VOLUNTEER
Royal River Conservation Trust was established by volunteers in 1988 and was entirely volunteer-run for its first 14 years.
Volunteers continue to be vital to our operations and we are always looking for talented people to help advance our mission.
While volunteers contribute their time and talent to many facets of our work, most focus their efforts in one or more of the following RRCT volunteer roles:
The Board of Directors manages and controls the business, property, and affairs of Royal River Conservation Trust. The board consists of between five and twenty-one directors who serve three-year renewable terms. Directors are appointed by the board in September at our Annual Meeting.
As RRCT conserves more land in the watershed, dedicated volunteer presence on our preserves is more important than ever. Volunteer Trail Stewards engage in a variety of preserve-specific activities ranging from trail monitoring and basic maintenance to devising stewardship plans - all on their own schedule. If you are interested in becoming a trail steward, reach out to Stewardship Director Hanae Garrison at Hanae@RRCT.org or fill out the volunteer interest form below.
We are continually expanding our outreach events are looking for help making our lands and programming accessable to everyone. If you are interested in working with RRCT to lead a walk, support events and outreach opportunities, or help with fundraising and engagement on an ongoing basis, fill our Volunteer Interest form.
Walk Leaders
RRCT partners with Chebeague & Cumberland Land Trust to offer Get Out! Nature Walks on the fourth Wednesday of each month. These volunteer-led guided adventures are led by trained Maine Master Naturalists – rain, snow, or shine – throughout the Royal River watershed, Chebeague Island, and Cumberland.
If you are a naturalist or just want to share your appreciation and/or knowledge about nature with others, consider leading an event on an RRCT property! Whether you love to go birding, nature journaling, talk about ferns, trees, or geology, we'd love to hear from you.
Event Volunteer
We can always use help with event set-up, check-in, and general outreach support. We're expanding our presence at community events and would love your help tabling!
Photographers
We're always looking for volunteers who enjoy taking photos or videos and want to spend time visiting our preserves or joining us at our events!
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Royal River Conservation Trust’s Standing Committees oversee the strategic and tactical aspects of the Trust’s work in four key areas: land acquisition, stewardship, finance & investment, and fundraising & engagement. Committee members serve two-year renewable terms and meet once a month.
We encourage prospective board members to first be part of a committee. If you are interested in learning more about or joining one of our committees, reach out to Exeucutive Director Chris Franklin at Chris@RRCT.org or fill out our volunteer interest form below.
RRCT's Trail Crew focuses on a variety of on-site trail-building projects including route finding and trail alignment, brush and wood clearing, constructing wetland and stream crossings, tread stabilization, invasive species management, and signage improvements.
Work sessions are planned for two hours on Wednesdays from 9-11 am. There is a job for everyone, no matter your shape, skills, or strength. No registration or prior experience is required, just show up the week you have time or put Trail Crew on your calendar as your regular Wednesday morning ritual. Details are posted on our Trail Crew page a week or two in advance.
Interested in becoming a volunteer?
Complete this form to let us know of your interest! We'll be back in touch to begin a conversation with you about how you can help advance RRCT's mission in ways that align with your desired level of involvement and availability.
