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MEDIA ADVISORY - Maryland Civic Justice Corps Projects Approach Halfway Point
WHAT: Media outlets will have the opportunity to witness first-hand the projects underway by the Maryland Civic Justice Corps (CJC) at one of two locations. At Gunpowder Falls State Park, CJC crews will be working on the "Muskrat Trail," a nature trail which winds through the woods to the edge of the marsh. Crews are building boardwalks, learning how to cut trees with a chainsaw, and working on Muskrat Trail entrance sign. At Patapsco Valley State Park, CJC crews will be working on the repurposing of the old camp store into a nature center. They are installing a rain garden, laying flooring material, and beginning painting of an exterior mural on the nature center. A second crew at Patapsco Valley State Park will be CJC crews will be painting the interior and exterior of a restroom in the area.
WHEN: Wednesday, July 23 at 10:00 a.m.
WHO: Civic Justice Corps youth and Maryland Park Service (MPS) staff
WHERE: Gunpowder Falls State Park - Hammerman Area, "Ash" parking lot
7200 Graces Quarters Road, Baltimore MD
Gatehouse staff will guide to exact location upon entering the park
Contact: Peyton Taylor, Executive Director, Conservation Corps and Interpretation, MPS
410-937-0682 (cell) or 410-335-3461(office)
Patapsco Valley State Park - Hilton Area
1101 Hilton Avenue, Catonsville, MD
Meet inside the gate at the picnic and camping area
Contact: Holly Bennett, Patapsco Coach, Maryland Civic Justice Corps, 443-540-5237
Patapsco Valley State Park - Pickall Area
8125 Johnnycake Road, Woodlawn, MD 21244
Meet at 10:30 a.m., at the gate.
Contact: Park Manager Robin Melton, 443-534-1990Space is limited to two persons per crew. Please RSVP to 410-260-8020 by 2 p.m. TODAY, Tuesday, July 22, if planning to attend.
BACKGROUND: In April, Governor Martin O’Malley expanded the Maryland Conservation Corps (MCC) – the state’s award winning AmeriCorps program – to include the Civic Justice Corps, a summer job opportunity for urban youth. In this, the program’s first year, MCC crew members and Maryland Park Service staff are supervising projects and providing mentoring for 24 CJC crews of approximately 8 youth each.
CJC crewmembers are currently working at Patapsco Valley and Gunpowder Falls State Parks on resource conservation, trail maintenance, tree plantings, with training focused on team building and job skills. CJC crew members also learn about the environment though participation in outdoor activities such as hiking, canoeing, camping and art work. Work began June 30 and crew members who complete the program will graduate on August 8, 2008.
July 22, 2008 Contact: Darlene Pisani
410-260-8020
dpisani@dnr.state.md.usMaryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) is the state agency responsible for providing natural and living resource-related services to citizens and visitors. DNR manages more than 449,000 acres of public lands and 17,000 miles of waterways, along with Maryland's forests, fisheries and wildlife for maximum environmental, economic and quality of life benefits. A national leader in land conservation, DNR-managed parks and natural, historic and cultural resources attract 12 million visitors annually. DNR is the lead agency in Maryland's effort to restore the Chesapeake Bay, the state's number one environmental priority. Learn more at www.dnr.maryland.gov.