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.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:
Anne Marisic
Email: anne@bikemaine.org 

The Town of Brunswick’s Department of Planning and Codes is seeking a fellow to support the work associated with the Environmental Planner's current projects.

This list of projects includes:

(1) Invasive Plant Remediation Efforts – The student will assist directly with the Town’s efforts to host a community event in late June pertaining to invasive plant removal efforts at 250^th Anniversary Park, including event promotion and day-of event facilitation and support needs, related community education and outreach initiatives and development of materials, social media promotion, etc. Given that this is a collaborative event, the student will also have the opportunity to work with staff from the Town Parks and Recreation Department, Town Conservation Commission, Brunswick Topsham Land Trust, and other state entities (all of whom are involved in planning this community event);

(2) Pesticide Ordinance Development –  The Town seeks to develop a community-wide pesticide ordinance to improve the health and quality of Brunswick’s watersheds; the student will assist the Environmental Planner with development & promotion of educational materials, community engagement & outreach initiatives, planning & facilitation of community workshops (both for community education and stakeholder engagement), and assistance with administering / summarizing a community survey seeking stakeholder input;

(3) Mare Brook Watershed Management Plan – Continued implementation of the MBWMP, including assisting with community-related outreach and education initiatives (fellow will occasionally work with Trout Unlimited who is partnering with the Environmental Planner to support these efforts), related fieldwork opportunities being explored (specifics TBD as discussions currently ongoing, but potentially to include field site visits and other data collection), assisting with preliminary research and development of a town-wide water quality monitoring plan, and culvert remediation efforts (specifics TBD, discussions ongoing); and

(4) Support and Interaction with Project Partners and Town Committee RE the Above Projects - The student will work closely with two Town Committees, namely, a) the Conservation Commission (concerning invasive plant remediation, pesticide ordinance development, and other land-use management initiatives) and b) the Mare Brook Watershed Steering Committee (concerning MBWMP initiatives). The student will attend 3 committee meetings during the course of their fellowship to obtain experience with public involvement in Town government operations, assist with minor administrative tasks (as needed), and get more involved and familiar with land use management around Brunswick in general.

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact the Town Environmental Planner,
Ashley Charleson: acharleson@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 CEI fellowship for summer 2025 is still being developed but it will focus generally on CEI's climate justice and environmental resilience strategy. Some of the themes being contemplated are noted below and would depend on student interest. Themes include:

• Documenting the history of CEI's work on climate justice and environmental resilience since its founding. This could inform the planning of CEI's 50th anniversary in 2027. Part of this might include case studies on what we've learned through this work and how it might inform our next 50 years.
• Research on how financial institutions are incorporating climate risk into their underwriting as well as how we should think of climate risk for the businesses and organizations that we advise.
• Research on trends in climate and environmental finance and advocacy, especially in rural areas, in content of the new Administration and new Congress.
• Working with Keith Bisson, CEI President to develop presentations and collateral for outreach and fundraising.

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:

Rosie Armstrong
Email: rarmstro@tccestates.com

The Summer Internship with the Town of Gorham 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 (http://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@tccestates.com

Growing to Give (G2G) is a non-profit organic farm in Brunswick, Maine. We believe hunger, environmental degradation, declining human health, and climate change are deeply connected. Our mission is to grow organic vegetables and give them to those in need while practicing, teaching, and promoting climate-friendly farming.

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.

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 that works with community-based fishermen on a variety of issues in Maine. We have programs focused on sustainable fisheries, community access (working waterfront, permits), local seafood, and fisherman wellness. We tend to work with interns to develop projects that fit their interests and community needs over the summer months.

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

Manomet is an organization that uses science and collaboration to improve the health of flyways, coastal ecosystems and working lands and seas.

Manomet’s fisheries team is based out of Brunswick, Maine, with work focused in the Gulf of Maine to build resilient and productive coastal ecosystems and communities by diversifying opportunities in fishing and aquaculture. Most projects include close partnerships with local harvesters, fishers, aquaculture farmers and other community stakeholders. 

Our summer internship opportunity in 2025 will have two main areas of focus. First, it will offer an immersive experience in intertidal and coastal fieldwork, and associated data entry, management, and basic analysis techniques. Projects that potential interns would be working on include long-term green crab monitoring, eel grass and oyster reef restoration, blue crab mark recapture studies, river herring monitoring, and environmental data collection.

Second, the intern will assist with efforts to convene stakeholders, interface with fisheries management bodies, conduct outreach and education related to Fisheries initiatives, and promote the equitable and inclusive advancement of aquaculture in Maine.

These projects may include literature reviews, regulatory and legislative analyses, GIS analysis or development of simple data collection tools, support writing reports and guidance documents, and outreach/collaboration with harvesters, municipal staff, land trusts, and other partners.  

Students interested in this opportunity should be comfortable working outside in variable conditions and have the flexibility to conduct fieldwork around the tidal schedule, not a normal 8hr workday. Comfort around the water and shoreline is essential and some work may be physically demanding.

Successful candidates will be highly motivated and able to work both independently and in a team. Past experience in marine science would be beneficial, but is not required. Having a car would be necessary for this summer internship.

(Note: In addition to summer internships, various projects are often available for students to take on as a remote, independent study or short-term project during the school year.)

To explore a fellowship with this organization, contact:
Marissa McMahan
Email: mmcmahan@manomet.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:
Rosie Armstrong
email: rarmstro@tccestates.com

The Nature Conservancy (TNC) is an international non-profit organization dedicated to protecting the lands and waters on which all life depends. Guided by science and together with local communities, we find pathways to solve the interconnected crises of rapid climate change and biodiversity loss.

The Nature Conservancy in Maine has been working for over 60 years to protect land and water, work toward a healthy and sustainable ocean, address and mitigate the effects of climate change, and connect people and nature, both in Maine and around the world.

TNC Maine has hosted a Fellow from Bowdoin College for over 20 years. The Fellow works 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 projects to be determined areas of interest of the Fellow. For summer 2025, we will also likely have projects and tasks related to our current strategic planning process.

One of our goals for the Fellowship is for students to have a broad understanding of the types of jobs available in the conservation field so we ensure students have the opportunity to work on projects with staff across the organization, shadow colleagues, and network with our staff and partners.

Another intention with this Fellowship is to provide an opportunity for students who self-identify as coming from a background underrepresented in conservation and/or the environmental and climate movements. At TNC Maine, we understand that equity is not separate from our conservation work, but critical to achieving our mission. Read our Approach to Equity in Maine and our Commitment to Collaborating with Indigenous Peoples.

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

The Topsham Planning department expects to be partnering with our Conservation Commission to work on an update to our existing Natural Areas Plan in the summer of 2025. Work on this project might consist of geospatial analysis, canvassing, surveying, or potentially other tasks. The department also continues to work on a full zoning code rewrite which intends to implement form-based codes in our town center area, this project has the potential for intern assistance. There is the potential for other projects related to ordinance updates that may be necessary as a result of implementing a new form-based code. We are a busy office with many duties and the potential for projects is wide-reaching.

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