Do you care about the natural places within our community? Do you enjoy meeting new people? Want to learn more about the ecology of this area? Coastal Mountains Land Trust is seeking new volunteers to help with a wide range of projects including field work, preserve monitoring, invasive plant control, community outreach, office mailings and event logistics. This year, we are specifically emphasizing the recruitment of Beech-Nut docents, a volunteer position that welcomes visitors to Beech-Nut, the 100-year old hut at the top of Beech Hill in Rockport.

"Coastal Mountains Land Trust has always been an organization that relies on the participation of the many volunteers that support it," explains Ian Stewart, Executive Director in a news release. "Our lands are best cared for when the community is directly involved in their stewardship."

For those interested in learning more, the Land Trust has two scheduled orientation sessions: Wednesday, April 13, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Belfast Free Library, and Wednesday, April 20, from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Land Trust's office at 101 Mount Battie Street in Camden.

At each session, the Land Trust's stewardship staff and an active volunteer will provide an overview of the Land Trust's conservation programs as well as a summary of the volunteer positions that the Land Trust is seeking to fill. Please register to attend by calling the Land Trust at 236-7091.

Volunteers will also be offered the opportunity to attend a series of four volunteer training sessions throughout the year. Topics for our 2015 volunteer training series courses will include map & compass navigation, interpretation of forest processes and land use history, understanding conservation easements and chain-saw safety.

Coastal Mountains Land Trust has worked since 1986 to permanently conserve land to benefit the natural and human communities of the western Penobscot Bay. The Land Trust has protected over 10,000 acres to date. For more information about this event, our volunteer program, and the Land Trust in general, please call (207) 236-7091 or visit coastalmountains.org.