Volunteer
As a community-based nonprofit organization, Coastal Mountains Land Trust has always relied heavily upon the support of volunteers to achieve its land conservation mission. Today, as a regional organization committed to maintain a local presence in each of the towns we serve and at each of conservation properties we protect, we need your help more than ever. We encourage you to contact us to discuss how we might be able to put your skills and interests to work in a way that can be meaningful to you and to the conservation and stewardship of land.
What Specifically Can I Do?
Outdoor Work:
Trail Team Member
Help organize, plan and carry out the Land Trust's trail construction and maintenance projects.
Commitment : Seasonal
Weed Team Member
Help organize, plan and carry out the Land Trust's annual effort to control invasive exotic species on the organization's Preserves.
Commitment : Seasonal
Land Steward/Monitor
Act as a monitor for a Land Trust Preserve or easement.
Commitment : Multiple years
Blueberry Farm Organizer
Help organize and manage the ongoing implementation of the management plan for the Beech Hill organic blueberry farm project.
Commitment: One year
Beech Hill Field Hand
Participate in spring, summer and fall workdays at the Beech Hill Preserve, improving blueberries fields, maintaining trails and roads, and running the annual u-pick blueberry operation in late July/early August.
Commitment: Seasonal
Indoor Work:
Office Hero
Help out at the Land Trust office with answering phones, greeting guests, handling mailings, outreaching to members by phone, or assisting staff in carrying out a range of special projects.
Commitment : Ongoing/As Needed
Sign & Kiosk Carpenter
Design and construct custom signs to identify and protect Land Trust conservation properties.
Commitment: Annual
Event Coordinator
Help the Land Trust plan and organize a special event for outreach, fundraising, or educational purposes.
Commitment: Per Event Basis.
Artist & Designer
Help the Land Trust with artwork or design for a special project such as a natural history brochure, a Preserve sign, or for use on its website.
Commitment: Project Basis.
Event Photographer
Attend and photograph Coastal Mountains Land Trust outings, events, or properties. Help the organization develop a photograph collection to communicate the purpose and value of its work.
Commitment : Occasional
Internships:
Conservation Stewardship Intern
Each year, Coastal Mountains Land Trust hosts several conservation interns to help support the various programs of the Land Trust. An internship at the Coastal Mountains Trust is a great opportunity to become involved in the day-to-day work of a successful land conservation organization. Interns gain a detailed understanding of private land protection and land stewardship, as well as a better understanding of how the growing community of land trusts fits into the conservation movement as a whole. The Land Trust looks to fill at least one internship each summer and will consider applications throughout the rest of the year.
There are three main departments within the Coastal Mountains Land Trust: land protection, stewardship and development. In general, interns work with some aspect of the stewardship program, although they may also at times become involved in other aspects of the organization. Stewardship interns, however, will focus most of their time and attention on stewardship-related tasks.
Interns will find the Land Trust staff to be extremely supportive of their desire to learn and become involved in the organization. Because the staff is small, its members rely on the interns a great deal. Projects vary, depending on the Land Trust's agenda for the season.
Possible Intern Duties:
- Site and ecological monitoring
- Preserve management
- Trail work
- Volunteer recruitment and management
- Habitat management
- Public access monitoring and management
- Property research
- Writing
- Special events coordination
- Stewardship records administration
Skills Desired:
- Background in ecology
- Good physical fitness
- Ability to operate machinery
- Basic natural history/ID skills
- Strong writing/research skills
- Public speaking ability
- Computer savvy
- Familiarity with GPS devices
- Familiarity with GIS (desirable)
- Driver's license and transportation
Duration/Time Frame:
Flexible: Internships are designed, based upon intern's interests and abilities, to ensure that the experience is meaningful for all parties.
How To Apply:
Please send a resume, short writing sample and cover letter including:
- a short statement about why you want to work for Coastal Mountains Land Trust
- any skills or interests that would make you a particularly strong candidate
- dates of availability
Send to:
Conservation Lands Manager
Ian Stewart
101 Mt. Battie Street Camden
Maine 04843
For more information, contact: ians@coastalmountains.org
How Do I Get Started?
If you're interested in volunteering, please read through the various volunteer positions listed below and then send us the Volunteer Application Form provided. Of course, we also encourage you to contact us by phone to discuss any questions you may have. Each volunteer position is accompanied by a brief description of how we could use your help as well as an estimate of the time commitment that position requires.
If you would like to volunteer, fill out the following form to let us know your level of interest and commitment. You can print and complete this form and mail it to Coastal Mountains Land Trust, 101 Mt. Battie Street, Camden, ME 04843. Similiarly, you can also contact us directly by email. The printable form is a PDF and you may need Adobe Reader.