Maine-Based Fellowships

The City of Bath passed its 2024 climate action plan and will be in midst of the implementation of that plan. Items associated with the work of the summer fellow will be related to the implementation of the plan, and include - research, policy analysis, mapping, community engagement, and developing tracking and monitoring methods of implementation items.      

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

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine (BCM) fellowship position is open to students interested in urban planning, active transportation, community organizing, and education. The role will consist of helping out with BCM events, including rides, educational classes, trainings, as well as personalized tasks. BCM also highly encourages any fellow to develop a personal project aligned with mission of BCM, guided by the leadership team.

The Bicycle Coalition of Maine 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:
Daniel Basset
Email: dbassett@bikemaine.org 

The Planning and Development Department for the Town of Brunswick reviews all commercial developments and residential subdivisions in the Town. We are also charged with long term planning and are the enforcers of the Town Zoning ordinance.

We are in charge of comprehensive planning, natural resource management, and historic/design review of projects. Our Codes Office also issues and inspects for all building, electrical and plumbing permits in Brunswick.

An internship here would involve a myriad of activities: taking part in development review, helping to write zoning code amendments, and joining staff on inspections. We expect to be generating an RFP this summer for a consultant to assist in a zoning rewrite, so that will likely be an area we need assistance. Our office is dynamic and new opportunities for an intern could always present themselves!

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Julie Erdman

Email: jerdman@brunswickme.gov

 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 will 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)

The economic cost of climate change related disasters since 1980 in the US exceeded 2.9 trillion dollars. Still only a few financial institutions have integrated climate change into financial management, including risk models, in a significant way. Only 20% of banks worldwide report using climate-scenario analyses, and only 18% integrated climate-related risk into their risk management.

The summer 2026 intern project will help CEI understand the models available as well as the data needs of incorporating climate risk into our lending practices. The goal of this project is to help CEI make an informed decision about how to implement this into our current system. The project will include a research report on climate risk in lending. A majority of the research will be conducted online with some interviews with financial institutions as available.

This project will provide the sustainability and lending teams with data to begin the process of integrating climate risk into our loan portfolio. The Business Sustainability & Resilience team and the Lending team will be the primary teams the intern will be working with summer 2026.

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.  

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:

Diana LeBlanc, Talent and Diversity Manager, CEI
Email: Diana.LeBlanc@ceimaine.org

Updated: 1/12/26

Flycatcher is a Maine-based environmental consulting company specializing in top-quality environmental science and land use consulting across the northeast. We offer clients expert advice based on strong scientific principles to support their project’s needs. As a small firm offering a wide range of services, our staff must often wear many hats. Staff members support projects in a variety of disciplines and our goal is to provide everyone with broad exposure to our work to help our staff members gain new skills and grow as individuals.

Duties: This list is not all-inclusive and other duties may be required depending on business needs, as well as your interests and aptitude. • Operate GPS units and geospatial field software locate site features; • Assist with and perform scientific field studies (e.g., wetland delineation, biological field surveys, manual labor, environmental inspection, etc.) alone or as part of a team, sometimes in challenging climatic conditions; • Data management and report writing; • Fieldwork planning & support; and • Environmental/permit compliance inspections.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Kristina Kelshaw
Email: kristi@flycatcherllc.com 

The Town of Gorham will not be hosting a fellow summer 2026, but may host a fellow summer 2027.

The Town of Gorham fellowship is designed to give interns a look at municipal and local government culture and exposure into one of the several departments and career opportunities through project-based assignments, networking, volunteer opportunities and formal mentorship. Responsibilities will vary based on the department the intern is assigned to and will leverage the interns unique skills and abilities.

Each year the Community Development Department and the Public Works Departments undertake several Environmental, Economic, and Open Space and Recreational Planning projects, which may take multiple forms depending on the projects for that year.

Environmental Planning and Compliance - Each year, Public Works and the Stormwater Compliance Officer inspect stormwater infrastructure throughout Gorham and collect data to be sent to the Maine Department of Environmental Protection. This data also helps the Town Staff plan for future improvement and maintenance projects. The intern would be provided with a tablet or mobile device with a map of all of Gorham's 132 outfalls.

The intern’s task would be inspecting a percentage of Gorham's Outfalls. The types of outfalls, locations, and inspection process varies by year, but the intern would be spending more time performing a more in-depth analysis of the outfall and surrounding area to assess watershed health.

The data collection and reporting process has typically been budgeted for 24 working hours to complete the mandatory work, but more could be scheduled if this is accomplished. This internship would be entirely field-based and is therefore weather dependent. If potential interns have any questions, please reach out to Gorham's Stormwater Compliance Officer Megan Fountaine (https://www.gorham-me.org/public-works-department) or the Public Works Department.

Economic, and Open Space and Recreational Planning – Each year, the Planning and Economic Development Divisions undertake specific projects. This year the divisions are working on two planning efforts. They are an Economic Development Plan and an Open Space Plan.

We anticipate needing assistance with our public meetings, which may include assistance with social media. In addition, we are working on implementing online code and permitting programs for which quality control assistance is needed. Other tasks that could be accomplished as time permits are assistance with Thursday Food Truck nights, an inventory and update on village sidewalk maintenance and “gap filling,” as well as where connections could be made to existing trails.

Historic Preservation Planning – Copy and save to server all Historic Preservation Survey cards; Map all historic resources; Add to, update & revise a Historic District Story Map Parks and Recreation Planning – Complete Parks and Recreation Facilities inventory and planning guide.

Approximate fellowship duration: 8 weeks

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Megan Fountaine, via the line above, or

Rosemary Armstrong, Bowdoin Environmental Studies Program
Email: rarmstro@bowdoin.ed

The primary focus of Growing to Give's internship is building an understanding of the methods and philosophy behind climate-friendly, ecologically-based farming. Interns play an active role in the day-to-day work involved in growing organic food. As part of our team, interns also work regularly with volunteers and interface with a vibrant cross-section of people and organizations addressing food insecurity and food systems issues in Maine, including gleaning groups that come to the farm to assist with harvest and food distribution.
   
In addition to carrying out daily farm work, interns develop independent projects that support our evolving farm program and also align with their unique interests and skills. Interns receive support from the Farm Director to design and carry out their individual projects over the course of the internship. Interns can propose their own ideas for projects, or build upon one of our areas of growth for 2026.
   
Our internship is designed for students interested in agriculture, environmental stewardship, food equity and policy. We have a great farm culture of community, collaboration and fun, including weekly potluck lunches, farm olympics and dynamic conversation throughout our farming days!

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Martha Leggat
Email: g2geducator@gmail.com

High Peaks Alliance is a volunteer-led nonprofit working to protect the lands, trails, and outdoor access that make Maine’s High Peaks region special. We bring together community members, landowners, volunteers, outdoor recreation users, and local partners to conserve land, maintain and improve trails, and encourage responsible recreation.

As an HPA intern, you will gain hands-on experience with a small conservation organization. Your work may include trail stewardship, communications, community outreach, conservation education, photography, and storytelling. You will spend time both in the field and in the office, helping connect people to the region’s natural places and the work needed to protect them.

The intern will split time between trail work and office-based work.

Fieldwork days may include trail maintenance, trail assessment, Recreation Ranger Corps work, stewardship activities, site visits, trail photography, volunteer trailwork days, and other outdoor HPA projects.

Office and event days may include social media, communications, press releases, “Voices of the High Peaks” interviews, planned giving support, event preparation, photo and video organization, volunteer coordination, conservation education, and work on the special project.

Through this internship, you will:

• Gain hands-on experience with a community-based conservation nonprofit.
• Spend time both outdoors and in an office setting.
• Learn how trail stewardship, land conservation, communications, fundraising, and community engagement work together.
• Build writing, photography, social media, event support, and project-management skills.
• Work with HPA staff, volunteers, community members, and local partners.
• Complete a special project that supports HPA’s work and can be included in your portfolio, résumé, or future job applications.
• Learn more about conservation careers and the range of work involved in protecting land and improving public access.

This internship is designed for a student who wants a broad, hands-on introduction to conservation nonprofit work. No two weeks will look the same. You may spend one day helping document trail work, another creating social media content or preparing for a community event, and another developing a special project that supports HPA’s long-term work. You will leave with practical experience, work samples, new connections, and a better understanding of how local organizations protect the places people care about.

Housing in the High Peaks region is strongly preferred. Limited housing may be available for a fee, and seasonal camping options may also be available. HPA will share available options with the selected intern and help connect them with local resources.

 Specific Responsibilities:

Community Engagement & Outreach

"Voices of the high Peaks" Interviews

• Conduct two interviews with individuals connected to the High Peaks region, such as local business owners, conservation leaders, long-time residents, or
• Prepare interview questions in advance and provide them to the
• Record and transcribe
• Edit the interview and get approval from the
• Obtain photos of the interviewee for
• Write and publish blog posts and social media posts based on the

 Community Outreach events

• Help staff prepare for outreach events such as Scenic 7 hikes.
• Staff information booths at festivals and July 3rd events.
• Organize materials needed for information booths, including signage and handouts.
• Assist with Scenic 7 hikes, Tree ID hikes, and other outreach activities.
• Help document events through photos, videos, and social media posts.

Training & Organizational Systems

• Receive training in HPA’s Google Workspace, Trello, Little Green Light, website platform, and social media scheduling tools.
• Use Trello to organize weekly assignments, deadlines, events, trail work, communications tasks, and special-project work.
• Use Google Workspace to create, save, organize, and share documents, photos, videos, calendars, spreadsheets, and project materials.
• Build practical skills in the digital tools commonly used by small nonprofits for communications, fundraising, volunteer coordination, and project management.

Social Media Planning & Scheduling

• Develop a social media calendar to plan content.
• Schedule posts using social media management tools.
• Monitor social media engagement.
• Respond to messages and engage with followers to build community support.

Social Media Content Creation

• Create 4 social media posts per week for Facebook and instagram.
• Create 1 LinkedIn post per

Content should focus on:

• Trail conditions and updates.
• Responsible recreation tips.
• HPA’s conservation efforts.
• Upcoming events and volunteer opportunities.
• Local ecology and history.
• Scenic photos and videos from trails.

Press Releases

• Write 3 press releases during the internship
• Topics could include:
  • Successful volunteer workdays.
  • New trail openings or improvements.
  • Conservation milestones.
  • Upcoming events.
• Distribute press releases to local media outlets.
• Write and publish blog posts and social media posts based on press releases.

 Volunteer Recruitment

• Recruit volunteers for Recreation Ranger Corps trail maintenance and general HPA activities.
• Create volunteer recruitment materials, including online postings, social media posts, documents, and sign-up forms.
• Follow up with potential volunteers, including individuals, schools, clubs, and community groups.
• Update volunteer lists and track responses in Little Green Light.
• Manage volunteer sign-up sheets.
• Coordinate volunteer Communications.

 Volunteer Workday Planning

• Plan two volunteer workdays on trail days with the Recreation Ranger Corps.
• Recruit volunteers.
• Prepare materials, and equipment.
• Assist with workday, and document each workday.

Photo & Video Management Tasks

• Upload all photos and videos to the shared drive or Google Drive.

Special Project

HPA is growing and looking to try new things, so new ideas are required.

• Complete one special project during the internship
• The project will be proposed by the intern and approved by HPA staff during Week 2 or Week 3.
• The project should support HPA’s trail work, conservation, communications, outreach, development, or stewardship work.
• Work on the special project throughout the remainder of the
• Complete and share the final project with HPA staff during Week

Possible special projects include:

• A responsible recreation
• A “Voices of the High Peaks” story
• A photo and video organization
• A trailwork impact-reporting
• A planned giving communications
• A conservation education

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact
Amanda Laliberte
email: amanda@highpeaksalliance.org 

The Kennebec Estuary land Trust (KELT) is a community-based non-profit in Bath, ME that does work to conserve land, steward trails, restore habitats, increase climate resilience, provide environmental education, and connect people with the outdoors. KELT’s work is focused in 10 communities east of Brunswick along the Kennebec Estuary and Merrymeeting Bay. 

The Fellow will have a chance to try out many different aspects of KELT's work over the summer, while also taking ownership over a larger project aligned with the Fellow’s interest that would support land stewardship, education, and restoration. Some of the larger projects for this summer would involve getting out on KELT trails, monitoring marshes, gis mapping, or accessible outreach material design.

Examples include:

• Identifying stands of hemlock and ash tree species on KELT properties that are vulnerable to invasive insects • Evaluating trail infrastructure and trail sign needs
• Developing land management plans • Improving methods for collecting, analyzing, mapping, and sharing community science and fieldwork data about fish, marshes, and water quality
• Developing outreach materials about community science, tidal road crossings, wetlands, and salt marsh restoration
• Developing GIS StoryMaps to share salt marsh restoration project priorities and values
• Evaluating tidal road crossing structures for restoration potential The summer would also include opportunities to dig clams, spend time with local volunteers at a stewardship or community garden work day, present nature facts at a youth summer camp, and get familiar with salt marsh plants.

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

Updated 1/19/26

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, restoring water quality and fisheries in Maine rivers, and protecting wildlife habitat and Maine’s North Woods. 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:
Rosie Armstrong
email: rarmstro@bowdoin.edu

Updated 1/8/26

The Topsham Planning Department handles development review, ordinance research and development, long range planning, and many other planning related tasks for the Town of Topsham, a mid-sized town with a population of just under 9,000. We serve as the staff liaison to the Planning Board, Conservation Committee, Comprehensive Plan Implementation Committee, and Historic District Commission. Work here is varied and flexible. We like to work with students to develop projects that align with our goals and their interests.

Previous interns have done a mixture of development review, ordinance research, grant writing, work assisting committees with large projects and plans, and proposals for unused Town owned land. Recent previous projects include (1) proposing a pollinator meadow on an unused landfill cap with potential funding sources and (2) a comprehensive review of Maine cluster or open space subdivision regulations to inform an eventual update code. Previous interns have also created geospatial analysis of Town assets or concerns.

The department is currently occupied with a full zoning code rewrite, which is entering the final phase of its creation. We expect that summer 2026 will hold the potential for assistance with this project if so desired. The Conservation Commission has been slowly working on proposing an update to the Town’s 2010 Natural Areas Plan, this project, if approved, would be in its beginnings this summer and could provide ample opportunities for projects.

The Topsham Planning department is a great choice for a student interested in gaining hands on experience in community and urban planning, and particularly the ways in which that field is realized within Maine municipalities and intersects with other municipal departments. An intern in our department can expect to learn the varying factors that push and pull on the field of planning including housing, environmental, and economic development and how those are navigated.
   The Topsham Planning Department intern will spend most of their time in the Planning Department but will start the summer with the opportunity to attend half day tours of all Town Departments (Fire, Police, Solid Waste, Library, Finance, etc.) as well as join the Town Manager’s office and their intern(s) on several field trips throughout the summer. 

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Skye Siladi
Email: ssiladi@topshammaine.com