Please note that the projects described below are indicative of the types available for each organization. Students will be matched to a particular organization based on their interests and skills and the sponsoring organization's needs. Also please note that some of the fellowship placements may require the use of a vehicle.
2013 Sponsor Organizations:
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City of Bath Department of Planning and Development
The selected fellow will support the City of Bath’s Planning & Development Department by leading a natural resources and open space inventory effort. The fellow will design the structure of the inventory, collate and assess known data resources, identify new data resources, ground truth remotely-sensed data, and develop a publicly-accessible format for the data. The inventory will be in support of two projects; the development of an open space and natural resources plan and a state-lead coastal hazards resiliency planning effort. In 2013, the City of Bath will be participating in a regional, state-funded assessment of coastal vulnerabilities—with a focus on Merrymeeting Bay’s natural resources. The fellow will participate and assist local and state partners in the development of the project’s scope, analysis, and outcomes/products. This project also builds on community projects developed as part of Environmental Studies courses and the fellow will assist in identifying future course projects associated with these two initiatives. Considerable leadership will be required of the fellow; the fellow will be the project lead and will operate independently, establishing relationships with data providers and allied organizations.
Town of Brunswick Department of Planning and Development
The Fellow will be an important member of Brunswick’s Department of Planning and Development staff and will gain an understanding of and experience in community planning and development. It is anticipated that the Fellow will work closely with the Town of Brunswick staff and project stakeholder groups for either implementation work associated with the soon-to-be-completed recreation, trails and open space management plan for the former BNAS lands, a Master Plan for the former BNAS East Brunswick Transmitter Site, or the adopted Downtown Brunswick and Outer Pleasant Street Master Plan. The Town of Brunswick will be conveyed over 1000 acres of land designated for conservation and very limited related uses, as a part of the redevelopment of Brunswick Naval Air Station, formally disestablished on May 31, 2011. Beginning in 2011, the Town began work with the National Park Service and designated stakeholders to develop a recreation, trails and open space management plan for the conveyed lands. For the past two years, Bowdoin Fellows have completed extensive field work and mapping of all existing trails and roads throughout the southeastern parcel to be conveyed to the Town shortly. The Fellow will be invited to participate in meetings of various boards and commissions and will be expected to do primarily televised presentations at the completion of key phases. Tasks could include computer research, field work, GIS mapping in the areas of environmental/natural resource planning and/or community planning.
Possible projects include:
Brunswick Topsham Land Trust (Brunswick)
The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) was founded in 1985 to conserve the remarkable diversity of the natural heritage of Brunswick, Topsham and Bowdoin. With the conservation of more than 1,500 acres of natural areas the BTLT meaningfully has addressed its mission to "identify and then protect all lands in our communities with true ecological, agricultural and aesthetic importance." The fellow placed with the Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust (BTLT) for the summer of 2013 will have a diverse and exciting experience working in many areas of our operations. In addition to learning about the day to day operations of a land trust, the fellow will be involved with two newer initatives. The BTLT is engaged in a regional initiative to expand capacity and support for local agriculture. The fellowship will provide a student with experience in day to day land trust operations, the role of land trust in conservation initiatives such as building capacity for local agriculture and river restoration and hands on experience in the use of GIS for strategic planning.
Possible projects include:
Friends of Casco Bay (based in South Portland) requires use of vehicle
Friends of Casco Bay is an independent, community-based nonprofit organization founded in 1989 to improve and protect the environmental health of Casco Bay. Our work involves advocacy, education, water quality monitoring, and collaborative problem solving. Home to the Casco BAYKEEPER®, we are a founding member of WATERKEEPER® ALLIANCE, a network of more than 200 environmental groups working to protect waters around the world. This fellowship provides an opportunity for students interested in a career in marine or environmental science to work with an organization that incorporates research and citizen science in seeking effective solutions for the health of the Bay. This summer, the fellow will be building upon the previous summer's pilot project that exams shifts in pH and implications for marine resources in the Bay.
Possible projects include:
Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (based in Bath, carpooling may be arranged)
The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) seeks a Summer Fellow to assist with important education and land projects including stewardship and acquisition. The KELT Fellow will have the opportunity to work with other staff members in the office and in the field working on projects that make a meaningful contribution to our region.
Working with the KELT Education Coordinator the Summer Fellow will assist planning and implementing summer programs including facilitation of explorations workshops, organize and lead community hikes, plan and present a youth program for summer camp. The 2013 Stewardship work plan is extensive but includes kiosk assessment with recommendation for needed signage including implementation of improvements. The trail assessment would be an analysis of all trail materials in print and on multiple websites to evaluate for accuracy and consistency. KELT is a leader in the Capitol to the Coast Trail which will extend two popular stretches of multi-use trail to create an active transportation and recreation corridor from Augusta to Bath approximately 46 miles in length. The Summer Fellow will assist developing on the ground mapping, identify private landowners on strategic parcels, assess trails and capture user feedback. Other projects that the Fellow may be asked to assist with include Local Farm-Local Food, Water Quality and Shellfish projects regionally and with local municipalities, and land acquisition projects to name a few. The Fellow reports directly to the Executive Director and works closely with staff and members of the community.
Maine Conservation Voters(based in Augusta, carpooling may be arranged)
Maine Conservation Voters/Maine Conservation Alliance (MCV/MCA) plays a critical role in turning public support for conservation into new laws to protect our air, land, water and wildlife. As a result of successful campaign strategies, a focused policy agenda, and sharp accountability tools, we are building Maine’s environmental movement into a powerful political force. MCV/MCA seeks a student intern who will forward our mission by assisting with key projects like our annual Environmental Scorecard, newsletter, website and new media communications (Facebook, Twitter, YouTube, Pinterest). Additionally, the student will assist in increasing our field presence through community outreach and education events and help steward the Environmental Priorities Coalition, a partnership of 26 environmental, conservation and public health organizations. This fellowship is an excellent opportunity to develop relationships with legislators, community members, conservationists and environmental leaders. MCV especially encourages creative ideas on utilizing new media (e.g., student blog, online video production).
Possible projects include:
The Nature Conservancy (Brunswick)
The Nature Conservancy is a science-based international, nonprofit organization dedicated to the conservation the lands and waters on which all life depends. The Conservancy has been working in Maine for some 56 years. With partners we have conserved more than one million acres of forests, wetlands, ponds, streams and over 100 coastal islands. The Conservancy is the 12th largest landowner in the state, owning and managing some 283,000 acres. The Fellow will assist the External Affairs and the Media/Marketing teams at The Nature Conservancy in Maine. We will also give fellows significant time to work (weekly) with land crews, so that field experience is gained. We are seeking a well-organized, motivated student(s) to work with staff on furthering a conservation policy campaign related to source water protection in all aspects of campaign planning. In addition, the fellow will assist with a statewide public education effort, Nature is ME, which will aim to get Mainers outside and learning about the role that nature plays in their lives during summer 2013. The Fellow should have excellent verbal and written communication skills. Fellow(s) should have a passion to learn about all aspects of conservation work – from policy development, public campaigns, science and field work. Fellow must be able to work independently and demonstrated ability to complete projects.
Topsham Department of Planning and Development
The fellowship will involve working with the Town of Topsham’s Natural Resource/ Assistant Planner on natural resource inventories and working the Town's Conservation Commission, Tree Committee, Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, Historic District Commission, and possible Economic Development Committee. Topsham is a growing community where there exists the challenge of balancing growth and protecting valuable natural areas. This position will provide hands-on experience for students interested in municipal planning, conservation/ natural resource planning, and creative solutions used by towns to address growth pressures. Two major projects are forming for this summer, one is the watershed planingt effort that is being lead by the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. This will involve research and field work to help Topsham identify non-point source pollution impacts, and offer remediation strategies. This project involves working with state agency staff and consultants in the development of the watershed plan. The second project is a cutting edge research project that is investigating innovative strategies for vernal pool protection. The project involves working with University researchers, conservation organizations and stakeholders.
Possible projects include:
Maine Coast Heritage Trust (Topsham)/Harpswell Heritage Land Trust (Harpswell) (note: this position requires that the student can provide their own transportation)
Maine Coast Heritage Trust conserves and stewards Maine’s coastal lands and islands for their renowned scenic beauty, outdoor recreational opportunities, ecological diversity and working landscapes. MCHT promotes the conservation of natural places statewide by working with land trusts, communities and other partners. Founded in 1970, the trust was a pioneer in the use of conservation easements as a way to protect land. Since this time we have worked to protect more than 130,000 acres in Maine, including more than 275 entire coastal islands.
The student will be working directly in the the development department of a busy nonprofit organization.
This fellowship will provide the student with an opportunity learn about nonprofit management within a statewide conservation organization. The fellow will work directly with MCHT’s Associate Director of Development and the Membership and Annual Fund Manager assisting with event coordination. The position involves assisting with event promotion both online and print, drafting emails to event participants, managing MCHT's Facebook, posting event follow up and photo album creation, contacting vendors, confirming boat and kayak rentals, and other duties related to event organization. Preference for students having proficiency with Facebook, Microsoft Word, and Excel.
In addition, a portion of this position will be working with one of the land trusts that is a member of the Maine Land Trust network, the Harpswell Heritage Land Trust. In this way, the fellow will gain valuable experience in local land trust operations and how statewide conservation organizations achieve their goals through partnerships with these locally based organizations.
The Harpswell Heritage Land Trust’s (HHLT) mission is to preserve and protect Harpswell’s natural open spaces, islands, shoreline and cultural heritage for current and future generations through education, conservation and landowner assistance. HHLT pursues this mission through land protection, public access to its preserves, and programs for people of all ages. The Land Trust offers an interesting and diverse range of activities to a summer fellow. The student would be primarily involved in creating outreach materials, including written materials and maps about land trust properties and website content. In addition, the fellow would have the opportunity to help with the 15th year of HHLT’s successful Nature Day Camp; trail work; boundary marking; removing invasive plants; assisting with day to day land trust operations; and more. Depending on the individual’s interests and skills, the fellow may work on mapping habitat types and creating natural resource inventories for land trust properties.
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