Volunteer Land Steward Opportunities

Volunteer Land Steward Opportunity
In efforts to preserve the prime farmland, wildlife habitats, and unique natural assets of the Eastern Shore, ESLC assists landowners in exploring and implementing various conservation options for their properties, such as conservation easements. To ensure the ongoing preservation of these special places, ESLC visits landowners and inspects preserved properties on an annual basis. The Volunteer Land Steward will play an instrumental role in assisting ESLC carry out these responsibilities. For more information about land conservation options, please refer to our website's Conservation Options page. Read the full position description below. Click here for an application to be part of this exciting new opportunity!

Duties and responsibilities
Volunteers will visit at least six properties per year; observe changes to the properties; complete and return a monitoring report to ESLC staff; and will be responsible for tracking their volunteer hours. ESLC will provide volunteers with preliminary training on how to complete the site visit and the monitoring report (required).

Qualifications, including specific skills and training
Land conservation or land management related experience preferred but not required; interest and ability to orient oneself outdoors; basic (point & shoot) photography skills and the ability to read maps; strong communication skills; sincere interest in supporting the mission and work of ESLC; and willingness to act as a cooperative member of our team. Easement monitoring does require extended periods outdoors (several hours) and some physical activity (primarily the ability to walk farms, fields and forested areas). Volunteers must meet the minimum age requirement of 18 and hold a valid Driver’s License (note: ESLC does not provide transportation to the properties).

Time commitment requirements
Volunteers will attend three preliminary training sessions and will visit at least six properties per year. The time commitment will vary depending upon the location and size of the properties. Volunteers will be given flexibility in scheduling and coordinating site visits based on their availability and preference of location.

Benefits & Training
Training for the Spring season of monitoring will begin in early March. The training will include three sessions that address topics relating to land conservation as well as orientation to conducting the visit and field work. Training is required for both our current and new volunteers. In addition to the monitoring skills and knowledge gained from the training, volunteers will have the unique opportunity of participating in the preservation of some of the most beautiful farms on the Eastern Shore. Volunteers will receive ESLC promotional goodies and will be eligible for our year-end awards. For more information on the 2010 Monitoring Spring Season Training, please contact our Volunteer Maryland Coordinator, Joanna Braswell, at jbraswell@eslc.org.

Evaluation and Reporting Procedures
Volunteers will have the chance to share their experience at ESLC in return for having their service evaluated at the end of each monitoring season. After each site visit, volunteers will complete a monitoring report and return it to ESLC. Volunteers will submit their service hours to ESLC.

Flexible Location
Volunteers will be able to coordinate and schedule site visits based on their own preference of location. ESLC operates from three offices: Galena (northern regional office), Queenstown (central office), and Cambridge (southern regional office). Volunteers will monitor properties in six counties of the eastern shore: Cecil (south of the C & D Canal), Kent, Queen Anne’s, Talbot, Carolline and Dorchester.

Supervisor
Megan D’Arcy, Stewardship Manager: phone (410) 827-9756 ext 163; e-mail mdarcy@eslc.org.

Volunteer Contact
Joanna Braswell, Volunteer Maryland Coordinator: phone (410) 827-9756 ext 169; e-mail jbraswell@eslc.org.