Resource 2: A Starter Guide to Conservation Opportunities in Vermont

Below is a range of volunteer opportunities, action resources, and internships offered by conservation groups that work in Vermont that can be a great place to start if you want to take action, whether you want to get your feet wet outdoors, get your voice out as an advocate, or get yourself a paycheck!


Vermont Audubon Society                                                                                                                                                                                  

• Join one of their events: http://vt.audubon.org/events
• Sign up for VT Audubon’s Action Network, where you’ll have opportunities to speak up to political leaders about issues affecting Vermont’s wildlife and habitats- https://action.audubon.org/signup/join-our-action-network
• Volunteer--"opportunities include trail, tree and garden work, education interns and volunteers,  invasive species removal, bird-habitat demonstration site bird monitoring,  special events." Contact Kim Guertin at kguertin@audubon.org
• Join their iNaturalist Vermont project- "Beginner to Expert. From backyards to mountain summits, join hundreds of other citizen naturalists and biologists as we document and share biodiversity at iNaturalist Vermont, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life."
• Citizen Science opportunities- "Whether it is participating in monthly monitoring walks at local IBAs or helping collect data during the Vermont mid-winter Bald Eagle survey, community scientists contribute greatly to a better understanding of Vermont's birds."  http://vt.audubon.org/citizen-science-8   .  Contact: Marc LaBarr (mlabarr@audubon.org)
• Join the Audobon Society’s grassroots, bipartisan climate action: https://www.audubon.org/conservation/climate-initiative?site=vt&nid=4211
  

350.org Vermont                                                                                                                                                                                                     

• PAID INTERNSHIPS- https://350vermont.org/internships/
• Get involved and find volunteer opportunities by signing up here- https://350vermont.org/volunteer/

 
Vermont Center For Ecostudies- Our partner!                                                                                                                                               

• Vermont Vernal Pool Monitoring Project--  "Beginners to experts. Volunteers will visit “adopted” pools on an annual basis to assess biological and physical metrics. Ongoing monitoring will help assess the health of these vital wetlands. " See https://vtecostudies.org/projects/forests/vernal-pool-conservation/vermont-vernal-pool-monitoring-project/
• Vermont eBird- "Beginner to expert. A real-time, online checklist program, Vermont eBird has revolutionized the way that the birding community reports and accesses information about birds. A simple and intuitive web-interface engages thousands of participants to submit their observations or view results via interactive queries into the eBird database. Help us track bird populations across the state using Vermont eBird, a project of the Vermont Atlas of Life. See https://ebird.org/vt/home "
• Loon Conservation-  A wide variety of cool outdoor volunteering you can do to help monitor and protect Vermont's loons  https://vtecostudies.org/projects/lakes-ponds/common-loon-conservation/vermont-loon-conservation-project/participate/

The Green Mountain Club- Vermont
https://www.greenmountainclub.org/volunteers/volunteer-opportunities/

• Adopt a Trail or Shelter- "Help enhance the hiking experience for everyone by becoming a Long Trail adopter. We can help you get started on basic maintenance of a trail or shelter."
• Be a Corridor Monitor- "Volunteer Corridor Monitors regularly walk protected lands to ensure that conservation restrictions are being upheld and the Long Trail system is protected."
• Join a Volunteer Trail Crew- “Run away and join the trail crew for a week! Meet new people – all ages, backgrounds, and from all over the U.S. and the world. Camp out in the Vermont mountains. Learn how to build and maintain hiking trails – or, if you’re already an experienced trail maintainer, practice your skills on some neat projects."

Vermont Public Interest Group (vpirg.org)

• PAID INTERNSHIP- "Ever wish you could get paid to travel Vermont, bike around some of the most scenic parts of the state, camp with friends, and actually make an impact on the future of important environmental issues? If you answered yes, we have the job for you! "  https://www.vpirg.org/seasonal-job-postings/summer-canvasser/

Vermont Natural Resources Council                                                                                                                                                                             Vermont Natural Resources Council’s website offers a variety of great guides to help you become a conservation advocate

• How to write a letter to the editor: http://vnrc.org/take-action/writing-letters-to-the-editor/
• How to lobby for environmental action: http://vnrc.org/take-action/influencing-legislation/
• How legislative process works in Vermont: http://vnrc.org/take-action/legislative-process/
• For volunteer opportunities, Contact: http://vnrc.org/about-vnrc/staff/

Middlebury Area Land Trust-

• Our first and beloved partner! Lots of great volunteer opportunities that can get you outside, protecting our beloved lands, and educating the next generation at http://www.maltvt.org/get-involved/volunteer/   

 
Vermont Youth Conservation Corps                                                                                                             

• PAID INTERNSHIP-" This summer and fall could change your life! VYCC provides young people (ages 15+) with awesome outdoor experiences that not only spark future jobs or learning, but also help you make a difference in saving the planet through conservation or farming." https://www.vycc.org/join/

North Woods Conservation Center                                                                                                                                                                   

• PAID INTERNSHIP- Conservation Corps Crew Leaders and Members: See https://www.northwoodscenter.org/wordpress/conservation-corps/employment/

Resources from Our Partner ALPINE:

• "If you’re doing a conservation internship in New England this summer, join ALPINE’s summer institute! “The ALPINE Summer Institute is a program for participants interested in exploring careers in land conservation.. The Summer Institute takes placeover two weekends in June and August and features presentations by leaders in the conservation arena, field trips to conserved sites, and guided reflections by the participants on their conservation internships. Participants will have the opportunity to meet and interact with leaders and educators in land conservation organization. Learn more and apply at:"  https://www.wildlandsandwoodlands.org/alpine-summer-institute

Other Job and Internship Opportunities (copied directly from ALPINE’s website at https://wildlandsandwoodlands.org/alpine-network) in New England

Connecticut Land Conservation Council
Maine Land Trust Network Job Board
Mass Audubon
Massachusetts Association of Conservation Commission Job Board for Non-profits
Massachusetts Land Trust Coalition
New Hampshire Land Trust Coalition
Find Internship Opportunities Here: Conservation Job Board: Regional/National/International:
Audubon (National)
Conservation Job Board (National)
Idealist (National/International)
The Land Trust Alliance Job Board (National)
The Nature Conservancy (National/International)
Unity College Green Jobs Board (New England Regional/National)