cabin view

Volunteer Naturalist - Maine

Appalachian Mountain Club (AMC)

Family-Friendly

No

High Adventure

No

Setting

Indoor & Outdoor

About the Event

Two of AMC's Maine lodges, Gorman Chairback and Medawisla, are looking for new Volunteer Naturalists to volunteer for 4 (or more) overnights each summer. Volunteer Naturalists draw on their own expertise to provide educational programming primarily through evening programs, as well as morning nature walks or other activities. With programming focused on evenings and mornings, volunteers have free time during the day (usually about 10am to 4pm) to enjoy the area. Each lodge has waterfront lake access for swimming, boating, and fishing; canoes and kayaks available for guests (and volunteers); and nearby hiking trails ranging from easy/short hikes to longer trails that access mountain summits. The lodges are pretty remote, and most volunteers live far enough away that they stay overnight (for free) in one of our bunkhouses, along with other guests. Meals are also provided free to volunteers.

Last year, the International Dark-Sky Association granted International Dark Sky Park status to AMC's 75,000-acre parcel of forestland in Maine's 100-Mile Wilderness, which includes the areas surrounding the lodges. With such spectacular conditions for viewing the night sky, each lodge has a telescope available for volunteers, staff, and guests, and telescope use will be included in volunteer training.

Essential qualifications: the ability to plan and deliver evening programs and nature walks or other activities; a willingness to work with all ages and to adapt programming to engage young kids as well as adults; and an outgoing, friendly personality. Additionally, volunteers must be at least 18 years old, fully vaccinated for COVID, and pass a criminal background check.

Benefits: receive free meals & lodging (shared bunkroom) and retail discounts, gain valuable teaching/outdoor experience, and have fun!

Schedule and Time Commitment: during summer season (July - Aug), volunteer stints are scheduled for the weekends (arrive Friday pm and depart Sunday am) or during weekdays for durations ranging from 2 nights to 5 nights. Most Naturalists will volunteer twice each summer, with each of those volunteer stints spanning 2 or 3 nights. Volunteers are welcome and encouraged to add additional dates if they have more availability. Volunteers should be able to commit to the Volunteer Naturalist program for at least three years. Training June 25th is required for Medawisla volunteers and June 26th is required for Gorman Chairback volunteers.

Questions?

Contact Kyra Salancy at amcvolservices@outdoors.org or 603-374-8521.

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