The Maryland Conservation Corps changed my life: Now it needs saving

As the conclusion of my undergraduate education approached, my post-graduate plans grew increasingly unclear. Financial uncertainty and the late realization that I might have chosen the “wrong” major led me to believe that pursuing a master’s degree was no longer a feasible option. The onset of the 2008 recession and tightening job market only heightened my anxiety about the future. However, as the first in my family to graduate from college, I was determined to quickly overcome the first adult-sized hurdle in my path.

During a pre-graduation conversation with my now father-in-law, I expressed doubts and anxiety about my compatibility with – and interest in – the career options available to someone with just a bachelor’s degree in psychology. This conversation provided some of the most honest, timely, and impactful career advice. I was encouraged to focus on my personal interests and passions, while being reminded that my degree was only a foundation — and that a strong résumé and credible professional references were paramount to achieving career success and mobility.

It was during this conversation that I first learned about AmeriCorps. The program presented the opportunity – and breathing room – that I needed: A way to defer student loan payments without accruing interest, earn an education award to support future academic pursuits or pay down existing student loans, and gain valuable on-the-job experience, professional training and certifications, and exposure to career fields aligned with my interests and passions. Sign me up!

With renewed focus, I began reviewing AmeriCorps programs and submitting applications. One program stood out above the rest: the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC), managed through the Department of Natural Resources’ Maryland Park Service. The program blended my personal interests with foundational job skills I already possessed, while providing extensive training opportunities to help members advance their careers. Immediately, my anxiety began to wane.

Growing up, my family regularly recreated in state parks, hiked sections of the Appalachian Trail, and fostered a deep appreciation for the environment. However, I had never considered a career within this professional umbrella. My two terms as an MCC crew member changed that.

I gained essential job skills — like trail construction and interpretive programming — and honed talents such as carpentry and equipment operation. Just as importantly, I grew in confidence, learned to navigate challenges and began to see my potential more clearly.

The crew members I served have become long-term friends, and the career employees who mentored me became my professional “Mount Rushmore,” demonstrating the importance of intangible qualities such as trust, respect, and accountability. Regular interactions with park visitors further inspired me. I witnessed the joy of inspiring others to care, watched elementary school students and adults introspectively weigh their daily decisions against their environmental impact, and served as an ambassador for Maryland’s diverse natural, cultural, historical and recreational resources.

Since 2011, I have proudly served Maryland citizens as a classified State Park Ranger at several properties, promoting up through the ranks to my current position as a Park Manager. Humbly, I recognize that my career has had highlights – but I would not be where I am without my experience as an MCC crew member. That is a stated fact: without the training, certifications, and on-the-job experience gained during those two years, I would not have built the résumé needed to meet the minimum qualifications for an entry-level ranger position.

Our agency and state are now at a critical juncture due to federal budgetary decisions hampering AmeriCorps’ ability to operate. The human element is incomprehensible. Forty-one resolute, passionate, and hopeful employees were told they could no longer serve as AmeriCorps volunteers, and now their livelihoods and futures are in doubt. Mission-critical agency functions have paused indefinitely. Inspiration, promise, and individual creativity have been stifled. The effective farm team has been put out to pasture, and park professionals across the state are asking: “Why?”

I also wonder: Where would I be now if this had happened to me while I was serving as a crew member? I certainly would not be managing Fair Hill NRMA and Bohemia River State Park or serving as president of the Maryland Rangers Association. That realization saddens me deeply, and it comes with another ponderance: How many future park rangers, educators and positive influencers just had their careers taken from them before they even had a chance to begin?

We need to continue asking “why.” The dedicated members of the MCC deserve it. The classified staff of the Department of Natural Resources deserve it. And every citizen of the State of Maryland deserves it.