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The Maine Conservation Corps
Environmental Educator Program
Do you have an environmental degree, but need some real-world experience before entering the job market? Maybe you’re transitioning from one career to a more environmentally-focused one, or perhaps you are simply passionate about education and conservation. If any of these are true, the Maine Conservation Corps has the ideal position for you!
Environmental Educators volunteering during a youth ice fishing day
Environmental Educators serve either 900 hours (approximately 6 months) or 1700 hours (approximately 10 months) as AmeriCorps members with a non-profit organization or state agency in the state of Maine. While community education and outreach are the primary goals, each position has unique responsibilities and activities such as biological monitoring, leading classroom activities in local schools, managing volunteers, trail maintenance & planning, logistics for an educational summer camp, or leading local watershed surveys, just to name a few.
China Forest Day
Past organizations that MCC Environmental Educators have recently served with include the Chewonki Foundation, the Maine Department of Environmental Protection, the UMaine Cooperative Extension, and the Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve. Many of our Environmental Educators have gone on to serve two terms with the MCC, often with the same organization, and some have even been offered permanent positions as a direct result of connections made during their MCC service. Positions start in January, May, and October and there are different opportunities every year. Application deadlines are generally two months prior to the start dates.
MCC members serve at state agencies and nonprofit organizations all over Maine, including: View current position descriptions
- Baxter State Park
- Central Aroostook Soil & Water Conservation District
- Chewonki Foundation
- Department of Environmental Protection, Augusta
- Department of Environmental Protection, Portland
- Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association
- Herring Gut Learning Center
- Maine Audubon
- Maine Bureau of Parks & Lands
- MaineHousing
- Maine NEMO Program
- Merryspring Nature Center
- Oxford County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Pemaquid Watershed Association
- Penobscot County Soil and Water Conservation District
- Rachel Carson National Wildlife Refuge
- University of Maine Cooperative Extension
- Union River Watershed Coalition
- Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve
 
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“MCC was one of the best decisions I've ever made. I was exposed to career choices I had not considered, I gained work experience that has led to my career today, the learning opportunities presented through being part of the MCC group were very influential, and working at my individual placement location was great in teaching me the value of self motivation and initiative. The friendships that developed over the year are priceless.”
-Megan Sines, Environmental Educator 2001-2002
“I loved working at the Maine DEP-Portland Regional Office. I was given a lot of responsibility- I helped develop watershed management plans, conducted field work out in the community, learned GIS, and did something different everyday. My experience with MCC helped get me into grad school at Brown for Environmental Studies too!”
-Jessica Hunter, Environmental Educator 2005-2006
“I loved my job up in Baxter State Park. It was so perfect to be outside almost all the time and really interacting with the public and having an active role in preserving and protecting the flora and fauna of that beautiful Park.”
-Margaret “Molly” Meserve, 2-time Environmental Educator 2008-2009
Some of our past Environmental Educators are now:
- Carbon Footprint Educator
- Land Use Planning and Grant Writing
- Teaching elementary and high school
- Environmental Leadership program for kids
- Environmental Studies Program Coordinator at a college.
- Environmental Analyst with the National Partnership for Environmental Technology Education
- Providing professional development training for Land Trusts, Environmental NGO's, Municipal Staff & Officials on topics including; resouces management, water quality and habitat conservation.
- Working as a biologist with an environmental consulting firm
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