forms of

media are increasing xx. Finally, similar trends are appearing in other countries xxi.

The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps encompasses many of the above theories on at-

risk youth development, wilderness therapy, and the benefits of children in nature. The CJC

provides its Corps Members with a safe environment designed to keeps youth employed and

occupied throughout the summer. In this environment, Corps Members can learn how to

appropriately engage with a wide variety of figures including, supervisors and co-workers and

learn to work as a team which enables the development of positive social skills. The clearly

defined system of rewarding positive behavior and consequences for negative behavior provides

a structure in which Corps Members can thrive. The CJC also provides youth with a high degree

of community involvement, which is a first for many of the Corps Members. The ability to see a

direct benefit to the community from the work being done provides Corps Members with a sense

of importance and pride. This becomes critical in developing a generation of more involved and

environmentally conscience citizens. CJC also strives to create a lasting bond between Corps

Members and the natural world which will inspire youth to care and protect the environment

after graduation. This connection with nature encourages youth to build better relationships with

family and friends and strive to perform better in school. By encompassing many of the existing

theories on nature and positive youth development, the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps hopes

to make a positive and lasting impact on its Corps Members.


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An Interview with a First Year Corps Member

Name: Mykal

Johnson:

Park: Gunpowder

Falls State Park

Age: 14

What are you doing here [in

CJC]?

I am Building a rain garden, I am planting trees, I am helping trees and most importantly I am

working and getting paid.

So what is a rain garden?

A rain garden is basically a garden, but every time it rains or there are puddles in the street, the

water actually goes down into the garden and gets all the oil from it and the water hits the


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Chesapeake Bay. So when it hits the Chesapeake Bay, it won’t be polluted it will just be clean

water.

Did you know what a rain garden was before?

I thought it was just a regular garden with flowers and grass.

What do you think about it now?

It is important because the Chesapeake Bay doesn’t get fresh water it needs, the water will still be

polluted with oil and stuff like that without rain gardens.

What are some of the things you have learned here?

I have learned about nature, like rain gardens, as we just talked about, I learned teamwork, I

learned that working together is not as hard as I thought it would be, it’s actually fun.

When you got off the bus and you saw what you were going to be doing, what did

you think?

I was like is this what we are going to be doing? I was like well hey it won’t be that bad, once we

start working I’ll like it.

And now what do you think?

I think it’s (CJC) amazing. To me it’s not even work it’s like outdoor camp. We go hiking, we

go camping, we do activities on Fridays, even though we still have to come in uniform, we do tie-

dye shirts, nice activities that I don’t really get to do.

What would you be doing right now if you weren’t here at the parks?

Probably sitting at home sleeping or watching TV

Anything else you would like to add?


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When we went camping at Greenbrier we went hiking on the Appalachian Mountain trail and it

was amazing, it was hard but it’s worth it. It’s worth it walking up the hike with rocks and sand

to see a pretty view that you would never see before.

You’d never seen anything like that before?

No, I’d never seen so many trees; it was like a whole neighborhood, or almost like a whole city

full of trees.

Program Structure: The CJC benefits greatly from the time-honored tradition of a crew-based and place-

based structure, which has served its parent corps, the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), and

other conservation corps around the country. CJC could not operate effectively without any of

the following components:

The Crew:

Crews are comprised of between 4-7 CJC youth, or Corps Members, and are divided

based on the age and gender of the Corps Members.

Crews work together as a team throughout the summer to complete conservation and

restoration projects at various work sites on State and Public Lands.

The Crew Chief:

Crew Chiefs are seasonal employee of the Maryland Department of Natural Resources,

who supervise, support and foster the positive development of the Crew.

Crew Chiefs are responsible for ensuring the regular, reliable and professional field-based

implementation of conservation service projects.

This includes the training, safety and quality work performance of the crew

Crew Chiefs mentor members by seizing opportunities to enhance the SPIRIT Principles of

stewardship, professionalism, initiative, respect, integrity and teamwork.


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Crew Chiefs, along with Camp Coaches and Specialists, provide the crew with weekly

enrichment activities which are designed to enhance environmental knowledge,

stewardship and to teach outdoor recreation skills.

These activities include, canoeing, hiking, swimming, environmental readings, and

historic site visits.

The Park Coach:

Coaches are responsible for supervising all Crew Chiefs at a particular park or area of a

park.

Coaches are responsible for carrying out the missions and goals of the program at the

field level, articulating and interpreting the program vision for youth development and

conservation service to the staff, to youth, and to other program partners.

Coaches are responsible for upholding CJC program standards of performance, and

taking initiative to address or correct situations that compromise these standards.

Coaches provide leadership, direction and motivation for staff as they relate to Corps

Members.

Coaches reinforce training strategies for Crew Chiefs to employ in their youth

development.

Camp Staff

Camp Coaches and Specialists are responsible for providing Corps Members with a two

day, one night camping

experience.

Camp Staff are responsible for

providing enrichment

opportunities for Corps Members

that include canoeing, hiking,

outdoor living skills, ropes

courses, and wildlife education.

“In every walk with nature one receives far more than he seeks.”

-John Muir


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All CJC staff, including Crew Chiefs, Camp Staff, and Park Coaches, must undergo

approximately 40 hours of training, in addition to completing a background investigation and

acquiring basic First Aid and CPR certifications.

The CJC Enrichment Experience

The Camping Experience:

All Corps Members participate in an overnight two day, one night camping experience

during their six week summer experience with the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps. The

purpose of this trip is to expose youth to a wide range of outdoor recreational activities and to


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teach concepts such as “Leave No Trace.” The Corps Members are challenged to step outside of

their comfort zones and asked to leave the conveniences of modern life behind. While camping,

youth learn to pitch a tent, what necessities to bring on a camping trip, to identify wildlife, and

proper camping etiquette. Youth also participate in a ropes course, canoeing trip, night hike,

camp fires, s’more making, and swimming during their time at camp. There were three camping

locations during the 2012 CJC season, Greenbrier, Rocky Gap, and Tuckahoe State Parks.


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Friday Enrichment Experience:

In addition to the camping experience, youth also participate in enrichment activities

every Friday. These activities are designed to provide youth with an introduction to

environmental literacy while educating them on the recreation opportunities that are available in

Maryland State Parks. In addition to hiking, swimming and canoeing, youth participated in “The

Lorax Debate” where hot button environmental issues were discussed in detail. Youth found

various ways to both interpret the classic Dr. Suess book The Lorax while applying it to modern

environmental issues such as pollution and resource use. Corps Members were also able to

travel to a wide variety of Maryland Parks and explore a multitude of natural landmarks during

the 2012 CJC season.


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Daily Operations

Corps Members are transported each day (usually by bus) to their base parks.

Corps Members report to their Crew Chief and travel by van to individual project sites.

Breakfast, lunch and afternoon snack are provided daily.

Corps Members earn a $7.25 per hour stipend and are provided with full uniforms.

Includes shirt, pants, boots and belt

Each corps member participates in a two day camping experience in a Maryland State

Park.

The program typically runs for six weeks during the summer.

The program culminates in a graduation ceremony for Corps Members and their families.


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CJC’s Core Values: The SPIRIT

Principles The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps achieves its youth development goals by first

identifying appropriate behavior through the six SPIRIT principles. Through a combination of

positive reinforcement for appropriate behavior and consequences for inappropriate behavior, the

CJC helps youth learn to achieve success and gain recognition by embracing the SPIRIT

principles, rather than seeking negative attention through inappropriate behaviors. CJC also

reinforces positive SPIRIT among Corps Members through the use of “SPIRIT Cards.” Youth

can earn SPIRIT cards for exceptional behavior in any of the SPIRIT categories. Special awards

are given to the Corps Members who have consistently demonstrated the highest levels of

SPIRIT throughout the summer. The SPIRIT acronym stands for the six core values of CJC:

Stewardship: respect for the environment and participation in enrichment

Professionalism: attendance, punctuality, appearance, safety and attention to

detail

Initiative: work place, accepting added duties, suggestions and adaptability

Respect: attitude, care/use of equipment and treatment of the public

Integrity: honestly and use of time


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Teamwork: cooperation, relation with coworkers and leadership


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Name: Antoine Brooks

Park: Patapsco Valley State Park

Year with CJC: 4th

Antoine began CJC in 2009 as a High School freshman, like many other Corps Members. But what

makes Antoine special is that 2012 was his fourth year working for CJC, making him one of very few who

have been with the program since near its creation.

CJC was Antoine’s first paying job, and prior to 2009 he had no experience with many fundamental

ideals of CJC, including participation in group activities, participation in nature/outdoor activities, and

participation in stewardship activities. Despite his inexperience, even at a young age Antoine envisioned

himself attending college in the future.

Coming into CJC, Antoine expressed only being “somewhat interested” in spending time outdoors and

only “somewhat knowledgeable” on environmental topics such as ecology. He was also only “somewhat

interested” in obtaining a green job and had limited knowledge of green careers with the Maryland State

Parks System. Despite his limited initial interested in environmental topics, Antoine managed to score

“good” and “fair” ratings on his performance evaluations.

Antoine returned to CJC in 2010 and 2011 and stated that the program had taught him many new skills,

including masonry, which he had taken a great interest in. He had even switched his focus in school from

carpentry to masonry. The SPIRIT Principles had helped Antoine focus in school and to hold a higher

level of respect for others around him. He also acknowledged that SPIRIT helped him to be a better

teammate while playing sports. Antoine continued to return to CJC because it taught him things he did

not know before and “every year he got better and better.”

By 2012 Antoine had learned to work more as a team and to never give up. In his fourth year, rather

than being only somewhat interested in outdoor recreation, Antoine stated that he enjoyed fishing and

watching wildlife. He is extremely proud of his skills in masonry and scored “outstanding” ratings on


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his performance evaluations. Antoine enjoys CJC because “nothing is better than learning something

new and getting paid to do it.” He also stated that nature makes him feel peaceful, excited, calm and

relaxed. In the future Antoine plans to not litter, recycle, encourage others to not litter, and encourage

others to recycle in order to help the environment. Antoine plans to not only attend a four year college,

but also plans to acquire a doctorate degree and one day own his own business. In general, Antoine plans

on being happy in life, have many great things, make his own decisions on life, and own his own home.


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CJC’s Base Parks


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Assateague Island State Park:

Assateague is Maryland's only oceanfront park. It is located on Assateague Island, a barrier

island bordered by the Atlantic Ocean on the east and the Sinepuxent Bay on the west. Its two

miles of ocean beaches offer swimming, beachcombing, sunbathing, surfing and fishing. The

bayside offers visitors the chance to explore secluded coves by canoe or kayak. The marsh

areas have a variety of wildlife, including deer, waterfowl and feral horses.

Assateague State Park 2012

Staff:

Park Coach:

Jim Perry

Crew Chiefs:

Justin Curtis, Kara Deboy, Bradley Deise,

Corey Reichenback, and Zachary Temple.


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Assateague Project Highlight: Natural Play Area and

Monarch Butterfly Garden

Purpose:

To help uphold the Maryland Department of Natural Resources “Children in Nature

Movement,” enhance visitor enjoyment of the park and to aid with Assateague’s Monarch

Butterfly fall migration and tagging program. (Assateague serves as a natural stop over for

migrating Monarch Butterflies).

Materials:

-Lumber (2x10x10)

-Polycarbonate Greenhouse

-Top Soil (60 Cubic Feet)

-Musical Fence

-Natural Playground loose elements

-Milkweed Plants (12)

- Butterfly Weed (12)

-Butterfly Larva (4 Kits)

Skills Learned:

Corps Members learned how to use tools including, hammers, posthole diggers, pliers, levels,

and drills. Crews also learned basic carpentry and landscaping skills. During the construction

of the natural play area, Corps Members encountered problems that required the use of

advanced teamwork and problem solving skills.


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Stewardship Elements:

Corps Members learned the concept of Leave No Trace and how it is applied on a large scale.

Learning to leave a minimal impact on the natural environment was strongly emphasized during

this project. In the construction of the natural play area, Corps Members also learned about

wildlife habitats and how to identify areas that need to be preserved. Specifically, Corps

Members learned to identity and preserve the habitats of Ghost Crabs, Shorebirds, and native

Butterflies. An emphasis was also placed on the lifecycle of Monarch Butterflies, the importance

of Milkweed and preservation along migration routes. The importance of the Children in Nature

Initiative was also imparted to Corps Members.

Gunpowder Falls State Park

Established in 1959 to protect the Gunpowder River and the Big and Little Gunpowder valleys,

Gunpowder Falls State Park is now one of Maryland’s largest state parks. Comprised of over

18,000 acres in Harford and Baltimore Counties, Gunpowder’s narrow corridors host a varied

topography ranging from tidal wetlands to steep rugged slopes. Gunpowder features more than

120 miles of trails, protected wetlands, historic sites, fishing and canoeing/kayaking streams, a

swimming beach and a marina. Park areas include: Hereford Area, Torrey C. Brown Trail,

Sweet Air Area, Central Area, Hammerman Area and Dundee Creek Marina.

Gunpowder Falls State Park 2012 Staff:

Park Coaches: Shamou Pusey and Malcolm Davis

Crew Chiefs: Joe Andrews, Nicholas Behe, William Bush, Shannon Byrd, Nicole Davis, Ciara

Dortch, Benjamin Dursa, Kerry Fitzpatrick, Michael Jennings, Danny Jones, Brandon Lackey, Brandon Lessner, Robert Lombardi III, Christopher Middendorf, Lily

Mitchell, Meron Ogans, Juan Pearson, Kathleen Phelan, Timothy Powers, and Kelly Shanahan.


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Gunpowder Project Highlight: Canoe Launch at Slought

Creek

Purpose:

To construct a short launching deck for lead interpretive canoe and kayak programs

Materials:

-12’ 2x6 planks (10)

-12’ 6x6 planks (10)

-Lagbolts (8)

-Woodscrews (3 Boxes)

-Decking Nails (3 Boxes)

-6’ Rebar

-Jet Pump (rental)

Skills Learned:

Corps Members learned how to use hammers, measuring tapes, levels, chalk lines, and drills.

They also learn basic carpentry skills including how to measure and cut lumber.

Stewardship:

Corps Members now understand the concept of erosion control, sedimentation and water quality.

They also understand how these concepts can be incorporated into a discussion of why the park

creates designated boat launches. Corps Members learned that the launches are designed to not

only give users a designated area for use, but also to prevent multiple paths into the water that

can lead to erosion and degraded water quality. Corps Members also participated in hiking to

observe places where offside river paths had been created and a stream search to find what

species are impacted by sedimentation.


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Gwynns Falls Trail Park

The Trail begins at the I-70 Park & Ride trailhead and generally follows the Gwynns Falls

stream to the Middle Branch and the Inner Harbor of the Patapsco River. All 15 miles of the

Gwynns Falls trail system are open. The Gwynns Falls Trail is a unique urban hiking and

biking trail providing access to a scenic and historic greenway stream valley in Baltimore City.1

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary is the only wildlife sanctuary operated by the Maryland Department

of Natural Resources. It is the wintering ground for several thousand Canadian geese, the

largest concentration on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The sanctuary was named

after Edgar Merkle (1900-1984), an active conservationist who devoted much of his life to

protecting and providing for wildlife. The sanctuary offers habitats for a variety of birds and

mammals. White tail deer are prominent at the sanctuary, especially during the winter. Red fox

and skunk make their homes here at the sanctuary as well. In the summer, osprey nest close to

1 http://www.gwynnsfallstrail.org/

Gwynns Falls Trail Park 2012 Staff:

Park Coaches: Tim Martin

Crew Chiefs: Lauren Benn, Cathlyn Clarke, Omar Cole, Charles McMillan, Gabe Sosa, Zoe Ubaldo, and January


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the Visitor Center and hummingbirds, finches and purple martins are abundant. In the

neighboring ponds, visitors are likely to see a great blue heron stalking its prey or the splash of

a large mouth bass chasing after its dinner. You may also see a blue bird scurrying to find grass

for its nest or baby wood ducks jumping from their nests for the first time.

Project Highlight: Bluebird Box Construction

Purpose:

To contruct Bluebird boxes and predator guards. Boxes replaced existing ones at Milltown

Landing and Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary.

Materials:

-Cedar Boxed (10)

-Exterior Wood Posts (10)

-Hook and Eye Packs (4)

-Nails (1 box)

Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary 2012 Staff:

Park Coaches: Josh Holt

Crew Chiefs: Kenny Brown, Guy Young, Daurelle Crocker, Jessica Holt, Donald Redmiles, Chelsea Troyer


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-Wood Screws (1 box)

-Drill Bit Case

-Drive Bit Case

-26 Gauge Galvinized Sheet Metal (4 Sheets)

-1/4 Inch Metal Screws

-Nuts

-Paint Supplies

Skills:

Corps Members learned basic carpentry which included the operation of hammers, circular

saws, drills, tin snips, posthole diggers, loppers, and digging bars. Youth also learned how to

properly take care of tools after use.

Stewardship:

Corps Members learned how to identify different types of bird species and their nests. They

learned an appreciation of habitat preservation as they build boxes for the picky house hunters

that are bluebirds. Their appreciation grew as they saw their bluebird eggs grown into babies.

Youth also learned about the struggle between bluebirds and other birds for shelter and the

importance of Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary to supply them with many options of shelter. The

importance of uprooting other species, like the House Sparrow, that can nest anywhere was

also stressed to Corps Members. House Sparrows can often steal Bluebird boxes. To help

Corps Members understand the importance the Bluebird boxes and predator guards,

observations were performed with binoculars where youth observed boxes being overtaken.

Patapsco Valley State Park:

Patapsco Valley State Park extends along 32 miles of the Patapsco River, encompassing 16,043

acres and eight developed recreational areas. Recreational opportunities include hiking, fishing,


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camping, canoeing, horseback and mountain bike trails, as well as picnicking for individuals or

large groups in the park’s many popular pavilions.

The park is nationally known for its trail opportunities and scenery. In Patapsco, one of

Maryland’s first state parks (1907), the valley and its natural resources have been enjoyed by

the Native Americans, explorers, settlers and present-day citizens. With its source in Frederick

and Carroll counties, the Patapsco serves the Port of Baltimore, and empties into the

Chesapeake Bay.

Project Highlight: Trail Reclamation

Purpose:

To reclaim approximately 5 miles of rouge trail in Howard County. Corps members restored

the compacted trail to allow new growth and removed technical trail features that do not

comply with Maryland Parks Service Policy.

Materials:

-Pick Mattock (4)

Patapsco Valley State Park 2012 Staff:

Park Coaches: Holly Bennett and Rich Fawley

Crew Chiefs: Hilton Area- Marvin Boykin, Kyle Boone, Derek Dias, Jeffrey Eaton, Jonathan Howell, Jeffrey Jones,

James Turner, and Jordan Wright

McKeldin Area- Rahim Ali, Lauren Davis, Rachel Davis, Jarren Matthews, Ryan Melhorn, Edgar Phillips, Morgan Rich, John Rogers, Joel Spano, Airis Thomas, and Garrett Werner.


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-Shovels (4)

-Hard Rakes (4)

-McLeod’s (2)

-Bow Saw (2)

-Log Carrier (2)

Skills:

Corps Members learned trail reclamation skills. Youth learned the proper way to use the

above listed tools as well the different applications of each tool. Trail reclamation involved the

transformation of rouge trail that had been compacted over time into natural woods that will

allow for new growth to take place.

Stewardship:

Corps Members learned the practical application of Leave No Trace principles. Through

observing the compaction of soil along human made trails, youth can directly observe the long

term impact that humans can have on the environment. Corps Members can also see how

humans can directly create soil erosion, impact water quality, and sedimentation issues. The

importance of returning land to an “un-used state” was also stressed throughout the project.

Seneca Creek State Park

Comprised of 6,300 acres, extends along 14 scenic miles of Seneca Creek, as it winds its way

to the Potomac River. The Clopper Day-Use Area contains many scenic areas, including the

90-acre Clopper Lake, surrounded by forests and fields. Picnicking, boat rentals, trails and a

tire playground are just some of its recreational opportunities. A restored 19th century cabin

and a self-guided path interpret the history of the area. Nearby, the Schaeffer Farm Trail Area

offers 12 miles of marked trails for hiking and mountain biking. For the more adventuresome

hiker, the 16.5-mile Seneca Creek Greenway Trail follows the entire course of the creek. About

mid-May through June, the Schwartz peony gardens and field plants are in bloom.


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Susquehanna State Park

Located along the Susquehanna River valley with its heavy forest cover and rocky terrain,

Susquehanna State Park offers a wide variety of outdoor recreational opportunities as well as

points of historical significance. The park is home to some of the most popular mountain biking

trails in Maryland and the river itself beacons fishermen and boaters alike. Susquehanna State

Park also contains a very family friendly campground with traditional campsites and cabins.

History buffs will be drawn to the restored Rock Run Historic Area with its working grist mill,

the Carter-Archer Mansion, Jersey Toll House and the remains of the Susquehanna Tidewater

Canal. The river offers excellent fishing opportunities, including pike, perch, and bass for

shoreline anglers or boating anglers who launch from the Lapidum Boat Ramp.

Seneca Creek State Park 2012 Staff:

Park Coach: Diana Downey

Crew Chiefs:

Ashley Alexander, Brandy Elliott, Donelia Lucan, and Emily Morris

Susquehanna State Park 2012 Staff:

Park Coach: Ian McCullough

Crew Chiefs:

Dan Berlin, Daksha Patel, Claude Ponzo, Christina Simini, and Steve Winslow


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Project Highlight: Tree Planting

Purpose:

This planting is part of a multi-phase tiered buffer project serving the purpose of

restoring and improving the Deer Creek Picnic Area of Susquehanna State Park. It is a

continuation of a project initiated several years ago by the Maryland Conservation Corps and

continued in collaboration with the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps the last two years. It is

part of a larger project aimed at restoring the health and beauty of the 'Fish For Fun' Pond and

the Deer Creek Picnic Area - involving plantings of over a thousand bare-root trees by school

groups supported by Chesapeake Bay Trust grants; the installation of goose fencing and floating

wetlands to reduce nutrient loads in the pond; shoreline restoration efforts to combat soil

erosion; installation of bat houses, wood duck boxes, and a Baltimore Checkerspot butterfly

enclosure to provide improved wildlife habitat; construction of three shoreline fishing platforms

to reduce bank erosion and improve public access; additional shoreline plantings of small trees

and shrubs; and planting of larger shade trees more resistant to deer damage throughout the

expansive grassy lawns of the picnic area.

This year, CJC Corps Members planted a limited number of trees in place of those planted

previously that did not survive. The sites were identified and marked by youth, who paired up to

dig holes and plant trees. The maintenance responsibility of watering the trees rotated to each

crew throughout the duration of the program.

Materials:

-100’ roll of corrugated drain pipe (1)

-Trees and Shrubs (18)

-Wooden Stakes (36)


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-Tree gators: 20 gal (18)

Skills:

Corps Members will learn landscaping and tree care. Specifically, how to use shovels, digging

bars, pruning shears, and hand maul/mini sledge. Corps Members learned how to properly

remove dead trees, the depth and width in which to plant new trees, how to properly water trees,

and how to maintain/prune trees after they have been planted.

Stewardship:

Corps Members learned the connection between erosion control, sedimentation and water

quality. They also learned about the many benefits of trees. This was done through Project

Learning Tree, Tree Factory, and Life of a Tree. Corps Members discussed the benefits shade

while working out in full sun. Discussion was also focused on off-setting the impact of humans.

Corps Members discussed products that humans use on a daily basis that are produced from the

death of a tree. There was also talk of the importance of replenishing the Earth’s renewable

resources.

Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps 2012 Camp Staff

Greenbrier:

Camp Coach:

Steve O’Shaughnessy

Camp Specialists:

Ben Hurwitz, Kate Naugle, Harli

Ramos, and Paul Shepherd

Tuckahoe:

Camp Coach:

Anne Gilbert

Camp Specialists:

Ryan Dixon, Sarah Funck, John

Northam, and Spencer Rosenberry

Rocky Gap:

Camp Coach:

Nick Sizemore

Camp Specialists:

Jay Eaton, Kate Hasapes, Nicholas

Lindblab, Chassity Seymore, and

Brendan Weeks


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Our Partners: In order to provide youth with conservation service opportunities and to ensure positive

outcomes in terms of youth development, the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps maintains

invaluable partnerships with the Parks & People Foundation, Baltimore City Mayor’s Office of

Employee Development, Baltimore City Public Schools, Baltimore City Recreation and Parks,

Maryland Department of Human Resources, Maryland Department of Juvenile Services,

Montgomery County Department of Economic Development, Montgomery County Parks, Prince

George’s County Economic Development Corporation, Prince George’s County Parks and

Recreation, Lower Shore Workforce Alliance, Susquehanna Workforce, Harford County

Department of Social Services, Harford County Sheriff’s Office and numerous other youth-based

organizations.

"Serving as a partner in developing and supporting the Conservation Jobs Corps (CJC) program with the Maryland State Parks, Department of Natural Resources, has been very rewarding

for the Parks & People Foundation and the youth that we both serve. The youth have gained fundamental work skills, on-the-job training in environmental stewardship, regular paychecks, and

guidance for continuing their education. It is exciting to see how much the youth's parents and guardians have come to appreciate the real world experiences gained by their youth over the last four

years. Everyone loves the program and its results. CJC workers get real work done, increase their career potential and gain greater knowledge of and respect for Maryland's public park system."

-Parks & People Foundation

Jackie Carrera, President & CEO


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“Each generation has its own rendezvous with the land, for despite fee titles and claims of ownership, we are all but brief

tenants on this planet.”

-Steward Udall

“In wilderness is the preservation of the world.”

-Henry David Thoreau


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The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps:

Summer 2012 Report

“Conservation is a state of harmony between men and land.”

-Aldo Leopold


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Tangible Results: CJC’s 2012 Accomplishments

42 campsites cleaned and trimmed

6 tons of debris removed after windstorm

30 ft of historic fence painted

1 historic mill prepared for termite treatment

177 bags of trash collected

14 tires collected 14 bags of recycling

collected 140 invasive plants

removed 10 natural trail

steps rebuilt 9 sign posts

installed on nature trail

1 rain garden constructed

3 rain gardens maintained

84 trees mulched 4 rock walls

constructed 1 flower bed built 1 War of 1812

interpretive sign installed

1 shelter painted 9 damaged grills

removed 61 miles of trail

cleared 10 tons of logs and

debris removed from North Point Battlefield

1 canoe launch/pier constructed at Days Cove

1 picnic table built 1 bathroom

constructed

1 vegetable garden maintained

9 tons of rock, 2 tons of sand installed on washed out trail

¼ mile of new trail constructed

2 tons of trash collected

23 stop signs installed on rail trail

18 steps built on trail

6 water bars installed on trail

1 barn door hung 2 tons of firewood

split 100 yards of gravel

installed on trail 2 miles of trail

cleared of invasive species


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15 ferns planted

along trail steps 10 logs cut for trail

steps 250 yards of fence

painted 1 footbridge

painted 1.5 tons of rock

moved by wheelbarrow onto trail

6 terraces repaired on damaged trail

470 yard area cleared of fallen branches after storm

68 folding chairs spray-painted

348 trees planted 11 picnic pavilions

stained/painted 2 handicapped

accessible picnic sites rehabbed

2 large group picnic pads constructed

1 parking lot laid with permeable pavers

48 feet of guardrail installed

1 35-foot bridge dismantled

7604 square feet of area cleared of invasive species

17 non-native invasive trees removed

1 pavilion kitchen restored

420 fallen limbs removed after storm

4 camp pads built 150 feet of trenches

dug for erosion control

10 pot holes repaired in park road

2 tree stumps removed

2,850 dune fence installed

33 park benches built

4 beach shade shelters built

200 yards of park roadway cleared of sand and brush

15 picnic tables rehabbed

3 parking signs installed

150 feet of dune fence repaired

2 large tents set up and taken down for July 4 event

12 tent poles rebuilt

300 feet of damaged dune

fence recycled/reused

2 bicycle racks built 94 bags of invasive

plants removed 1 box turtle

enclosure built 1.5 miles of trail

mulched 30 foot visitor

center deck replaced

1 trail staircase built

1 bathhouse painted

100-yard trail causeway built

2 natural playgrounds built

3 visitor center display tables built

270 feet of split-rail fence constructed

1 visitor center exhibit repaired

8 horseshoe pits built

30 foot boardwalk trail repaired

1 trail culvert built 1 footbridge built 25 native plants

planted 20 feet of

streambank stabilized

100 feet of damaged fence removed


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1 campground

bathroom scraped, powerwashed, repaired and painted

90 feet of fencing sanded and stained

4 park benches painted

2 gates stained 5 miles of trail

repaired with drainage ditches

5 visitor parking lots restriped

14 signs sanded and painted at Soldier’s Delight

125 bluegrass planted at Avalon

4 hunters gun racks constructed

90 feet of rotten fence removed

3 metal gates installed

3 camp pads restored

75 feet of split rail fence restored

1 deck repainted at Union Dam

1 deck repainted at Hollofield Overlook

1 Scales and Tales fence repaired

14 table pads refinished

11 trail steps constructed

23 fallen trees removed after storm

892 feet of trail dug (back slope and bench cut)

3 drains installed 7. 3 miles of trail

blazed 610 feet of

unsustainable trail reclaimed

1 Kids Nature Trail repaired

2 planting beds constructed around contact station

11.6 miles trail debermed

1 fire pit built 10 boulders placed

for Cascade Falls Stone Steps

18 log steps built on Cascade Falls Trail

All of the projects listed above were completed by Corps

Members. It would have cost the State of Maryland 2.9

Million Dollars to contract out to complete the same projects.

-Value calculated by the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Department of Engineering and Construction

Youth Development: The Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps strives to make a positive and lasting impact on the lives

of its Corps Members. CJC aims to provide youth with job/life skills for adulthood, while


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introducing a lasting appreciation for nature and environmental stewardship. CJC Youth

development is measured through several indicators including, retention and successful

completion of the program, surveys, and performance evaluations.

Retention and Successful Completion of the Program:

A high retention rate is essential to the success of CJC and a key indicator of a worthwhile

investment. Since its creation in 2008, the program has made strides to increase its retention

rate. In an effort to both increase teamwork and decrease the Corps Member to Crew Chief ratio,

crew sizes were reduced from a maximum of 10 to a range of 4-6. Additionally, the SPIRIT

Principles were created to provide Corps Members with a clear understanding of the program’s

expectations though out the summer. “SPIRIT Cards” were also introduced as a way to both

reward Corps Members for positive and discourage negative behaviors.


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CJC’s efforts have been rewarded with a dramatic increase in retention between 2008 (57%) and

2010 (88%) that has remained consistent ever since. From 2010 to 2012 the retention rate has

remained in the high eighties, specifically at 87% for the summer of 2012. These results indicate

that CJC is a worthwhile investment and is achieving its youth development goals by retaining

such a high percentage of Corps Members from the beginning to the end of the summer

employment program.

An Interview with a First Year Corps Member:

Name: Ka’pree Brantley

Park: Gunpowder Falls

State Park

Age: 14

Tell me about your summer, what are

you doing?

My plan for the summer was to make money

and save up for college and to buy my school

stuff.

How are you doing that?


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By working at Gunpowder State Park

Is this a good way to make money?

Yes, because I could be handling children or I could just be in the house doing nothing.

Tell me a little about what you’ve learned so far.

I learned a lot because I’m not really an outdoors person; I’m used to being indoors. So, being

out here taught me a lot about nature and about how other bugs help other bugs and about trees

and how some trees can be in stress if they’re not taken care of properly.

When you got off the bus the first time and they were like, “here’s your shovel,”

what did you think?

I was nervous because I didn’t know if I was going to do it right or wrong, I didn’t really know

what to do.

What is your favorite memory so far?

My favorite memory was when we went to the waterfall and all of us went under the waterfall

together and it was really fun.

Tell me a little about your crew.

We get along really, really, really well and we all make each other laugh

And you’re in a crew with all girls, what’s that like?

No drama, I’m shocked, because usually with girls there is drama but there is no drama between

us we just laugh, have fun and talk to each other.

Who works harder?

The girls, because the boys, I think they’re working in the shade, but we’re working in the sun.


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Survey Data: Surveys, completed by Corps Members, are administered by Crew Chiefs at the

beginning and end of the program. These surveys cover a wide array of topics related to youth

development including, self-esteem, conflict resolution, teamwork, career aspirations and

educational goals. The survey also indicates Corps Member’s knowledge and comfort level with

the outdoors. Evaluating responses given by Corps Members on pre and post survey provides a

clear picture of CJC’s impact on its youth. The 2012 pre and post survey indicated the

following:

Higher Educational Goals:

Corps Members were asked “How far do you plan to go in school?” and were presented

with the following options: Middle School, Some High School, Get a GED, Graduate from High

School, Vocational/Technical College, 2 Year College, 4 Year College, Master’s Degree, and

Beyond Master’s Degree. Results indicate that during the interval of time between when the pre

and post survey were administered the educational goals of CJC Corps Members changed.


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Figure2 indicated that at the beginning of the 2012 CJC summer session, 34% of the sample

population’s total responses indicated an interest in attending a four year college. At the end of

CJC, this number increased to 37%. While the desire to obtain a Master’s Degree declined from

22% to 18%, the desire to pursue a Doctorate Degree increased from 14% to 17%. Results of the

survey indicated that participation in CJC fosters higher educational goals in Corps Members.

Increases in Environmental Stewardship:

Corps Members were asked “In the future, I plan to do the following” and were presented

with the following choices: not litter, recycle, plant a tree, think more about how my actions

impact the environment, encourage others not to litter, encourage others to recycle, volunteer to

help clean my community, and none of the above. According to Figure3, an overwhelming 98%

of Corps Members indicated that they planned on participating in at least one of the above listed

activities. The vast majority of Corps Members indicated that they planned on participating in

multiple activities, but the activities that most Corps Members indicated they would participate

in were not littering (18%) and recycling (18%), followed by encouraging others not to litter


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(17%), encouraging others to recycle (15%), think more about how my actions impact the

environment (14%), volunteer to help clean my community (10%), plant a tree (6%) and none of

the above (2%). These results indicate that participation in CJC foster environmental

stewardship among Corps Members.

Increase in Positive Feelings Toward Nature

Corps Members were asked “Being in nature makes me feel:” and were give the

following to choose from: nervous, happy, unhappy, peaceful, afraid, excited, calm,


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uncomfortable, unsure, relaxed, and other. Figure4 indicates that at the time of the pre survey,

78% of Corps Members indicated that they felt positive feelings towards nature, which included

if happy, peaceful, excited, calm or relaxed were selected. Additionally, 20% of Corps Members

indicated that they felt negatively towards nature which included if unhappy, afraid, nervous,

uncomfortable, of unsure were selected. Approximately 2% of Corps Members indicated that

they had “other” feelings towards nature.

According for Figure5, by the time the post survey was administered, positive feelings

towards nature had increase to 81% and negative feelings had decreased to 18%, “other” also

declining to 1%. These results indicated that participation in CJC fosters an increase positive

outlook on nature. Corps Members felt more peaceful, excited, calm, relaxed and happier in

nature after participation in CJC.

Increased Enjoyment of Outdoor Activities

Corps Members were asked to “Select the activities that you think are fun” and were

presented with the following options: camping, fishing, watching wildlife, picnicking, hiking on

a trail, swimming in a river and canoeing. Results from Figure7 indicate that 100% of Corps

Members thought that at least one of these activities was fun at the time of graduation. Many

Corps Members selected multiple, or even all of the activities, but 100% felt that at least one of

the activities was enjoyable. Canoeing (21%), camping (19%), and swimming (18%) were of the


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most popular activities selected, which is likely because the 2012 enrichment program was heavy

in these activities. Corps Members participate in Enrichment once a week and the activities that

Corps Members participated in most frequently throughout the program were enjoyed by more

Corps Members at the end of the program.

Increases in Life Aspirations

On the pre survey, when Corps Members were asked to their future, a small percentage,

indicated by Figure8, stated that they would either be in trouble with the law (.3%) or sad (.6%).

By the time the post survey was administered 0% of Corps Members felt that they would either

be in trouble with the law or sad in their future. This indicates that throughout the program,

Corps Members felt more hopeful about their future.


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The vast majority of Corps Members felt confident in the direction of their future by the

post survey. According to Figure9, approximately 60% of Corps Members felt that their futures

will be filled with great things, they will be happy, and will own a home someday. Additionally,

48% of Corps Members felt that they would be able to make their own decisions in the future. A

smaller percentage of Corps Members felt as though they would have children (18%) or be

married in the next five years (13%). Impressively, 0% of Corps Members felt that they would

be in trouble with the law, be sad, or selected “other” on the post survey. By the end of the 2012

CJC program, the majority of Corps Members felt as though their futures would be positive and

productive.

**In order to obtain these results, two Corps Members were selected at random from each Crew and their

responses were recorded from both the pre and post survey. Since Corps Members were allowed to select

multiple responses per question, the total number of responses was used to determine statistical values.


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Name: Cara Brown

Park: Patapsco Valley State Park

Year with CJC: 3rd

Cara began CJC in the summer before her freshman year of High School. After her first year with

the program, Cara received all outstanding ratings on her evaluations. Between the summers of 2009 and

2010, she stated that CJC taught her the power and benefits of teamwork. In her time away from CJC, she

continued to demonstrate the SPIRIT Principles by “being a model student who is eager to take on

challenges,” in her own words. Cara managed to maintain good grades and became a more respectful

student because of CJC. She came back for the summer of 2010 because she enjoyed working outside and

interacting with many different people on a daily basis.

In 2010 Cara learned the important of commitment and the value in seeing a project through to

its completion. She applied this CJC concept to her school work and continued to set an example in the

classroom. Cara began to take on more leadership roles in group work and often helped keep her

classmates on track. She also claims that SPIRIT taught her to be generous and helpful to others.

Consistent with her performance in 2012, in 2011 Cara again received outstanding marks on evaluations.

Cara returned to CJC because she found working in nature to be both rewarding and enjoyable.

By the 2012 CJC season, Cara had grown from a High School freshman to a junior who enjoys

camping, watching wildlife, picnicking, swimming in rivers, and canoeing. She enjoys working outside

because it makes her feel happy, peaceful, excited, calm and relaxed. After her time with CJC, Cara plans

to not litter, recycle, and to encourage others to not litter. Cara is now planning on attending a four year

college after graduation. In the future, she wants to be able to enjoy the work she does and envisions

herself being happy and owning her own home someday.


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Performance Evaluations: Corps Members also receive three performance evaluations during the program that

indicate how well youth demonstrate the SPIRIT Principles on a day-to-day basis. The initial,

midterm and final evaluations not only provide constructive feedback on Corps Member’s

behavior, but also serve as a valuable introduction to the professional world. The evaluations

also provide Corps Members with a clear understanding of personal strengths and weaknesses,

which allows Crew Chiefs and Corps Members to set goals to strive for by graduation day.

Corps Members can score anywhere on a range of 1 to 4. One indicating “needs improvement,”

two indicating “meets expectations,” three indicating “exceeds expectations” and four indicating

“outstanding.”


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Increases in SPIRIT

According to Figure10, overall SPIRIT increased in 87% of Corps Members from the

Initial to Final performance evaluation. More specifically, Stewardship increased for 88% of

Corps Members, Professionalism increase for 89% of Corps Members, Initiative increased for

86% of Corps Members, Respect increased for 90% of Corps Members, Integrity increased for

89% of Corps Members and Teamwork increased for 87% of Corps Members. These results

indicate that participation in CJC fosters behavioral changes in all of the SPIRIT Principles.

Figure11 indicates the average score awarded to Corps Members at both the initial and

final evaluation. For overall SPIRIT, the average score on the initial evaluation was 1.83, which


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increased to 3.09 on the final evaluation. Stewardship increased from 1.79 to 3.07,

Professionalism increased from 1.85 to 3.10, Initiative increased from 1.82 to 3.04, Respect

increased from 1.82 to 3.16, integrity increased from 1.80 to 3.13 and teamwork increased from

1.86 to 3.04. These results again indicated that participation in CJC fosters increases in SPIRIT

behaviors. Specifically, these behaviors include:

Stewardship: respect for the environment and participation in enrichment

Professionalism: attendance, punctuality, appearance, safety and attention to detail

Initiative: work place, accepting added duties, suggestions and adaptability

Respect: attitude, care/use of equipment and treatment of the public

Integrity: honestly and use of time

Teamwork: cooperation, relation with coworkers and leadership

Returning Corp Members Score Higher

Figure12 indicates the difference between

new and returning Corps Members in score at

initial and final evaluations. Returning Corps

Members scored slightly higher on initial

evaluations, scoring an average of 1.9 for overall

SPIRIT on initial evaluations (compared to 1.8 for

new members) and an average of 3.2 for overall

SPIRIT on final evaluation (compared to 3.0 for

new members). These results indicate that

returning Corps Members retain a certain degree

of the job/life skills they acquire in CJC (the

SPIRIT Principles) and come back to the program

with a better understanding of what is expected. This allows them to score higher on both initial

and final evaluations than new CJC Corps Members.


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Project Highlight: From Start to Finish

The following log was kept by Rick Decker, Seasonal Ranger at the Jerusalem Mill area of Gunpowder

Falls State Park. He was responsible for overseeing CJC Crew #3, who was headed up by Lily Mitchell

(Crew Chief).

Team Leader Lily Mitchell and the CJC crew # 3 assigned to Gunpowder Falls State Park (GFSP) is off to a flying start. On June 27, 2012, the ladies (Chardinay Hines, Rahshia Newsome, Kenara Powell, Christan Campbell and Tamara Harris) started the first day painting about 180 feet of the paddock three board fence of the Lee Mansion white. Most of the over 100 year old-growth oak posts and boards are still intact and their work will ensure it continues to provide inspiration for generations to come (see attached picture below on left). Team Leader Lily Mitchell took the ladies on a trail hike on the north 2 mile trail loop (Little Gunpowder and Jerusalem Mill trails) after lunch to familiarize them with the area and properly maintained trails.

On June 28, 2012, Team Leader Lily Mitchell started working on the Jericho Bridge Trail starting at the public parking lot. Ranger Sarah Witcher had pre-arranged for the delivery of CR8 stone from Writz and Daughter on June 27, 2012. The ladies cut a shallow trench and laid down fabric weed block secured with metal staples. The ladies shoveled, raked and spread 10 tons of stone into the start of their trail and added additional stone to repair the existing trail between the parking lot and McCourtney’s Store. The CJC ladies are also getting familiar with the various tools and equipment like the John Deere “Gater.” Team Leader Lily Mitchell worked with the ladies in the afternoon on team building and other skills. Seasonal Scott Keller and Chris Scovill joined in to help move the stone into the proper position.

Team Leader Lily Mitchell and the CJC crew #3 returned for an eventful week in Jerusalem Mill Village. Lily Mitchell was joined by Tim Powers and the CJC crew #13. The teams started working on the Jericho Trail between the no-name stream, around the bank barn and towards the Jericho Covered Bridge. Forty tons of #57 stone was purchased by Ranger Sarah Witcher and delivered to the village on July 17, 2012. The total investment of stone was now $1,320.00. The FOJM (Friends of Jerusalem Mill) purchased some ground cloth, staples and Gatorade for a total of approximately $200.00. Additional donations of ice and water were also furnished by helpful volunteers. The GFSP Ford 2910 tractor front-loader was used to


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initially shape the trail. The two CJC crews worked together to lay down the ground cloth, anchor same with staples and spread the stone.

On Wednesday, July 18, 2012, Lily and Tim were joined by Chris Middendorf, Kerry Fitzpatrick and Ciara Dortch CJC teams. The remainder of the stone was spread further along the Jericho Trail, towards the no-name stream. Additional tasks were also concurrently completed. A ramp on both sides of the foot bridge on the Little Gunpowder Trail was created using stones gathered from the river bed and the erosion around the trees in the area was corrected using local fill dirt and elbow grease.

On Thursday, July 19, 2012, the painting of the board fence around the tenant farmer house and Dr Pullin’s paddock was completed.

Conclusions Based on the information gathered from the 2012 season of the Maryland Conservation

Jobs Corps, the six week summer employment program is making a positive impact on

disadvantaged youth in Maryland in several key areas. CJC’s high retention rate and high degree

of third and fourth year returners is indicative of a program that is meaningful and beneficial to

its Corps Members. Further indicative of positive youth development are CJC’s achievements in

the SPIRIT Principles. With the vast majority of Corps Members improving in all areas of

SPIRIT and average scores increasing from initial to final evaluations, the conclusion can be

drawn that participation in the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps fosters positive development

in stewardship, professionalism, initiative, respect, integrity, and teamwork. It is CJC’s hope

that the development which occurs during the six weeks of the program will continue after

graduation and will encourage Corps Members to be productive and happy adults. Additionally,

the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps also provides its Corps Members with an invaluable

exposure to nature and outdoor recreation which is shown to create an affinity for nature among

Corps Members. This is exemplified by youth through the increase in positive feelings towards

nature, the desire to participate in environmentally friendly activities, and the enjoyment of

outdoor recreation. Not only does CJC positively contribute to the lives of its Corps Members,

but also positively contributes to the Maryland State Parks System. The State of Maryland is


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provided with an invaluable service by youth completing the conservation projects listed in this

document. These necessary projects would have otherwise been contracted out to private

companies or to park staff, which would have cost the state additional money and resources.

With the dual purposes of youth development, conserving Maryland Public Lands, and

ultimately conserving the Chesapeake Bay Watershed, the Maryland Conservation Jobs Corps is

a positive and worthwhile program for the State of Maryland and the Maryland Department of

Natural Resources.


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