WESTERN MARYLAND: Appalachian region
The Deep Creek Lake State Park MCC Crew is located in Garrett County, in far Western Maryland. This area features Appalachian mountain terrain, rocky rivers and waterfalls, hemlock forests, and the largest lake in Maryland. The crew will work throughout
Deep Creek Lake State Park Complex, including
Sang Run State Park and the
Youghiogheny Natural Environment Area. Conservation work includes: trail construction; various park improvement and construction projects; interpretation; environmental education; forest management; and tree plantings. Additionally, the crew will assist with facility improvement projects at nearby
New Germany State Park, Rocky Gap State Park,
Herrington Manor State Park and with other State Parks throughout the state. Some weekend work is required. Low-cost State Park housing is available nearby at
Swallow Falls State Park.
Focus Areas: trail construction and maintenance, chainsaw use, forest management
The
South Mountain MCC Crew is located between Frederick and Hagerstown, in the Appalachian Mountains of Western Maryland. The region is known for both its scenic beauty and rich cultural history. Crew members work throughout the complex at
Greenbrier, Washington Monument, and Gathland State Parks. Crew members also spend a lot of time working at campgrounds/shelters off of the Appalachian Trail where they have helped build new campsites, maintain trails, remove graffiti, and assist rangers with hazardous tree removal. Crew members will engage in a wide variety of projects including trail work, boundary painting, invasive species removal, chainsawing, carpentry, and interpretive programming, including as members of the South Mountain Canon Detachment. Occasional weekend work is required. Low-cost State Park housing is available within
South Mountain State Battlefield.
Focus Areas: park improvement projects, trail work, chainsaw use, interpretive programming
CENTRAL MARYLAND: Piedmont region
The
Patapsco Valley State Park MCC Crew is based in the 32-mile long scenic river valley, along the Patapsco River in Central Maryland. Stretching between Anne Arundel, Baltimore, Howard, and Carroll Counties, and located near Baltimore City. Patapsco Valley was Maryland’s first State Park, established in 1907. Patapsco is well known for its beautiful scenery and over 200 miles of trails. The Crew can expect to complete a variety of different conservation projects. Work includes extensive trail maintenance, construction, and reclamation of trail; reforestation projects, and environmental education programs. The Crew is also involved in cooperative projects and trainings with other groups, including local conservation groups and our large volunteer base. The Crew works closely with the Conservation Job Corps program during the summer, leading projects in the park and mentoring youth. The Crew also has the opportunity to assist with animal care at
Soldiers Delight Natural Environmental Area. Low-cost housing is available within
Patapsco Valley State Park.
Focus Areas: trail construction and maintenance, park improvement projects, environmental education and outreach, animal care
Fair Hill NRMA borders Pennsylvania to the north and is a 15-minute drive to the center of the college town of Newark, DE. The park’s network of 90 miles of trails including 20 miles of carriage roads traverse a landscape of rolling hills, diverse forested ecosystems, managed hay meadows, historic sites and the Big Elk and Christina creeks. Amenities include fishing access, youth group camping areas, and facilities for equestrian camping. It’s a wonderland for hikers, runners, cyclists, hunters, fishermen and equestrians alike. The crew will play a role in maintaining these trails, along with the numerous bridges within the park. Big Elk Creek runs over four miles through the 5,656 acres creating a diverse riparian and aquatic habitat great for fishing and environmental interpretation. The crew can expect to assist in an array of diverse conservation projects such as invasive and non-native species removal, sustainable trail design and maintenance, environmental and historic interpretation, tree and native garden plantings and boundary recovery. The crew will also occasionally serve at the nearby
Bohemia River State Park to expand the new park’s trail system and to facilitate guided canoe and kayak paddle trips on Great Bohemia Creek. Low-cost housing is available within
Fair Hill NRMA.
Focus Areas: trail maintenance and construction, chainsaw use, invasive species management and removal, park improvement projects, interpretive programming, carpentry.
The
Gunpowder Falls State Park MCC Crew is located in Maryland’s largest and most geographically diverse State Park. With over 18,000 acres in both Harford and Baltimore Counties, Gunpowder Falls extends from the rocky Piedmont of the Hereford Area adjacent to the Pennsylvania state line, to the Chesapeake Bay coastal marshes of
North Point State Park and
Hart-Miller Island. The crew is based in the Hammerman Area, located near White Marsh, MD (approximately 30 minutes from Baltimore City). The park features more than 120 miles of multi-use trails, historic sites, fishing, kayaking/canoeing opportunities, youth group camping areas, a swimming beach, and a marina. This crew is known for working closely with park staff to complete trail and facility improvement projects, as well as extensively using chainsaws to remove downed and hazardous trees from remote, scenic trails and in busy day-use areas. Potential conservation work includes tree and native garden plantings; invasive and non-native species removal; wildlife management; stream clean-ups and restoration; sustainable trail design and maintenance; and environmental education programming in conjunction with Baltimore County Public Schools and park naturalists. This crew works closely with the Conservation Jobs Corps program during the summer, leading conservation and construction projects in Gunpowder Falls and four other State Parks within its complex: the
Torrey C. Brown Rail Trail, North Point State Park/North Point State Battlefield, and
Hart-Miller Island. Occasional weekend work is required. Low-cost State Park housing is available within the Central Area of
Gunpowder Falls State Park.
Focus Areas: chainsaw use, trail maintenance and construction, carpentry and construction projects
SOUTHERN/ EASTERN MARYLAND: Coastal Plain
Merkle Natural Resources Management Area is located outside of the greater Washington, D.C. area in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. Merkle offers a unique wildlife experience, hosting the largest concentration of Canada geese on the western shore of the Chesapeake Bay. The park’s visitor center is open year-round, which offers a wide variety of MCC member responsibility, including animal care for several reptiles used for Scales & Tales programming, interpretive exhibit development, interpretive programming, and special events. Each member is responsible for developing and leading a park improvement project during their service year. Crew members also assist with projects at sister parks within the Southern Maryland Recreational Complex including
Cedarville State Forest and
Calvert Cliffs State Park. The Merkle crew is often called the “travel crew” due to the time they spend working on projects at other parks across the state. Some weekend work is required. Low-cost state park housing is available to Merkle members near the Visitor Center where the crew meets daily.
Focus Areas: animal care, park improvement projects, chainsaw work, environmental education.
The
Sandy Point State Park Complex includes a diverse array of park natural areas: Sandy Point State Park, Franklin Point State Park, Severn Run Natural Environment Area (NEA), Holly Beach Farm Natural Resources Management Area (NRMA), Corcoran Woods Environmental Study Area (ESA), Tawes Garden, and Belt Woods Natural Environment Area (NEA). Located on Maryland's Western Shore in Annapolis, within view of the Chesapeake Bay Bridge, Sandy Point State Park is known for its beautiful beaches, scenic views, and recreational opportunities. The park is recognized as an important aquatic habitat and premier winter birding spot, known for its diving ducks, gulls, and occasional winter songbird rarities. Habitats include sandy beaches, rock jetties, mowed fields, woodlands, ponds, and marshes. Sandy Point State Park is also home to one of the largest marinas along the East Coast. The Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC) crew at this complex engages in a wide variety of tasks, offering members a comprehensive conservation experience. Responsibilities include habitat restoration, invasive species management, trail maintenance, and park improvement projects. Throughout the year, the crew works on various projects within the Sandy Point State Park Complex, including chain sawing, tree planting, and environmental displays. In the spring and summer, the crew focuses primarily on providing environmental education to school groups and interpretive programming to park visitors, supporting the park's bilingual nature center. Each member is expected to develop and lead a park improvement project during their service year. The crew collaborates with other local parks and environmental organizations, extending their impact throughout the region. They also assist with events such as Es Mi Parque and the Holiday Open House. Work is often varied and can include tasks such as chainsaw use, planting native species, and conducting wildlife surveys. Some weekend work is required, particularly during peak visitor seasons from April through September.
Focus Areas: habitat restoration, park improvement projects, environmental education, invasive species management, bilingual interpretive programming
Assateague State Park is an oceanfront park on Maryland's Eastern Shore, just south of Ocean City. Assateague is well known for its environmental education and interpretive programming. It also has a Scales & Tales program which currently includes raptors, reptiles and aquatic animals. Crew members will be taught proper care and handling techniques for reptiles and aquatic animals and will be responsible for their daily care, as well as frequent interpretive programming with them. Crew members will design and build original displays for the park's beachfront Nature Center. During the spring, crew members will lead environmental education programs for school field trips. In the summer, crew members will lead interpretive programs and recreational activities for campers including (but not limited to) kayaking, beach yoga, and night hikes. Other activities include monthly water quality sampling with the Maryland Coastal Bays Program, various park improvement projects, parkwide event planning, and other conservation projects working with The Nature Conservancy and National Aquarium of Baltimore. Some weekend work is required. Low-cost state park housing is available at
Assateague State Park next to the park office.
Focus Areas: environmental education, animal care and handling, park improvement projects
Download the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC) Crew Descriptions
