Purpose of the Position: 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. The most highly utilized option is a legal agreement known as a conservation easement, which restricts future development of a property in order to protect it in perpetuity. To ensure the ongoing preservation of 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.
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: 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 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: Volunteers will attend one preliminary training session and will be required to 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 will cover topics relating to land conservation as well as orientation to conducting the visit and field work. Training is required for 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 materials at training and an invitation to the Volunteer Appreciation event.
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 two offices located in Queenstown and Cambridge. Volunteers will have the opportunity to monitor a variety of properties located in six counties of the Eastern Shore: Talbot, Queen Anne’s, Caroline, Dorchester, Kent, and Cecil.
Interested? Sign up here!
