Chesapeake Conservation Corps2015-2016

Corps Volunteer Placements

Patrick Angleton, Elms Environmental Education CenterLeonardtown, St. Mary’s CountyPatrick will serve his year at Elms Environmental Education Center where he will assist teachers in preparing and delivering hands-on, curriculum -based environmental education as well as design outreach initiatives to reach socially stressed communities both in schools and through partnerships in the wider community. Elms Environmental Education Center, visited by 7,000 students per year, sits on property managed by the Power Plant Research Division at the Maryland Department of Natural Resources, and Patrick may be considering energy efficiency education projects as part of his capstone work. Prior to joining the Corps, Patrick was working to restore the wilderness of the Mojave Desert as an intern with the Student Conservation Association and Americorps.

Eric Armstrong, Accokeek FoundationAccokeek, Prince George’s CountyEric joins the Corps with experience in sustainable farming and geographical sciences. He will work with the Accokeek Foundation to help facilitate experiential programming around sustainable agriculture and environmental stewardship. His work will also encompass building positive working relationships with students, staff and park visitors as well as leading agricultural tasks including seeding, transplanting, weeding, harvesting and animal husbandry.

Dorothy Baker, Assateague Coastal TrustBerlin, Worcester CountyA recent Virginia Tech graduate, Dorothy has interned with the Virginia Cooperative Extension, where she learned about conventional farming techniques and gained hands- on experience working with sustainable agricultural and community outreach. As a new Corps participant, Dorothy will assist the Assateague Coastkeeper program facilitating water quality monitoring and community outreach, including leading the Coast Kids family environmental education program and the Grow Berlin Green sustainable community engagement initiative, which focuses on a holistic approach to stewardship including stormwater management, energy conservation, land and water conservation, waste issues, and more.

Natalia Bezerra, Neighborhood Design CenterRiverdale, Prince George’s CountyDuring her year with the Corps, Natalia will work with the Neighborhood Design Center in Prince George’s County and will help implement neighborhood greening projects as well as connect community groups with resources, expertise and volunteers. Natalia will interact with many of NDC’s programs, including the Community Energy Savers program, which focuses on environmental benefits of energy efficiency as well as helping the community save money on energy bills; the Right Tree

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Right Place Program, which focuses on aesthetic, water quality, and energy efficiency benefits of tree planting; and the Clean Up Green Up Program, a county-wide landscape beautification effort. Natalia is fluent in Spanish and has significant experience with landscape design, including designing small courtyards, parks, and communities at the site and regional scale. Natalia also designed and implemented a therapeutic garden for Cornerstone, a non-profit organization that aids in the transition from homelessness to self-sufficiency.

Elizabeth Brown, Midshore Riverkeeper ConservancyEaston, Talbot CountyElizabeth brings a wealth of research experience to the Corps, having served as her university’s Eco-Rep as well as studying natural vegetation cover and wetland habitat abroad in Kenya. At Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, Elizabeth will assist with a multitude of tasks including: water quality monitoring, educational efforts with elementary and high school programs, agricultural outreach with local farmers, oyster restoration work, and community engagement.

James Chang, National Park ServiceAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyDuring the course of James’s year with the Corps, he will assist the National Park Service with their Park Ranger and Youth Program, including providing technical assistance for the development of a wide range of partnerships that employ youth throughout the Chesapeake Bay region. James will also collaborate with other partners and will have the opportunity to lead restoration projects and environmental literacy activities. An avid scuba diver, James has also volunteered with the Rock Creek Conservancy for cleanups.

Renesha Chiles, Virginia Department of Conservation & RecreationRichmond, VARenesha will work with the Virginia Department of Conservation & Recreation to develop educational programs for state parks visitors and will help educate community members about the health of the Bay. Additionally she will work with Youth Conservation Corps members to implement watershed restoration activities and recruit community volunteers to participate in park service days. Renesha has interned with the National Aquarium in Baltimore and was also appointed to serve as an Environmental Ambassador at her school.

Emily Cope, William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education CenterBrandwine, Prince George’s CountyEmily Cope has academic experience in biology, environmental science, and environmental policy. She will spend the next year at the William S. Schmidt Outdoor Education Center teaching outdoor environmental lessons to elementary age students while also providing support to schools during their Green Schools certification process. Green School certification includes elements of curriculumd development, water conservation, energy conservation, waste management, schoolyard habitats, and community connections. Emily will also assist in the planting, harvesting and maintenance of native gardens, complete minor trail and outdoor classroom maintenance and will manage support camps and other programs to students.

Kelly Crabtree, The Green School of BaltimoreBaltimore City, BaltimoreAt The Green School of Baltimore, Kelly will implement environmental education projects while also expanding the greening of the schoolyard including rain gardens, organic food-producing gardens,

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pollinator gardens, erosion control and educational signage. The Green School of Baltimore is a public charter elementary school dedicated to improving student achievement and increasing stewardship for the environment through experiential environmental education. Example programs in which Kelly will become engaged include the outdoor classroom, creating a new Heritage Garden, the agriculture and food garden program at the school, and the Operation Insulation and Healthy Habitat program in which parents and students teach each other about energy efficiency. Kelly previously worked at Great Kids Farm as a farm assistant and at Casey Trees where she cared for Washington D.C.’s tree canopy by weeding, watering, and observing requirements for tree health. In her spare time, Kelly also travels the country helping to rebuild homes after natural disasters.

Christopher Davis, United Workers AssociationBaltimore City, BaltimoreChristopher’s previous experience includes an internship at Community to Community Development, a women-led grassroots organization working for a just society and healthy communities and also was a core team member with Western Washington University’s Students For Farmworker Justice, a coalition of students working in support of farm workers and their fight for just labor conditions. During his year with the United Workers Association, Chris will work with high school age youth leaders to teach and learn about how air pollution impacts the Bay while also conducting community outreach on solar, recycling, and reuse alternatives by raising awareness among major energy purchasers on healthy and sustainable alternatives.

Leah Davis, U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyDuring her year with the Corps, Leah will assist with the restoration of wetlands, riparian forest buffers, living shorelines and tidal marsh restoration while also conducting wildlife assessment at Poplar Island’s restoration site. Leah brings a wealth of experience to this position having served as a naturalist at Camp SEA Lab, a field science educator for NatureBridge at Golden Gate, and also as a marine science educator at the Narragansett Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve and an environmental educator at the Don Lee Center, among other posts.

Jamison Douglas, Parks & People FoundationBaltimore, Baltimore CityPrior to joining the Corps, Jamison worked with the U.S. Forest Service as a climate change specialist, serving as an informational liaison to forest managers and plan writers as well as farmers and landowners. In his position with the Parks and People Foundation, Jamison will focus on urban agriculture, supporting a network of 150+ urban gardens and provide critical resources to help expand the capacity of Community Greening Resource Network. In this role he will focus on member communications, educational skill development and capacity-building workshops while also leading skills-building volunteer work days at community gardens.

Zachary Flaharty, Susquehanna Gateway Heritage AreaWrightsville, PAZachary will work with the Susquehanna Gateway Heritage Area to support development and implementation of a visitor contact station at the Zimmerman Center, educational programs focused on Native American heritage and community engagement to enhance public access for Captain John Smith Chesapeake Historic Trail’s Lower Susquehanna River Segment Plan. Zachary has interned at the Appalachian Trail Museum in Pine Grove Furnace State Park for the National Park Service and is a board member for the Lower Windsor Area Historical Society.

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Elizabeth Fortson, Blue Water BaltimoreBaltimore, Baltimore CityElizabeth will spend her year working with Blue Water Baltimore on a multitude of activities, including providing support for tree plantings and maintenance projects, performing site visits and tree assessments throughout the city and helping to develop street and yard tree programs. Blue Water Baltimore’s community greening program focuses on the aesthetic, economic, stormwater, energy-efficiency, and community benefits of trees. Elizabeth recently graduated from Johns Hopkins University where she majored in Global Environmental Change and Sustainability and has worked for TreeBaltimore, Johns Hopkins University Recycling Office and the Squam Lakes Natural Science Center.

Sarah Giordano, South River FederationEdgewater, Anne Arundel CountySarah previously worked at the Echo Hill Outdoor School leading a variety of outdoor educational, team building, and recreational activities as well as served as a research intern studying navigational methods of eastern painted turtles. During her time at the South River Federation, Sarah will coordinate partnerships about the river’s health as well as draft outreach materials and managing scientific monitoring and watershed restoration programs, including tidal and nontidal water quality sampling, and restoration plantings and project maintenance.

Emily Harris, Chester River AssociationChestertown, Kent CountyAt the Chester River Association, Emily Harris will conduct outdoor, river-related lessons with area students; write grants and manage the implementation of restoration projects; test water quality and analyze data; and assist with outreach efforts to local farmers. Emily brings great experience to this position, having held internships at the Chesapeake Bay Foundation, Maryland Legislature, Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve, Midshore Riverkeeper Conservancy, and Eastern Shore Land Conservancy.

Erin Harvey, Montgomery County Department of Environmental ProtectionRockville, Montgomery CountyErin has interned at Super Fun Eco Tours on Assateague Island National Sea Shore and with the Lower Shore Land Trust where she established a pollinator garden at Salisbury University for her final project. While at the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection, Erin will help expand the county’s stormwater management program, including implementation and property owner training, among other efforts. She will also conduct program research as well as assist with tree canopy plantings and biological monitoring.

Michael Harvey, Montgomery County Department of Environmental ProtectionRockville, Montgomery CountyA former Eagle Scout, Michael Harvey will join Erin Harvey (no relation) for his year at the Montgomery County Department of Environmental Protection where he will also work on stormwater management, program research and community outreach. Prior to joining the Corps, Michael interned with the University of Maryland’s Chesapeake Biological Laboratory, served as an undergraduate lab assistant, and also served as a community volunteer for the Lafayette River Project, Calvert Marine Museum, and the Virginia Zoo.

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Patrick Hixenbaugh, City of RockvilleRockville, Montgomery CountyPatrick Hixenbaugh is currently a recycling and waste auditor with Great Forest, Inc. While in school, Patrick worked in the Sustainability Office and served as vice president of advocacy for the Students for Environmental Awareness club. With the city of Rockville for the next year, Patrick will focus on successful commercial/industrial pollution control outreach programs while also developing industry-specific, pollution source control educational materials and inspection checklists.

Paige Hobaugh, U.S. Fish & Wildlife ServiceAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyDuring her year at the U.S. Fish & Wildlife Service, Paige will assist with the restoration of wetlands, riparian forest buffers, living shorelines and tidal marshes and with wildlife assessment at Poplar Island’s restoration site. Paige was the vice president of operations for the Resident Student Association at her university, conducted research for the state climatologist of Delaware, and studied plant science and tropical ecology abroad in the Galapagos Islands and Ecuador.

Andrew Ireland, The Nature ConservancyBethesda, Montgomery CountyFor the past year Andrew Ireland has been working abroad as a teaching assistant for a STEM magnet school focused on environmental education in the Dominican Republic. A recent graduate, Andrew also served as an undergraduate research assistant at his university and interned at the U.S. State Department. He will spend the next year with The Nature Conservancy, researching, compiling and mapping fire history while also helping to organize native plantings and control invasive species throughout the state.

Blake Ivey, Alliance for the Chesapeake BayAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyBlake will assist the Alliance with the Chesapeake Bay with a range of activities associated with the launch, marketing, and content development of a new Alliance partnership with businesses. In particular Blake will create outreach and marketing materials, develop website content and social media, organize discussion forums, identify and implement restoration projects, research metrics for quantifying the environmental benefits of actions, and develop methods for sharing best practices and lessons learned in all realms of sustainability, including water issues and energy efficiency. Blake is currently an environmental research assistant and also serves as an aquatic program assistant for the City of Newport News’ Parks, Recreation and Tourism division.

Jessica Love, City of Mount RainierMount Rainier, Prince George’s CountyJessica will join the Clean and Safe Team as an ambassador for the city of Mount Rainier. The City’s green ambassadors provide assistance to the residents, tourists and business owners while also working with the Department of Public Works on local beautification plans. She will also be involved with community engagement and workshops to assist with rain barrels, recycling, composting, trees, energy efficiency, and reducing your carbon footprint. Jessica was an environmental studies major and has been active in leadership initiatives and coursework related to environmental conservation and sustainability.

Stacy Luskin, Neighborhood Design Center Riverdale, Prince George’s County

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Stacy currently works as a community site leader for Artful Baltimore where she facilitates a weekly arts workshop for Baltimore City high school students. Prior to this position, Stacey worked abroad in Peru with sustainable farmers and also worked with Boone Street Farm Residency and the Charles North Co-op Garden. Stacy will spend the next year with the Neighborhood Design Center where she gain experience with NDC programs including the Community Energy Savers program focusing on environmental benefits of energy efficiency as well as helping the community save money on energy bills; the Right Tree Right Place Program, which focuses on aesthetic, water quality, and energy efficiency benefits of tree planting; and the Clean Up Green Up Program, a county-wide landscape beautification effort. Specifically, Stacy will focus on providing technical assistance to community partners as they move neighborhood greening projects into implementation. Stacy will also focus on identifying challenges to implementing local greening initiatives in order to improve NDC's services in support of underserved communities.

Louisa McIver, Frederick County Office of Sustainability & Environmental ResourcesFrederick, Frederick CountyLouisa will work with two of Frederick County’s programs. The first is the Green Homes Challenge, which helps residents reduce energy use, adopt environmentally friendly practices, and use renewable energy by navigating people through the step-by-step interactive program that rewards participants and tracks residential energy, water, gasoline, cost, nutrient and greenhouse gas emissions savings. The second is the Less Litter Better Water Program, which will help expand and promote litter prevention, education, and cleanup programs to protect water quality. Louisa previously worked as an intern for The Nature Conservancy and Rock Creek Park and also worked in her college’s Biodiesel Shop through its Center for Sustainability Education.

Catherine Merbler, Waterfront Partnership in BaltimoreBaltimore City, BaltimoreCatherine recently graduated with a degree in environmental studies. While in school, Catherine interned with Big City Farms and also served as a teaching assistant. During her Corps year, Catherine will work with the Waterfront Partnership in Baltimore where she will manage a citizen scientist program for the Baltimore Harbor as well as working with partners to develop a volunteer monitoring training program for Baltimore residents. Catherine will also assist with the 2016 season of the Great Baltimore Oyster Partnership and will learn about oyster gardening while also promoting the Partnership’s anti-litter campaign and Inner Harbor Water Wheel Trash Interceptor, among other tasks.

Angelia Miller, Frederick County Office of Sustainability & Environmental ResourcesFrederick, Frederick CountyAngelia will spend her year with Frederick County’s Office of Sustainability & Environmental Resources where she will work on litter prevention and energy issues. Specifically she will help expand Frederick County’s Less Litter Better Water Program and also manage the Green Homes Challenge to help residents reduce energy use, adopt environmentally friendly practices, and use renewable energy by navigating people through the step-by-step interactive program that rewards participants and tracks residential energy, water, gasoline, cost, nutrient and greenhouse gas emissions savings. Angelia previously served as an intern at the National Aquarium in Baltimore and also with Friends of Frederick County.

Sarah Mitchell, Izaak Walton League of AmericaGaithersburg, Montgomery County

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Sarah most recently interned with the Maryland Department of Agriculture where she focused her outreach efforts on public awareness related to mosquito-borne illnesses. At the Izaak Walton League of America, Sarah will assist with environmental education efforts focusing on water and energy issues, local watershed outreach efforts, water quality monitoring, and engaging individuals in stream restoration activities such as tree plantings and storm drain stenciling, among other tasks.

Amy Moore, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Meadowside Nature CenterRockville, Montgomery CountyDuring her year with the Corps, Amy will work with the Meadowside Nature Center and provide the community with opportunities to learn about local natural landscapes. In particular, she will work with staff naturalists to enhance environmental literacy, support special initiatives, and assist with the daily operations of the Center including animal care and aspects of its Green Schools certification, which involve water footprint and energy efficiency criteria. An avid rock climber and kayak instructor, Amy has extensive environmental experience, having worked at the Potomac Valley Audubon Society Discovery Camp, her university’s Office of Sustainability, Irvine Nature Center, and the National Aquarium in Baltimore, as well as volunteered for the Oregon Ridge Nature Center and the Baltimore Free Farm.

Emily Morrow, Arlington Echo Outdoor SchoolMillersville, Anne Arundel CountyEmily Morrow currently works as a Volunteer Maryland coordinator for Seeds 4 Success, a nonprofit organization that mentors children in public housing. Additionally, Emily has interned with the Chesapeake Bay Environmental Center and the Anacostia Watershed Society where she led volunteer groups in a variety of projects, including trash clean-ups and tree plantings. While at Arlington Echo, Emily will assist with environmental education and with Maryland Green School certification and development, focusing on the various certification criteria of curriculum, water conservation, energy conservation, waste management, schoolyard habitats, and community partnerships. She will also become engaged in Bay restoration projects such as oysters, stream monitoring, terrapins, and stormwater restoration.

John Cabell Neterer, Maryland-National Capital Park and Planning Commission Pope FarmGaithersburg, Montgomery CountyJohn will spend his year with Pope Farm assisting with all aspects of nursery production, energy conservation and sustainability, and outreach, as well as work directly on stormwater management programs, natural areas restoration, trail building efforts and Brookside Gardens. John has experience with native gardening, as well as sustainable farming through his internship with Saddle Ridge Farm. John was an active member of the Environmental Coalition at his univeristy and has completed mission work in Puerto Rico and throughout the United States focused on rebuilding homes and community development.

Andrew Pizzala, Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve in MarylandAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyAndrew most recently interned with the Environmental Protection Agency where he evaluated soils, plants, and hydrology as well as conducted inspections for the Toxic Substances Control Act and the Clean Water Act. During his schooling, his coursework focused on marine ecology, forest ecology, wetlands ecology, and renewable energy. At the Chesapeake Bay National Estuarine Research Reserve, Andrew will build estuarine and environmental literacy through programs with teachers,

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students, and communities while also managing ecologically-valuable estuarine sites that provide stewardship opportunities for Marylanders.

Emma Rice, Maryland Coastal Bays ProgramOcean City, Worcester CountyEmma will lead educational programs to engage individuals in restoration work such as tree and living shoreline plantings and invasive species removal during her time at the Maryland Coastal Bays Program. She will also collect biological surveys on wildlife and vegetation, and lead field trips and activities at environmental education sites. Emma most recently served as a youth program coordinator for Olympic Coast National Marine Sanctuary where she designed marine biology camp programs for middle school students with an interest in science and engineering. Emma also interned with the Delaware Nature Society and studied tropical ecology and conservation abroad in Costa Rica.

Kellie Rogers, Chesapeake Bay FoundationAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyKelly will join the Chesapeake Bay Foundation and help with habitat and oyster restoration, as well as assist the agricultural program and native nursery at Claggett Farm and the Buy Fresh, Buy Local Chesapeake Chapters which connect consumers, sustainable farms and businesses. Kellie has interned with the Oregon Ridge Nature Center as well as worked in the environmental studies department of her college. She was also active in many environmentally-minded clubs during college, including the Student Environmental Alliance, the Sailing Club, Ducks Unlimited, and the Wilderness Adventure Club

Danielle Staggers, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Park ServiceAnnapolis, Anne Arundel CountyDanielle has served as a seasonal stewardship technician for the Anacostia Watershed Society and also interned at the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. While with the Maryland Department of Natural Resources Park Service, Danielle will supervise youth in creating wetlands at Susquehanna State Park, Merkle Wildlife Sanctuary and Gunpowder State Park while also constructing habitat structure such as wood duck boxes and working on harvesting fruit, flowers and herbs constructing rain gardens and tree identification.

Angela Trenkle, Maryland Department of Natural Resources Forest ServiceWestminster, Carroll CountyAngela will spend the next year with the Maryland Forest Service leading volunteer work days on invasive species control, reforestation, forest inventories, tree planting design, survivorship assessment, conservation easement monitoring, and learning about forest health. Angela has great environmental experience having interned with the Smithsonian Marine Station at Fort Pierce, Jug Bay Wildlife Sanctuary, Smithsonian Environmental Research Center, as well as volunteered with the National Aquarium in Baltimore, Maryland Stream Waders, the Smithsonian National Museum of Natural History and many others.

Andrea van Wyk, National Aquarium in BaltimoreBaltimore, Baltimore CityDuring her year with the Corps, Andrea will help the National Aquarium in Baltimore with their habitat restoration work including organizing volunteer debris cleanups, outreach events, tidal wetland creation, sand dune restoration and forest restoration as well as implement education programs in the classroom and in the field. Andrea previously served as the volunteer event coordinator for the Sierra

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Club- Maryland Chapter, as well as was actively involved in numerous environmental clubs at Johns Hopkins University, including Take Back the Tap and JHU’s Center for Social Concern.

Alexa White, Patterson Park Audubon CenterBaltimore, Baltimore CityAlexa will work at Patterson Park Audubon Center during her year with the Corps, where she will help connect a multicultural community with nature in an urban setting, empowering neighbors through education and action projects to enhance bird habitat in Baltimore. Her specific duties will include habitat restoration, nature-based education, after-school programs and environmental education. Alexa most recently worked with New York State’s Department of Environmental Conservation, and was a policy intern with the Chesapeake Climate Action Network and the Piedmont Environmental Council. Fluent in Spanish, some of her work with the Audubon Center will be reaching Spanish-speaking communities in Baltimore City.

Olivia Wondu, Latin American Youth CenterSilver Spring, Montgomery CountyOlivia most recently served as a fellow with the Alliance for Green Heat and has also interned in the Office of Sustainability for Knox College as well as the Sewall Belmont House and Museum. Her work at the Latin American Youth Center will focus on the green jobs sector, and training youth to be competitive in the green jobs market, developing career pathways and job placements in the green sector. Specifically, next year, the Center intends to launch a new facet of programming, a clean energy corps, and Olivia will play a large role. She will also work on other aspects of the Center’s environmental enrichment curriculum and facilitate workshops on water and energy conservation, stewardship principles, green technology, innovation and history.

Anna Youngk, Arlington Echo Outdoor SchoolMillersville, Anne Arundel CountyAnna has interned with the Smithsonian Environmental Research Center and also was the waterfront assistant for her college’s Boat House. While at Arlington Echo, Anna will assist with environmental education activities directly as well as with schools seeking Green School certification. Certification includes elements of curriculum development, water conservation, energy conservation, waste management, schoolyard habitats, and connection to the community. Anna will also become engaged with restoration projects such as oysters, stream monitoring, terrapins, and stormwater restoration.

Hannah Zinnert, Hood College Center for Coastal & Watershed StudiesFrederick, Frederick CountyHannah will work with Hood College’s Center for Coastal & Watershed Studies where she will assist with water quality monitoring, stream health analysis, education outreach, restoration projects and homeowner outreach related to low impact stormwater best practices. Hannah currently is an operating assistant for the University of Maryland and has interned with Second Chance Wildlife Center, the National Cancer Institute, and at College Park’s ecology and conservation biology lab.

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