Meet a few of the Maryland Conservation Corps’ Current Members and Alumni
Chloe Chinnadurai (she/her)
Home State: New Jersey
Service Location: Merkle Natural Resources Management Area
(2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I wanted to gain experience working outside and learning field skills.
Career/Future Goals:
My goal is to get a PhD in Evolutionary Biology and Systematics. My dream job would be to be a curator/researcher at a natural history museum.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
The part of MCC I enjoy most is working in teams of interesting and highly skilled people towards a goal we all care about.
Mads Buchman (they/them)
Home State: Maryland
Service Location: South Mountain Recreation Area
(2022-2023, 2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I was looking for something fun outdoors where I could learn valuable life and job skills. It also gave me a sense of purpose knowing I was helping people and the environment.
Career/Future Goals:
I would like to do anything outdoors or conservation-related, specifically Search and Rescue or Wildland Firefighting.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
I love that every day is different. I am constantly learning new things from all of the training opportunities and work projects.
Omar Stiner
Home State: Virginia
Service Location: Tuckahoe State Park
(2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I wanted to expand my knowledge and experience in an outdoor field that also had the benefits that the Maryland Conservation Corps has.
Career/Future Goals:
I would love to get into wildlife conservation or DNR-related fields.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
I enjoy meeting new people and making connections with people with shared interests and passions. I also love working with and caring for our animal ambassadors.
Ellie Harris (she/her)
Home State: Maryland
Service Location: Susquehanna State Park
(2022-2023, 2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I wanted to make a difference in the parks that I love by applying my love for the planet into conservation.
Career/Future Goals:
In the future, I would like to be a Park Ranger and inspire others to appreciate and respect nature.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
Getting to learn and use a broad range of skills that help the parks and the planet.
Jolene Miller
Home State: Maryland
Service Location: Assateague State Park
(2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I was looking to step out of my comfort zone and try something new. I knew I would get the opportunity to work in a team, develop communication and public speaking skills, but most importantly I just love working in nature and I knew MCC would be a great way to do that.
Career/Future Goals:
Continue to work in conservation, habitat restoration, or ecological research, as well as further developing handy skills like carpentry and welding. I’m also looking into becoming a yoga teacher!
What I enjoy most about MCC:
I love that MCC has already taught me so many practical skills (i.e. chainsaw, small craft safety, interp) as well as helping to develop my interpersonal skills (teamwork, professionalism, communication, work ethic). I really feel like MCC has helped me figure out where to go next in my career, and I love that nearly every day there’s something new to do or learn. MCC has definitely introduced me to wonderful people and new things I would have never encountered otherwise!
Michael Wilhelm
Home State: Maryland
Service Location: Gunpowder Falls State Park
(2022-2023, 2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
Joining the Maryland Conservation Corps was important to me because it provides a space for many different people to come and work together on projects that we all share a great interest in.
Career/Future Goals:
To venture out west to work with other conservation corps programs.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
I wanted to learn more about the Maryland Park Service while enhancing my outdoor skills through the many trainings and projects that MCC provides.
Jalen Savoy
Home State: Maryland
Service Location: Patapsco Valley State Park
(2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I wanted to help aid conservation in our natural areas as much as possible.
Career/Future Goals:
To become a conservationist or to be a game warden.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
The variety of tasks to do to help the environment.
Carter Conaway
Home State: Maryland
Crew Location: Deep Creek Lake State Park
(2023-2024)
Joining MCC was important to me because:
I have always preferred working outdoors and taking care of the world around me. The Maryland Conservation Corps felt like the perfect opportunity to get experience doing exactly that. I’ve wanted work in the park services for years, and knew this program would give me good experience and plenty of training that would be applicable towards a career with the park service.
Career/ Future Goals:
I’d love to work for the park service full time. I’d prefer to work federally, so I can move around and see the states while I’m young. I’d like to spend a while moving around and decide from there where I’d like to settle down, if not Deep Creek Lake.
What I enjoy most about MCC:
I absolutely love the work we’ve been doing so far with the Maryland Conservation Corps. Everyone I’ve talked to from my past says this sounds exactly like what they had expected me to end up doing. I’ve never worked somewhere that felt for right for me. I really appreciate the connections I’ve made while in MCC. The people I’ve worked with have all been amazing, and the work is very fulfilling. My time with MCC has shown me that this is exactly the type of work I’d like to spend the rest of my life doing, and I can only hope the experience in the field and the trainings we’re completing through MCC will make it easier to get into my desired career path.
