Organization: Chesapeake Bay Trust
About the Chesapeake Bay Trust and Corps Program Partners:
The Chesapeake Bay Trust (Trust) is a nonprofit, grant-making organization dedicated to improving the bays, streams, rivers, forests, parks, and other natural resources of all our local systems, from the Chesapeake to the Coastal Bays to the Youghiogheny River.
As part of these efforts, the Chesapeake Bay Trust is proud to partner with the State of Maryland, BGE an Exelon Company, and the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation to administer the Corps program.
Through the partnership with the State of Maryland and following the enactment of the Climate Solutions Now Act by the Maryland General Assembly in 2022, the Trust and State expanded the climate focus of the Chesapeake Conservation Corps and the Program’s ability to engage an increased number of Corps placements each year. These changes allowed the now Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps (Corps) to increase its impact in addressing the complex environmental issues of today in the face of climate change, serving communities disproportionately affected by climate change, and preparing young adults for the demands and needs of the green workforce.
Additionally, in partnership with the Maryland Department of Service and Civic Innovation through their Maryland Corps/Service Year Option, the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps has incorporated additional opportunities for Corps Members to get involved in protecting their communities from the impacts of climate change while receiving green workforce and professional development training.
The Corps Program & Corps Member Opportunity:
Each successfully matched Corps Member will be placed with a Host Organization and will develop a 40 hour per week workplan that outlines their tasks, projects, and responsibilities for their term of service. The workplan will be created in partnership with their Host Organization Mentor and the Chesapeake Bay Trust based on the fields and activities described in the “Eligible Corps Member Activities” section below. The workplan will also include a Capstone Project led by the Corps Member. Additionally, Corps Members will participate in leadership and professional development trainings, full-cohort project days, and site visits to other Corps Members at their Host Organizations.
Host Organizations are nonprofits, municipal, county, regional, state, or Federal public agencies, faith-based organizations, community associations, service, youth, and civic groups, and public and independent higher educational institutions located throughout the state of Maryland.
The list of organizations who applied to be a Host Organization for the 2026-27 Corps Program is available at: https://cbtrust.org/chesapeake-climate-corps/apply/members/
Corps Member Eligibility:
• Applicants must be 18-25 years old at the start of the Corps program (August 18th, 2026).
• Applicants must be a citizen of the United States, a lawful permanent resident, or have documentation confirming permission to work in the United States during the year-long term of service.
• Applicants must be available to serve full-time (approximately 40 hours per week) for the entire duration of the 12-month service term. Applicants with commitments that will overlap with their Corps requirement of serving 40 hours per week during business hours (typically 9:00-5:00pm, Monday – Friday) are not eligible for participation. For example, education (full or part-time), employment (full or part-time), service commitments, etc. If you have a question about whether your other commitment(s) exclude you from eligibility, please contact [email protected].
• Although welcome, a college degree is not required.
• Individuals cannot participate in a second service-term if they have served in one of the Trust’s Climate Corps programs (Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps, Maryland Climate Corps, or Climate Corps – Service Year Option) previously. o If you previously served in a non-Trust facilitated Maryland Corps/Service Year Option program (separate of the Climate Corps), you must apply to DSCI for, and be selected to serve as, a ‘2nd Year Leader’ in order to be eligible for the Chesapeake Conservation and Climate Corps AND be eligible for Maryland Corps/Service Year Option benefits (as described below).
• In order to be eligible for Maryland Corps/Service Year Option benefits (including access to BuildWithin and the potential completion award), applicants must reside within the state of Maryland as of the program start date (August 18, 2026).
Program Stipend and Benefits:
Corps Members will receive a prorated, annual stipend of $33,280 (to be provided to Corps Members incrementally on a bimonthly – twice a month – basis for the duration of their term of service). Corps Members can also apply for a small grant to support capstone project implementation at their Host Organization and receive funding to attend a professional conference during their tenure in the program. Corps Members who reside within the state of Maryland and successfully complete the full term of service can earn a $6,000 completion award.
Additional Benefits Include:
• Health insurance coverage through The Corps Network if not covered by a parent or guardian or other private source of healthcare.
• Trainings in topics including (but not limited to) leadership, professional development (i.e. giving and receiving feedback, resume development, interview skills, etc.), environmental justice, diversity, equity, inclusion and justice (DEIJ), financial literacy, environmental literacy, and more.
• A meaningful experience that allows you to learn new skills, take on more responsibility than a typical “first job”, and engage with your community.
• Networking opportunities during the service term, and potential recommendations from staff for future employment or education.
• Access to the BuildWithin platform for self-paced virtual professional development training and the potential to receive a Department of Labor certified apprenticeship credential. (**Maryland residents only)
Eligible Activities:
Corps Members will be engaged in a wide range of activities in the fields of:
Climate Change
Environmental Restoration
Energy Conservation
Sustainable Agriculture
Forestry
Community Engagement
Environmental Education
Eligible projects and activities must meet an identifiable public need (1) with specific emphasis on projects and programs that result in long-term preservation, protection, and conservation of the environment and/or (2) within a community disproportionately affected by climate impacts, with specific emphasis on climate mitigation and clean energy projects that result in long-term reductions to greenhouse gas emissions and improvements to public health and the environment.
For a detailed list of example eligible Corps Member Projects, view the link here.
Corps Members may not: a) Participate in advocacy related activities while engaged in the performance of duties as stipend service Members, b) Participate in any partisan political activity while engaged in the performance of duties as stipend service Members, c) Participate in any regulatory or statutory enforcement activities while engaged in the performance of duties as a member of the Corps Program, or d) Undertake a project if the project would replace regular workers or duplicate or replace and existing service in the same locality.
A full list of Corps Member expected responsibilities, as well as Host responsibilities, can be found by reviewing the Sample Host Agreement (linked here).
Note: The agreements are updated annually and subject to change.
Application Form Instructions and Deadline:
The Trust uses an online system for the application process, and if selected, program management.
To apply for the Corps program, click on “Get Started” to begin a new application. This will open a new window asking you to log in or create an account on our online system.
If you have applied in the past, use your existing username and password (if you have forgotten either of these use the ‘forgot password’ feature). If you have not used our online system before, click on “New Applicant” and follow the instructions.
Please provide all required information and respond to all required questions in the “Program Information” and “Applicant Information” tabs.
For the “Narrative Questions” tab of the application form be sure your responses are clear, robust, and personal as we will be sharing your responses with Host Applicants if you are invited to be a Corps Member Applicant Finalist. While there is no word limit, please use 2-4 thoughtful paragraphs for your response to each question. You may develop your answers outside of the application form and copy and paste your responses into the form when you are ready to submit. Your responses to the Narrative Questions should be your own, original work. Please be sure to save your application frequently.
Application Narrative Questions:
1. Share your story and what has led you to apply to the Climate Corps program. Describe how you will bring a unique perspective to the cohort.
2. Describe an environmental issue (can include an issue that intersects with the environment and other areas) that you are passionate about or one that has impacted you. Given your area of interest, what types of activities and projects described in “Corps Member Eligible Activities” of the application package are you most interested in and why?
3. Tell us about a meaningful experience or accomplishment that you have had in the last five years. The experience does not have to be environmentally focused, just one that has made a significant impression on you or of which you are proud.
In the “Supplementary Documents” tab you may upload additional supporting documents, if needed. While you are welcome to submit a resume and/or letter(s) of recommendation, these documents are not required.
Please provide all required information and respond to all required questions in the “Confidential Information” tab. The information collected in this tab will not be used during the application review process and will not be shared with reviewers or Host applicants.
By submitting an application to become a Corps Member, you attest that all information provided is true to the best of your knowledge and commit to being placed with a Host Organization for the duration of the service period and fulfill all responsibilities outlined above.
The Trust has a mission to empower all people to participate in the restoration and protection of our region’s natural resources through its award-making and programs. As a result, the Trust strongly encourages Corps Member applications directly from communities underrepresented in the environmental space and from Host Organizations based in and/or partnering with such communities. For more about the Trust’s commitment to engaging underrepresented groups, see our strategic plan at www.cbtrust.org/strategic-plan and https://cbtrust.org/diversity-inclusion/.
After your Application is Submitted:
| Each application willbereviewed and evaluatedby areview committee composedof Corps Alumni using theEvaluation Criteriabelow. Preference willbegiven to applications that meet multiple criteria. Basedon thereviewer scores, a subset of applicantswillbe invitedto participate in the matching processas ‘Corps Member ApplicantFinalists’.Description andScoring Guidance | Scoring |
| Value to theCorps Member | |
| How much will the applicant benefit from the experienceand offerings provided by the ClimateCorps?Have theyalreadyexperiencednumerousinternshipsand/or professionalpositions, or wouldthe experience be novelandtherefore more additive totheir growth? | Scale of 1 to 35 |
| Essays/NarrativeResponses | |
| Do the essays thoroughly and clearly demonstrate an understanding of and interest in the CorpsProgram(s)? Do the essaysshow personality and/or passion? Are the essays memorable? Are theanswers consistent with the Corps goals? | Scale of 1 to 25 |
| Value to the CorpsProgram | |
| What is the likelihood the applicant will provide: A diverse perspective orlived experience?Curiosity or creativity in addressing the challengesfacingthe environmental movement? Passion for community and/or natural resource health? | Scale of 1 to 20 |
| Value to the Host Site | |
| How valuable will the applicant be to a Host Organization? Does the applicant have thebackground/experience/skillstobe effective in aCorpsposition?Whatisthe likelihoodthe applicant can work responsibly in a professional environment? | Scale of 1 to 20 |
The Trust organizes and determines placements based on:
- The quality of the Corps Member application and the value they will receive from being accepted into the Corps.
- Quality of the Host Organization application and proposed experience offered to the Corps Member.
- Strength of the match between Corps Member and Host Organization.
An overview of the application process and timeline is depicted below. Applicants are encouraged to review a detailed application process and timeline, including specific anticipated dates for the 2026-2027 program year, linked here.