The Chesapeake Conservation Corps recently added 21 new, young faces to its roster for this year’s class of environmental stewards.

The corps provides a way to initiate young people in careers that protecting the environment, and moreover, the Chesapeake Bay. The youths are matched with organizations across the state for a one-year tour of environmental duty.

The Chesapeake Bay Trust made the announcement on Monday of just who would be added to the roster this year.

Patch sat down with two of those 21 new environmentalists. Our Patch interview with Joseph Ports who will be working with the West/Rhode Riverkeeper, ran Thursday.

Today, Carol Wong, who was assigned to the South River Federation in Anne Arundel County. We talked about what this opportunity meant for her and learned about her passion for the environment.

PATCH: Please explain a little about how you got involved in the CCC, and why you were drawn to it.

WONG: I graduated from the University of Maryland-College Park in 2008 and went straight into a job as a consultant in environmental management. I majored in mechanical engineering, but my focus was management. My job actually helped me gain interest in environmental engineering, and I decided to change fields. I was accepted into Stanford for graduate school, but deferred a year to work with the Chesapeake Conservation Corps. What attracted me to CCC was the ability to serve a community that means a lot to me (I grew up in Maryland) and also water quality testing that my host organization, the South River Federation, can train me in. Water quality is the field I hope to study at Stanford, making the SRF a perfect match for me.

PATCH: What does it mean to be selected? Why do you think you were selected?

WONG: It means a lot to be part of the CCC because it allows me to make a difference in this community. I have volunteered at various organizations, such as Habitat for Humanity and the MS Walk. Community service is very rewarding, and I’m so glad I get a chance to spend a year doing this work!!

I think I got selected because I am committed to making a difference in environmental issues. Environmental concerns are becoming a huge problem in Maryland, and all around the world. The hands on experience that I can gain as a CCC volunteer is something that will help me prepare for graduate school and also for my future endeavors in environmental engineering.

PATCH: What will you be doing in the coming year with the CCC? Any particular goals?

WONG: This next year I will be working with the South River Federation in water quality testing in the South River portion of the Chesapeake. I hope to gain as much experience as I can in water quality testing and learn more about the Chesapeake Bay. I am also very excited to visit the other CCC volunteers at their host organizations to see what other efforts are going on around Maryland.

PATCH: What did you do during orientation this week for the CCC?

WONG: The orientation Monday was great because we got to meet all the volunteers and learn about what everyone will be doing this next year. We also discussed the training events that will occur, which will help everyone really learn and understand the issues of the Chesapeake. I also met the current volunteer of the South River Federation, Jennifer Carr. She has done so much for SRF, I have huge shoes to fill! She will be staying on at the SRF as the volunteer coordinator, so it will be great to learn about her experiences as well.