2025 KLT Ronald Joseph Summer Internship

The Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) is seeking summer interns to work on trail maintenance and construction, land conservation projects, invasive plant control, educational programming, and general office work such as writing press releases and sending out mailings.

Interested applicants should be willing to learn basic plant identification skills, be able to perform physically demanding field work, be comfortable multi-tasking in the office, and have an interest in land conservation.

Independent Research Opportunities: KLT also provides opportunities for interns to conduct independent research focused on conservation and resource management, wildlife and plant ecology, land use history or other relevant topics. Fridays will be dedicated to research projects.

This summer we are specifically looking for students to conduct research focused on:

• Overview of Maine Municipal pesticide ordinances - success stories
• Utilizing LIDAR data to identify areas of late successional forest in KLT’s service area
• Lawn conversion - vegetables and native plants - strategies for long term management
• Family history of the Hopkins farm, Manchester
• Strategies to engage the next generation of land trust supporters and leadership - success stories

 In addition to these topics, we welcome other project proposals.

Students' studies have the potential to enhance KLT's educational offerings, and to inform property management plans and our Strategic Conservation Assessment. 

KLT will help students frame research questions and identify properties on which to conduct research.

2009-2024 Past Interns and Research projects

Rate of pay: KLT provides a $2,000 stipend and housing. Interns are responsible for purchasing their own food.

Interns and students conducting independent research projects are encouraged to apply for grant funding or work study funds from their college or university to help compensate their time with KLT. KLT will provide mileage at the IRS rate for summer interns.

KLT supervision: Jean-Luc Theriault, Stewardship Director and Theresa Kerchner, Executive Director.

Hours: 40 hours a week; June 17 - August 12; some weeks will consist of more work hours than others. 

Qualifications:

• minimum of one year of college, with preference to students working towards degrees in education, environmental science, biology, forestry, geography or related degree (or equivalent experience); other majors will be considered
• ability to work independently and as part of a team
• strong organizational and time management skills
• ability to perform moderately strenuous manual labor
• Comfortable working outside
• valid driver’s license