Maine-Based Fellowships

The Sustainability Office in Bath was developed in June 2022 to focus planning efforts on preparing for a changing climate. The Office is housed in the historic Bath City Hall and is aligned with the Bath Planning Office, the Community and Economic Development Office, and the City Managers Office.

The fellow will work directly with the Director of Sustainability on current projects including but not limited to: GIS mapping (Natural resource management database), Climate Action Plan, Bike/Pedestrian initiatives. The fellow will interact with the Bath Climate Action Commission, Bath Community Forestry Committee, Bath City Council, and City staff. The City of Bath is a municipal government organization with a resident population of approximately 8.700 people. The Sustainability Office in Bath was developed in June 2022 to focus planning efforts on preparing for a changing climate. The Office is housed in the historic Bath City Hall and is aligned with the Bath Planning Office, the Community and Economic Development Office, and the City Managers Office.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Rod Melanson
Email: rmelanson@cityofbath.com

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) works to make Maine a better and safer place to bike, walk, and roll. Founded in 1992, the Bicycle Coalition of Maine has grown into the leading bicycle and pedestrian advocacy group in the state. The Coalition believes all Mainers should have access to bikes and bike education, and we envision a future where Maine's roads, public ways, and trails are safe and accessible, resulting in cleaner travel options, improved health, and stronger economic benefits for Maine communities.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Rosie Armstrong
Email: rarmstro@bowdoin.edu 

The Fellow will be an integrated member of the Town of Brunswick's Department of Planning and Codes office. We are seeking a fellow to support the work associated with the Environmental Planner's current projects. This list of projects includes (1) conservation commission activities such as conservation easement monitoring (i.e., land survey field work & report summaries), invasive species removal, pesticide ordinance development (public education and outreach, including tabling, helping to host workshops, and implementing community surveys), (2) development and implementation of Brunswick's climate action plan (i.e., helping to finalize the written plan, continued public education and outreach, helping to support the implementation of action items within the plan), (3) watershed-related fieldwork and outreach pertaining to Mare Brook (culvert restoration activities) and Maquoit Bay (potential to assist with the water quality study, investigating non-point source pollution in the Bay/Watershed; study beginning Spring 2024), (4) other potential field work (shoreline stabilization & clam surveys). Potential to attend one conference over the summer. 

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Ashley Charleson
Email: acharleson@brunswickme.org

The Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust  (BTLT) conserves and stewards vital natural areas, supports a vibrant food system, and connects people with the natural world through inclusive education and recreation programs in the Brunswick region. Our goal is the protect our natural resources, cultivate care for the natural world, and in so doing foster resilient connected communities for now and for generations to come.

Fellows would have the opportunity to explore various aspects of BTLT’s work including trail maintenance and monitoring, Community Garden programming, working with youth at the Ecology Center and CREA Camp, assisting with the BTLT Farmers’ Market, and exploring other aspects of the organization including development, fundraising, and communications. The Fellow must be self-motivated, be willing to work both independently and in close collaboration with BTLT staff and leaders, and would ideally have a love for the outdoors and conservation.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Julia St. Clair
Email: julia@btlt.org

Coastal Enterprises Inc (CEI)

Now more than ever, you can help build a strong and inclusive economy by being a part of a team that is expanding small businesses opportunities in Maine.

We know you are already passionate about environmental studies; but if you would like to learn a little more about how many of the challenges we are trying to solve intersect with the Policy and Resource Development space, then we cannot wait to meet you.

The Policy and Resource Advocacy Team is looking to work with an Environmental Studies Fellow who can add capacity to their team in many areas such as agriculture and food systems, aquaculture and fisheries, renewable energy and climate, among other critical topics in our field of work!

• Policy research on topical areas related to CEI’s work, as needed, including but not limited to broadband, consumer protection, entrepreneurship, agriculture and food systems, aquaculture and fisheries, renewable energy (i.e., solar, wind and other emergent technologies), climate, workforce (specifically second chance populations) and health/childcare policy. 5) Generally adding capacity to our team by providing support with meeting attendance/facilitation, notetaking, organizing and updating files, contact lists, and other documents and tools.
• Developmental work with the Maine food policy work group, which CEI is helping to organize.
• Support our Justice Fellow with a project that involves conversations with Maine based and national community development financial institution partners to assess the benefits and challenges in organizing a statewide coalition to support and expand the impact of community development financial institutions.
• Work on the state of the state report: a compendium of the results of CEI’s state policy work during the 131^st Legislature (2023-2024)

Throughout the summer, you will be a part of our summer intern’s and fellow cohort, participating in group activities, engaging in staff meetings, day of service, staff outing, Maine Career Catalyst events, job shadowing, and career readiness coaching. You will learn about other departments at CEI, explore the industry of Community Development Financial Institutions.

Who we are:

Headquartered in Maine, CEI is a community development finance institution that is a national leader in rural economic and business development. CEI's mission is to build a just, vibrant, and climate-resilient future for people and communities in Maine and rural communities. We do this by integrating finance, business expertise, and policy solutions in ways that make the economy work more equitably.   

Over 70 percent of our financing and advice go to businesses that are expanding opportunities for low-income communities, communities of color, and others who have been left behind by our economy. Learn more about working at CEI here   

What we believe:

Stewardship: As careful, responsible managers of the resources entrusted to us, we recognize that our decisions and actions have near – and long-term impacts for people and the planet   

Equity: We work to ensure that all people, especially those facing individual or systems barriers to opportunity, can secure a livelihood that enables them to build assets and share prosperity.   

Diversity: We engage diverse staff, board members, and partners who bring lived experience, community connections, and know-how to the problems we aim to solve.    

Innovation: We foster creativity and entrepreneurial spirit at CEI, through our networks, and in the communities we serve.   

Collaboration: We share knowledge, practices, and resources, and partner with people and organizations to deepen our mission impact.  

Who we are seeking:

If you have some of these skills or experience, please don’t hesitate to apply!

The ideal candidate will possess a combination of academic, analytic, and interpersonal skills; a strong interest in public policy, economics, or related areas; interest in CEI’s focus sectors and/or programmatic areas; and alignment with CEI’s mission.

• You are an efficient communicator – both verbal and written.
• You have curiosity about public policy and bring sound critical thinking skills.
• You are a team player who can work and collaborate with others and how is open to guidance.
• You bring diverse talents that will add great value to our team!

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Donna LeBlanc
Email: diana.leblanc@cei.maine.org

Growing to Give is a nonprofit farm in Brunswick where we work with community members to grow organic vegetables for neighbors in need while modeling, teaching, and advocating for climate-friendly farming practices.

The Kennebec Estuary Land Trust (KELT) is a non-profit land trust based in Bath, ME that does work to conserve land, steward trails, restore habitats, provide environmental education, and connect people with the outdoors. The fellow will have a chance to try out many different aspects of KELT's work over the summer.

The largest part of their work will be focused on KELT's community science and restoration programs. For community science, they will support community members of all ages who are carrying out scientific fieldwork about things like rockweed, water quality, salamanders, and phytoplankton. They will help to communicate the technical findings in a way that is approachable for a non-technical audience. In local salt marshes where restoration work will be implemented over the next few years, they will help to gather information about the baseline conditions through monitoring of water levels and vegetation. 

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Ruth Indrick
Email: rindrick@kennebecestuary.org

The Maine Coast Fishermen’s Association (MCFA) is a local nonproft working with commercial fishermen to build sustainable fisheries and vibrant fishing communities. We work in a number of programmatic areas including working waterfront access, education, federal fisheries policy, mental health and wellness, and seafood advocacy. We are happy to tailor a fellowship that fits the interests of the right candidate and the needs/opportunities in the summer of 2024.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Ben Martens
Email:ben@mainecoastfishermen.org

Maine Conservation Voters protects Maine’s environment and our democracy by influencing public policy, holding politicians accountable, and winning elections.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Maggie Somers
email: maggie@maineconservation.org

The Natural Resources Council of Maine (NRCM) is Maine's leading environmental advocacy organization. We provide interns with a full immersion experience with major environmental policy issues being addressed by the organization. We ensure that interns work on meaningful projects connected directly with our issue campaigns in areas such as climate and clean energy policy, reducing plastic pollution, restoring water quality and fisheries in Maine rivers, and protecting wildlife habitat. Interns participate in NRCM team meetings, support our issue campaigns, and prepare documents that are used immediately in our work. Through this experience, interns will see how a high-performing environmental non-profit organization makes strategic decisions about the use of our resources, capacity, and influence to affect change for the purpose of protecting Maine’s environment.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Nancy Murray
Email: nmurray@nrcm.org 

The Nature Conservancy is an international non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science and equity, we find paths to solve the interconnected crises of rapid climate change and biodiversity loss. In Maine, TNC has been working for over 60 years to help conserve over one million acres of forests, coastal islands, and inland waters, restore miles of rivers, protect marine habitats, and shape a brighter future for people and our planet. The Fellow will work directly with conservation and policy staff to further our strategic priorities, potentially including policy research, field work and preserve monitoring with our land management team, community engagement projects, and other to be determined areas of interest of the Fellow.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Elizabeth King
Email: elizabeth.king@tnc.org

Topsham's Planning and Development Office is primarily responsible for reviewing development proposals, maintaining local land use ordinances and enhancing the quality of life of Topsham citizens through long range planning projects.

Topsham was recently awarded Community Action Grant funding to update its Climate Action Plan. It will be a two-year process that will include a lot of outreach and data collection and the Town anticipates needing help in this regard. Topsham is also presently revising its zoning ordinance and adding form-based code to the Town center. We hope for this project to be in its final stretch this summer and we anticipate needing assistance with public meetings and revisions to the draft code. In addition, our Conservation Commission is looking to update the Town's Natural Areas Plan and may need assistance with applying for grants or drafting an RFP for the project.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Rosie Armstrong
Email: rarmstro@bowdoin.edu