2019 Seasonal Stewards & Interns
The Next Generation of Conservationists
In 2019, KELT continued our proud legacy of supporting seasonal, paid positions for people looking to gain experience in the land trust and conservation community. Whether in stewardship, education, advocacy, or land conservation, we feel there is genuine value in creating on-the-ground experiences and networking opportunities for the next generation of conservationists!
KELT staffed eight seasonal positions last summer.
Regional Field Team
2019 Regional Field Team (RtoL): Mallory Leighton, Alex Perry, and Maegan Shanaghan at Red Rose Preserve.
We welcomed a fantastic Regional Field Team (RFT) with Regional Field Team Coordinator, Alex Perry, leading the charge. Since 2009, a key part of KELT’s year-round stewardship effort is the RFT. This is an action-oriented crew of seasonal employees, whose goal each year is to complete priority stewardship projects for KELT and our neighbors: Phippsburg Land Trust, Brunswick-Topsham Land Trust, and The Nature Conservancy.
KELT is proud to act as ‘home base’ for the RFT Coordinator as the team tackles regional conservation projects.
Stewardship & Restoration Interns
KELT was pleased to host the three interns below, who worked on a variety of projects from building new trails to sampling water quality.
Born and raised in Bath, Thomas has been volunteering with KELT since the fourth grade!
We were glad to be joined by Thomas Trundy, a recent Morse High School graduate, as KELT’s Summer Land Steward. Thomas spent his summer building and maintaining trails and infrastructure on preserves. This included the trail system on KELT's newest property, the Red Rose Preserve in Bowdoinham.
Ryan (on the right) building a portion of KELT’s longest bog bridge at Red Rose Preserve.
We were happy to be joined by Ryan Mahoney as the Maine Land Conservation Intern. Ryan worked on projects for KELT, the Phippsburg Land Trust, and Bates Morse Mountain Conservation Area and Shortridge Coastal Center. His KELT projects included building and maintaining trails as well as helping with annual monitoring visits to KELT’s fee and easement properties.
Ely joined KELT Kids Campers to demonstrate how citizen scientist volunteers measure salinity and oxygen levels in estuarine waters.
Ely Spencer joined KELT as our Bowdoin College Summer Fellow. We were so pleased to have Ely focus on water quality sampling in Georgetown and Phippsburg, trail maintenance work, and writing informational blog posts for the KELT website about the Nequasset fish count and water quality sampling program. Read Ely’s adventure monitoring birds at Back River Creek HERE.
Operations and Education Interns
KELT was pleased to welcome two returning seasonal interns who worked on a variety of projects including advocacy, operations, and education programming.
Hannah (center) showing campers how to tie friendship bracelets during day camp.
KELT welcomed for a second summer Hannah Bonine as our Summer Program Steward. Hannah’s 13 years as a Girl Scout instilled a love for nature and working with others, especially kids! She worked alongside land trust staff to complete office projects and facilitate educational events, including KELT Kids Summer Day Camp!
Maeve joined the KELT Staff end of 2019 as our Land & Development Coordinator.
Last summer we welcomed Maeve McGowan for her fifth summer interning with KELT! She worked to complete office and advocacy projects including planning our 30th anniversary celebration and supporting statewide trail efforts. Following the summer, Maeve stayed on part time while finishing her degree at UNE before joining us full time in December!