This summer, I spent nine weeks working as an intern for the Kennebec Land Trust in central Maine. Along the way, I learned countless aspects of conservation, gained insight into the management of a small NGO, got to know an amazing group of staff, board members, volunteers, and community members, and confirmed that Maine’s unofficial state motto − “The way life should be” − is 100% true.
Founded in 1988, the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) works with landowners and communities throughout central Maine to protect land permanently, promote environmental education, maintain over 40 miles of recreational trails, and support sustainable forestry and farming. Despite its small size, KLT is active at both the local and state level; a given day at KLT might include planning a statewide forestry conference, restoring old vacation cabins for public use, identifying endangered species on a woodlot, or brokering the details of a 200 acre conservation agreement on privately-owned land. KLT is also a stronghold of conservation expertise; due to its proximity to the state capitol of Augusta, many KLT members are current or former wildlife biologists, hydrologists, engineers, land use planners, and environmental lawyers.
As an intern, I had several different roles at KLT. One the main focus areas was outdoor stewardship; that is, trail planning, trail building, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and basic GIS mapping on the 70 properties (totaling 6194 acres) that KLT manages. Being able to spend time outside and enjoy the natural beauty of central Maine made outdoor stewardship one of the most fun aspects of the internship, but it was also one of the most educational. For example, working in areas with beaver-damned wetlands, wild blueberry fields, and deep, glacier carved lakes gave me a newfound appreciation for central Maine’s diverse geography and ecology. In addition, I was able to learn about land use history; every property I worked on was a product not only of natural forces but also of various aspects of Native American tradition, colonial agriculture, logging, forest regeneration, and industry.
My other main role was working on a research project. The topic of my research was conservation burial, the growing practice of burying people naturally within a ten acre or larger conserved area (In contrast, most modern burials utilize deforested landscapes, cement vaults, toxic embalming fluids, and treated wooden caskets, which are detrimental to the local environment and worker health). Specifically, I was assessing the various organizational, financial, and land management steps needed for KLT to begin their own conservation burial ground. To that end, I spent most of my time gathering information about local, state, and federal cemetery laws, interviewing other land trusts involved in conservation burial, speaking with local funeral homes, and drafting a business plan that included information on initial costs, contracting, staffing, plans for a website, building of ADA-accessible trails, and forest management. Thanks to a generous donation from a donor, this project is now poised to become a reality within the next several years.
Outside of work, I had an amazing time living in central Maine and exploring the state’s vast natural areas— Highlights include hiking in Camden Hills State Park, camping in the western mountains, canoeing/rope-swinging on Lake Cobbosseecontee, and fly fishing on the Little Androscoggin.
Founded in 1988, the Kennebec Land Trust (KLT) works with landowners and communities throughout central Maine to protect land permanently, promote environmental education, maintain over 40 miles of recreational trails, and support sustainable forestry and farming. Despite its small size, KLT is active at both the local and state level; a given day at KLT might include planning a statewide forestry conference, restoring old vacation cabins for public use, identifying endangered species on a woodlot, or brokering the details of a 200 acre conservation agreement on privately-owned land. KLT is also a stronghold of conservation expertise; due to its proximity to the state capitol of Augusta, many KLT members are current or former wildlife biologists, hydrologists, engineers, land use planners, and environmental lawyers.
As an intern, I had several different roles at KLT. One the main focus areas was outdoor stewardship; that is, trail planning, trail building, trail maintenance, invasive species removal, and basic GIS mapping on the 70 properties (totaling 6194 acres) that KLT manages. Being able to spend time outside and enjoy the natural beauty of central Maine made outdoor stewardship one of the most fun aspects of the internship, but it was also one of the most educational. For example, working in areas with beaver-damned wetlands, wild blueberry fields, and deep, glacier carved lakes gave me a newfound appreciation for central Maine’s diverse geography and ecology. In addition, I was able to learn about land use history; every property I worked on was a product not only of natural forces but also of various aspects of Native American tradition, colonial agriculture, logging, forest regeneration, and industry.
My other main role was working on a research project. The topic of my research was conservation burial, the growing practice of burying people naturally within a ten acre or larger conserved area (In contrast, most modern burials utilize deforested landscapes, cement vaults, toxic embalming fluids, and treated wooden caskets, which are detrimental to the local environment and worker health). Specifically, I was assessing the various organizational, financial, and land management steps needed for KLT to begin their own conservation burial ground. To that end, I spent most of my time gathering information about local, state, and federal cemetery laws, interviewing other land trusts involved in conservation burial, speaking with local funeral homes, and drafting a business plan that included information on initial costs, contracting, staffing, plans for a website, building of ADA-accessible trails, and forest management. Thanks to a generous donation from a donor, this project is now poised to become a reality within the next several years.
Outside of work, I had an amazing time living in central Maine and exploring the state’s vast natural areas— Highlights include hiking in Camden Hills State Park, camping in the western mountains, canoeing/rope-swinging on Lake Cobbosseecontee, and fly fishing on the Little Androscoggin.
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