The Maryland Climate Corps offers stipend-supported service opportunities for Climate Corps Fellows to get involved protecting their community from the impacts of climate change while receiving the workforce training necessary to access a well-paying green job after their service. An initiative of the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation that is administered by the Chesapeake Bay Trust, the Maryland Climate Corps will engage Fellows in activities that reduce greenhouse gas emissions, build green infrastructure, and improve community resilience to climate disasters. The Maryland Climate Corps is partially funded through a philanthropic partnership with the California Volunteers Fund.
The Climate Corps is designed to support young adults by growing their professional goals, fostering career exploration, and developing new skills. Through this program, participants are encouraged to identify where their talents and passion intersect, guiding fellows toward a career that positively impacts the environment and their communities.
If you are interested in applying to the Maryland Climate Corps as a participant or host site please see the Apply page.
The Maryland Climate Corps promotes and protects the environment by providing young adults with opportunities to gain career skills and become more engaged through meaningful community service. As part of the Biden-Harris Administration’s American Climate Corps, this new service track enhances Maryland’s national climate leadership by offering additional opportunities to address the comprehensive community impacts of climate change. Spearheaded by Govenor Wes Moore, and many other participators, the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation launched the new Maryland Climate Corps program as part of the second year of the Service Year Option program. The inaugural class included 42 placements across Maryland, with a rich variety of offerings to support the growth and professional advancement of young adults entering the environmental field while at the same time protecting and restoring the health of our local environment and the communities who live in it.
As part of this effort, the Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to partner with the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation and California Volunteers Fund to administer the Maryland Climate Corps program.
The Maryland Climate Corps is designed to support young adults in refining their professional goals, propelling them forward in their careers, and building the foundation to grow into experts, thought-leaders, and change-makers in their respective fields. During the course of the service term Corps Fellows receive:
Learn more about the elements of our approach below.
Experience
The Climate Corps program provides real-world experience through:
- A fulltime Position with a Host Site Partner: Climate Corps Fellows will be paired with an apprenticeship program, non-profit, business, or government agency that supports professional development. Members serve full time, for 9 ½ months. There is a wide range of positions offered by Host Site Partners such as: Climate education, energy efficiency, information technology, public service, improving community resilience to climate disasters, and assisting Maryland in achieving its greenhouse gas emissions reduction targets.
- Providing young adults with opportunities to become better stewards and professionals through meaningful service to their communities and the region.
- Deploying clean energy technology, mitigating, and preventing the environmental and health impacts in communities disproportionately affected by climate change.
- Providing a green career ladder and opportunities for all young adults.
Training
2. Real-Word Training Opportunities: Every Climate Corps Fellow is required to attend all monthly regional Maryland Climate Corps/Service Year Option trainings, and all required Chesapeake Bay Trust trainings. These sessions will be designed to promote team building among the cohort of Climate Corps Fellows, provide training in new job skills, develop an understanding of the overall program, share information about best practices, and advance knowledge on environment and energy topics. Fellows will gain new technical skills and expand their expertise to better prepare them for a future in the green workforce. The training topics can include:
- Leadership
- Climate Change
- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, & Justice
- The Job Search
- Imposter Syndrome
- Self-Care & Boundaries
- And more!
Notes:
- The number of trainings and topics change each year. This is a general summary.
- Host Site Partners provide more specialized training opportunities through the Buildwithin platform which allows Host Site Partners to provide Climate Corps Fellows with specific trainings that align with the particular field the fellow is pursuing.
Mentorship
The Maryland Climate Corps was designed with a mentorship component. Research shows the significant impact mentors have on increasing an individual’s preparation, confidence, and successful attainment of their goals. The Mentor is key to the Climate Corps Fellow having a meaningful service year.
Every Host Site Partner must assign a Mentor to their Climate Corps Fellow(s). This person serves in two capacities:
1. A direct supervisor who develops the work plan, monitors progress and supports the Climate Corps Fellows in accomplishing their projects throughout the year.
2. A Mentor who guides and supports the Climate Corps Fellow with developing professional goals, finding connections and opportunities, and actions to strengthen the Corps Fellow’s experience, skills, and resume to advance in their career path after the Corps.
Support Network of Young Professionals
Through the Corps a support network of young adults entering the environmental field is created. Even though Climate Corps Fellows are scattered throughout Maryland, the program intentionally connects Climate Corps Fellows with each other numerous times during the year to build deep and lasting relationships. These include:
1. Trainings: Corps Members come together at least once a month throughout the term of service for leadership and professional development trainings. See the Training tab for more detail.
2. All-Hands on Deck: Climate Corps Fellows come together throughout the year to accomplish a project led by a fellow Climate Corps Fellow. The selected project day(s) receives funding from the Trust and allows for a Climate Corps Fellow to receive the help from the entire Corps cohort to complete one of their projects for their Host Site Partner.
3. Peer-to-Peer Site Visits: As part of the service year, Climate Corps Fellows must spend at least three, ideally four to eight days, participating in activities or visiting other Host Site Partners within their field of interest throughout the service year. Additionally, Climate Corps Fellows and Host Site Partners are encouraged, as opportunities arise, to invite other Climate Corps Fellows placed elsewhere to participate in a site visit at their organization. Activities can include, but are not limited to, help with events, trainings, projects, programs, monitoring, etc. The peer-to-peer site visits offer unique opportunity to explore different green jobs roles, expand professional networks, and expose fellows to a wide range of environmental initiatives.
Career Coaching and Job Seeking Assistance
The Maryland Climate Corps offers a unique and comprehensive support system by integrating dedicated career coaches into the program. These career coaches are key pillars in the fellow’s journey providing personalized guidance and assistance throughout the entire service term. This aspect of the program also supports personal and professional development, helping fellows identify and achieve their long-term goals.