Volunteer Opportunities
Great opportunities! Come help out! If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact us at 388-1007 or info@maltvt.org. Naturalist for Discover the TAM Hike Series TIME COMMITMENT: one Saturday morning (3-4 hours) (plus preparation time) LOCATION: Trail Around Middlebury or MALT conserved property or other natural area in Addison County. SPECIFICS: Lead group of 6-20 participants of multiple ages on a natural history exploration of the chosen area. SKILLS NEEDED: Knowledge of natural and /or cultural history (either broad or specific topics), able to communicate with a diverse audience, enthusiasm for natural resource conservation. Ability to traverse various terrains. Hike Leader Assistant TIME COMMITMENT: One or more Saturday morning per month (3-4 Hours). Also: Pick-up hike series notebook and handout materials at MALT office prior to hike, return notebook and materials within 2-3 days of hike. LOCATION: Trail Around Middlebury, MALT conserved property or other natural area in Addison County SPECIFICS: Meet and greet hike participants, introduce Hike Leader, describe MALT’s mission, announce other hike sponsors, pass out TAM maps (or other appropriate maps), take attendance, explain about filming and photography and explain waiver. A hike series notebook, materials to distribute and cue sheet are provided. SKILLS NEEDED: Ability to deal with groups of various ages, possession of good communication skills and appreciation and enthusiasm for natural history and natural resource protection. Some knowledge of MALT’s projects and programs desirable. Ability to traverse various terrain. Office Assistant PURPOSE: Assist with day to day needs of office staff, to provide office administrator with dedicated blocks of time to complete projects. TIME COMMITMENT: 2 hours / day , 2 days / week LOCATION: MALT office SPECIFICS: Meet and great visitors upon arrival at MALT office, direct phone calls to appropriate person, take messages. Minor projects such as day to day mailings and filing. SKILLS NEEDED: Kind and courteous, friendly and helpful demeanor. Some knowledge of MALT projects and history. Ability to juggle multiple tasks. Excellent communication skills. Public Events Representative TIME COMMITMENT: flexible: 1 or more public event per year, usually 2-3 hour stints. Typically MALT participates in: Town Meeting nights, March (meet your neighbors!) Earth Day Fair on Middlebury Town Green, April Addison County Fair and Field Days, August (Free admission to fair!) Dead Creek Wildlife Day, October (check out the Snow Geese!) Middlebury College Community Involvement Fairs Other special events LOCATION: Various Locations around Addison County SPECIFICS: Meet and greet interested community members as they view MALT information board at various events. Answer questions and provide literature about MALT. May need to set up or take down board, arrange hand outs on table. Encourage visitors to sign-up for mailing list for more information about MALT. SKILLS NEEDED: Kind and courteous, friendly and helpful demeanor. Some knowledge of MALT projects and history. Excellent communication skills. Annual Meeting Coordinator PURPOSE: To conduct MALT’s Annual Meeting according to organization’s bylaws and to promote and celebrate work completed by MALT in the past fiscal year. (Annual Meeting is usually conducted in October). The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for education, including a guest speaker and provides an opportunity to highlight MALT’s projects, and an opportunity to meet members and donors and raise funds for the organization. TIME COMMITMENT: Varies. The Annual Meeting planning committee meets two- three times to coordinate plan and implement the Annual Meeting and fundraising effort. 5-10 hours per month for four months prior to meeting. Much of the preliminary work can be done from home. LOCATION: Public meeting space in and around Middlebury. Past locations include: Kirk Alumni Center and Middlebury Methodist Church. Mid-week night in October (subject to change), time is generally 7-9 pm.. SPECIFICS: The Annual Meeting coordinator works closely with the Outreach Coordinator to oversee all aspects of the event and delegate responsibility among volunteer committee members and MALT staff to: create and distribute publicity (ads, press releases, posters and direct mailings), secure in-kind donations for refreshments, silent auction or raffle, recruit guest speaker and staff the event. Organize all aspects of the silent auction: garner donations, create bidding sheets, monitor auction and determine winners. Organize all aspects of raffle: garner donations, create raffle tickets, distribute raffle tickets for sale and determine raffle winners. SKILLS NEEDED: Long range planning, project management skills, ability to work independently, excellent communication skills, experience with fundraising events. TAM Team Trek (T3) Special Events Committee TIME COMMITMENT: Varies. The T3 planning committee meets once a month January – October to coordinate plan and implement the T3. 10-15 hours per month. LOCATION: Varies. MALT office, work from home, event site (Marbleworks) SPECIFICS: The T3 committee will oversee all aspects of the event and delegate responsibility among volunteer committee members and MALT staff to: create and distribute publicity (ads, press releases, posters and direct mailings), secure event sponsors, in-kind donations, recruit participants and staff the event. SKILLS NEEDED: Long range planning, project management skills, ability to work independently, excellent communication skills, experience with fundraising and / or athletic events. GIS Map Creation and Maintenance PROJECT: Create and/or edit GIS maps of conserved properties PURPOSE: All newly conserved properties will have GIS maps created for Baseline Documentation Reports, and for monitoring purposes. TIME COMMITMENT: Varies LOCATION: GIS lab at Middlebury College and MALT office SKILLS NEEDED: knowledge of ArcGIS, mapping, geography Baseline Documentation Report Investigator PROJECT: Create BDRs for newly conserved lands PURPOSE: To create a report of the condition of various properties that are considered for protection. TIME COMMITMENT: varies with project LOCATION: various lands around Addison County that are proposed for conservation SPECIFICS: For each property, there is a need to walk the boundaries, and cover as much area as possible, take photos of the property which are matched up with GPS points that can be later entered into GIS maps. Complete descriptions of the property, as well as history, and current owners’ information, must be documented. This will be signed by the owners when finished. SKILLS NEEDED: Photography, some hiking and backpacking, communication with landowners, writing skills. Stewardship: Monitoring Easement Properties PURPOSE: To make an annual monitoring visit to each conserved property to ensure good practices TIME COMMITMENT: Varies with property size, done once annually per property, usually before leafout or after leaves have fallen LOCATION: various locations throughout Addison County SPECIFICS: Good stewardship of conservation lands means regularly monitoring properties to ensure all clearing, building and changing the landscape in any way conforms to the language contained in the easement. Any activity outside of the easement document can result in legal action. We want to avoid the necessity of legal action, and develop good relationships with landowners, so they understand what is required of the easement properties to ensure their conservation. SKILLS NEEDED: photography, hiking with backpack through various terrain, communication with landowners, creating reports of monitoring visit Assistant for Summer Camp PURPOSE: To provide an environmental education program for youth, utilizing MALT’s Otter Creek Gorge Preserve TIME COMMITMENT: one ½ day, one full day or multiple ½ days and full days. Camp hours are from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, 2-4 weeks during July –August. LOCATION: Otter Creek Gorge Preserve, Morgan Horse Farm Rd., Weybridge. SPECIFICS: Assist camp director with camp program. Help with environmental education games, activities and hikes. If you have an area of interest in ecology please let us know, we are always looking for guest presenters such as nature drawing, entomology, yoga, craft activities and more! SKILLS NEEDED: Appreciation of and experience with children. Ability to traverse various terrain. Some knowledge of natural and /or cultural history (either broad or specific topics), able to communicate with a diverse audience, enthusiasm for natural resource conservation. Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) Section Trailkeeper PURPOSE: Provide for regular updates and maintenance needs on the TAM. TIME COMMITMENT: as much as you like, but can be 3-4 hours / month LOCATION: One section of the TAM. Sections include: Johnson Pond section, Morgan Horse Farm Rd to Hamilton Rd. Jackson Trail section, Hamilton Rd. to Route 23 / Weybridge Rd. Route 23 / Weybridge Rd. to Route 125 Class of ’97 section, Route 125 to Route 30 Golf Course section, Route 30 to South Street Boat House Bridge section South Street to Middlebury Union Middle School Murdock Woods section, Middlebury Union Middle School to Route 7 Battell Woods section, Route 7 (Sabourin Farm) to Seminary Street Ext. Means Woods section, Seminary Street Ext. to Washington Street Ext. Chipman Hill Section, Washington Street Ext. to Springside Drive. Village Streets section: Springside Dr., Seminary Street, High Street, Stewart St., Elm St., Seymour St. Wright Park section, Wright Park entrance to Belden Dam Otter Creek Gorge Preserve section, Belden Dam to Morgan Horse Farm Rd. SPECIFICS: Two- three times per month traverse your section of the TAM. Clean up brush, fallen debris and litter. Note short term and long term maintenance needs. Keep note of needed large scale improvements. Apprise Trail Coordinator of any needs for chain sawing, sign replacement or other large scale projects such as bridge repairs, water bar replacement, armoring of wet areas. Send email update to Trail Coordinator once / month unless emergency need arises. SKILLS NEEDED: Interest in TAM, ability to traverse various terrain. Trail Around Middlebury Work Day Supervisor PURPOSE: Oversee trail work and maintenance days on the TAM. TIME COMMITMENT: Varies. One workday per year or more! National Youth Service Day, mid- April Green Up Day, First Saturday in May National Trails Day, First Saturday in June Middlebury College Orientation, early September National Public Lands Day, late September Other days as need or interest arises. LOCATION: Various locations on the TAM. SPECIFICS: Meet with TAM Coordinator to determine trail maintenance needs. Location and gather materials and tools needed to carry out project. Assist Outreach Coordinator with recruiting volunteers. SKILLS NEEDED: Ability to use heavy equipment and power equipment. Ability to work with group of unskilled to semi-skilled volunteers. Excellent communication skills. Enjoy the TAM and working with volunteers! Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) , General Assistance PURPOSE: Provide needed trail work and maintenance TIME COMMITMENT: Varies, workday activities generally last two to four hours. Regularly scheduled workdays include: National Youth Service Day, mid- April Green Up Day, First Saturday in May National Trails Day, First Saturday in June Middlebury College Orientation, early September National Public Lands Day, late September LOCATION: Various locations on the TAM. SPECIFICS: Workdays include brush clipping, brush moving, gravel and bark mulch moving to improve wet areas, stair building, bridge sealing and repairs, sign painting and replacement and various physical labor to maintain the TAM. SKILLS NEEDED: Enjoy outdoor, physical work!

Volunteer Opportunities

Great opportunities! Come help out!
If you are interested in any of these positions, please contact us at 388-1007 or info@maltvt.org.

Naturalist for Discover the TAM Hike Series

TIME COMMITMENT: one Saturday morning (3-4 hours) (plus preparation time)
LOCATION: Trail Around Middlebury or MALT conserved property or other natural area in Addison County.
SPECIFICS: Lead group of 6-20 participants of multiple ages on a natural history exploration of the chosen area.
SKILLS NEEDED: Knowledge of natural and /or cultural history (either broad or specific topics), able to communicate with a diverse audience, enthusiasm for natural resource conservation. Ability to traverse various terrains.

Hike Leader Assistant

TIME COMMITMENT: One or more Saturday morning per month (3-4 Hours). Also: Pick-up hike series notebook and handout materials at MALT office prior to hike, return notebook and materials within 2-3 days of hike.
LOCATION: Trail Around Middlebury, MALT conserved property or other natural area in Addison County
SPECIFICS: Meet and greet hike participants, introduce Hike Leader, describe MALT’s mission, announce other hike sponsors, pass out TAM maps (or other appropriate maps), take attendance, explain about filming and photography and explain waiver. A hike series notebook, materials to distribute and cue sheet are provided.
SKILLS NEEDED:  Ability to deal with groups of various ages, possession of good communication skills and appreciation and enthusiasm for natural history and natural resource protection. Some knowledge of MALT’s projects and programs desirable. Ability to traverse various terrain.

Office Assistant

PURPOSE: Assist with day to day needs of office staff, to provide office administrator with dedicated blocks of time to complete projects.
TIME COMMITMENT: 2 hours / day , 2 days / week
LOCATION: MALT office
SPECIFICS: Meet and great visitors upon arrival at MALT office, direct phone calls to appropriate person, take messages. Minor projects such as day to day mailings and filing.
SKILLS NEEDED: Kind and courteous, friendly and helpful demeanor. Some knowledge of MALT projects and history. Ability to juggle multiple tasks. Excellent communication skills.

Public Events Representative

TIME COMMITMENT: flexible: 1 or more public event per year, usually 2-3 hour stints. Typically MALT participates in:
Town Meeting nights, March (meet your neighbors!)
Earth Day Fair on Middlebury Town Green, April
Addison County Fair and Field Days, August (Free admission to fair!)
Dead Creek Wildlife Day, October (check out the Snow Geese!)
Middlebury College Community Involvement Fairs
Other special events
LOCATION: Various Locations around Addison County
SPECIFICS: Meet and greet interested community members as they view MALT information board at various events. Answer questions and provide literature about MALT. May need to set up or take down board, arrange hand outs on table. Encourage visitors to sign-up for mailing list for more information about MALT.
SKILLS NEEDED: Kind and courteous, friendly and helpful demeanor. Some knowledge of MALT projects and history. Excellent communication skills.

Annual Meeting Coordinator

PURPOSE: To conduct MALT’s Annual Meeting according to organization’s bylaws and to promote and celebrate work completed by MALT in the past fiscal year. (Annual Meeting is usually conducted in October). The Annual Meeting provides an opportunity for education, including a guest speaker and provides an opportunity to highlight MALT’s projects, and an opportunity to meet members and donors and raise funds for the organization.
TIME COMMITMENT: Varies. The Annual Meeting planning committee meets two- three times to coordinate plan and implement the Annual Meeting and fundraising effort. 5-10 hours per month for four months prior to meeting. Much of the preliminary work can be done from home.
LOCATION: Public meeting space in and around Middlebury. Past locations include: Kirk Alumni Center and Middlebury Methodist Church. Mid-week night in October (subject to change), time is generally 7-9 pm..
SPECIFICS: The Annual Meeting coordinator works closely with the Outreach Coordinator to oversee all aspects of the event and delegate responsibility among volunteer committee members and MALT staff to: create and distribute publicity (ads, press releases, posters and direct mailings), secure in-kind donations for refreshments, silent auction or raffle, recruit guest speaker and staff the event.
Organize all aspects of the silent auction: garner donations, create bidding sheets, monitor auction and determine winners. Organize all aspects of raffle: garner donations, create raffle tickets, distribute raffle tickets for sale and determine raffle winners.
SKILLS NEEDED: Long range planning, project management skills, ability to work independently, excellent communication skills, experience with fundraising events.

TAM Team Trek (T3) Special Events Committee

TIME COMMITMENT: Varies. The T3 planning committee meets once a month January – October to coordinate plan and implement the T3. 10-15 hours per month.
LOCATION: Varies. MALT office, work from home, event site (Marbleworks)
SPECIFICS: The T3 committee will oversee all aspects of the event and delegate responsibility among volunteer committee members and MALT staff to: create and distribute publicity (ads, press releases, posters and direct mailings), secure event sponsors, in-kind donations, recruit participants and staff the event.
SKILLS NEEDED: Long range planning, project management skills, ability to work independently, excellent communication skills, experience with fundraising and / or athletic events.

GIS Map Creation and Maintenance

PROJECT: Create and/or edit GIS maps of conserved properties
PURPOSE: All newly conserved properties will have GIS maps created for Baseline Documentation Reports, and for monitoring purposes.
TIME COMMITMENT:     Varies
LOCATION:  GIS lab at Middlebury College and MALT office
SKILLS NEEDED: knowledge of ArcGIS, mapping, geography

Baseline Documentation Report Investigator

PROJECT: Create BDRs for newly conserved lands
PURPOSE: To create a report of the condition of various properties that are considered for protection.
TIME COMMITMENT: varies with project
LOCATION: various lands around Addison County that are proposed for conservation
SPECIFICS: For each property, there is a need to walk the boundaries, and cover as much area as possible, take photos of the property which are matched up with GPS points that can be later entered into GIS maps. Complete descriptions of the property, as well as history, and current owners’ information, must be documented. This will be signed by the owners when finished.
SKILLS NEEDED: Photography, some hiking and backpacking, communication with landowners, writing skills.

Stewardship: Monitoring Easement Properties

PURPOSE: To make an annual monitoring visit to each conserved property to ensure good practices
TIME COMMITMENT: Varies with property size, done once annually per property, usually before leafout or after leaves have fallen
LOCATION: various locations throughout Addison County
SPECIFICS: Good stewardship of conservation lands means regularly monitoring properties to ensure all clearing, building and changing the landscape in any way conforms to the language contained in the easement. Any activity outside of the easement document can result in legal action. We want to avoid the necessity of legal action, and develop good relationships with landowners, so they understand what is required of the easement properties to ensure their conservation.
SKILLS NEEDED: photography, hiking with backpack through various terrain, communication with landowners, creating reports of monitoring visit

Assistant for Summer Camp

PURPOSE: To provide an environmental education program for youth, utilizing MALT’s Otter Creek Gorge Preserve
TIME COMMITMENT: one ½ day, one full day or multiple ½ days and full days. Camp hours are from 9:00 am – 3:00 pm, 2-4 weeks during July –August.
LOCATION: Otter Creek Gorge Preserve, Morgan Horse Farm Rd., Weybridge.
SPECIFICS: Assist camp director with camp program. Help with environmental education games, activities and hikes. If you have an area of interest in ecology please let us know, we are always looking for guest presenters such as nature drawing, entomology, yoga, craft activities and more!
SKILLS NEEDED: Appreciation of and experience with children. Ability to traverse various terrain. Some knowledge of natural and /or cultural history (either broad or specific topics), able to communicate with a diverse audience, enthusiasm for natural resource conservation.

Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) Section Trailkeeper

PURPOSE: Provide for regular updates and maintenance needs on the TAM.
TIME COMMITMENT: as much as you like, but can be 3-4 hours / month
LOCATION: One section of the TAM.
Sections include:

Johnson Pond section, Morgan Horse Farm Rd to Hamilton Rd.
Jackson Trail section, Hamilton Rd. to Route 23 / Weybridge Rd.
Route 23 / Weybridge Rd. to Route 125
Class of ’97 section, Route 125 to Route 30
Golf Course section, Route 30 to South Street
Boat House Bridge section South Street to Middlebury Union Middle School
Murdock Woods section, Middlebury Union Middle School to Route 7
Battell Woods section, Route 7 (Sabourin Farm) to Seminary Street Ext.
Means Woods section, Seminary Street Ext. to Washington Street Ext.
Chipman Hill Section, Washington Street Ext. to Springside Drive.
Village Streets section: Springside Dr., Seminary Street, High Street, Stewart St., Elm St., Seymour St.
Wright Park section, Wright Park entrance to Belden Dam
Otter Creek Gorge Preserve section, Belden Dam to Morgan Horse Farm Rd.

SPECIFICS: Two- three times per month traverse your section of the TAM. Clean up brush, fallen debris and litter.
Note short term and long term maintenance needs. Keep note of needed large scale improvements. Apprise Trail Coordinator of any needs for chain sawing, sign replacement or other large scale projects such as bridge repairs, water bar replacement, armoring of wet areas. Send email update to Trail Coordinator once / month unless emergency need arises.
SKILLS NEEDED: Interest in TAM, ability to traverse various terrain.

Trail Around Middlebury Work Day Supervisor

PURPOSE: Oversee trail work and maintenance days on the TAM.
TIME COMMITMENT: Varies. One workday per year or more!

National Youth Service Day, mid- April
Green Up Day, First Saturday in May
National Trails Day, First Saturday in June
Middlebury College Orientation, early September
National Public Lands Day, late September
Other days as need or interest arises.

LOCATION: Various locations on the TAM.
SPECIFICS: Meet with TAM Coordinator to determine trail maintenance needs. Location and gather materials and tools needed to carry out project. Assist Outreach Coordinator with recruiting volunteers.
SKILLS NEEDED: Ability to use heavy equipment and power equipment. Ability to work with group of unskilled to semi-skilled volunteers. Excellent communication skills. Enjoy the TAM and working with volunteers!

Trail Around Middlebury (TAM) , General Assistance

PURPOSE: Provide needed trail work and maintenance
TIME COMMITMENT: Varies, workday activities generally last two to four hours. Regularly scheduled workdays include:

National Youth Service Day, mid- April
Green Up Day, First Saturday in May
National Trails Day, First Saturday in June
Middlebury College Orientation, early September
National Public Lands Day, late September

LOCATION: Various locations on the TAM.
SPECIFICS: Workdays include brush clipping, brush moving, gravel and bark mulch moving to improve wet areas, stair building, bridge sealing and repairs, sign painting and replacement and various physical labor to maintain the TAM.
SKILLS NEEDED: Enjoy outdoor, physical work!