📝 Detailed information
🏢 About the local organisation
The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is a research and education facility that is part of a national system of 29 reserves around the USA. It is a sanctuary for endangered plants and wildlife. The Reserve consists of forests, coastal marsh, beach and historic farm buildings. The Reserve’s mission is to protect and restore coastal ecosystems, and educate the public about the beauty and importance of these places. The Wells Reserve at Laudholm is a beautiful and historic property with over 11 kilometers of trails and a beach. Our staff conducts research and teaches about estuaries (where rivers meet the sea) and also about other issues that relate to coastal ecology.
Website: www.wellsreserve.org
💼 What the programme involves
The Wells National Estuarine Research Reserve is located on the beautiful seacoast of southern Maine. Your work will include improving trails and wildlife habitat at the Reserve as well as grounds and maintenance projects on our historic buildings. This is active, physical work, with much time spent out-of-doors. Orientation, tool training, and safety training is provided. A major project for the camp is to prepare for and staff a large weekend Nature Crafts Festival, which welcomes more than 5,000 people over two days. This festival provides needed funds to support research and educational programs. Work involves setting up tables and chairs, cleaning, moving equipment, and assisting other volunteers and staff with food, parking, recycling, and many other jobs. For the two days of the festival, you will be working long days.
🏠 Accommodation on site
Volunteers will stay in a modern dormitory with comfortable beds, well-equipped kitchen, large dining table and common area. Rooms are generous in size and volunteers will most likely share their room with other members of the Volunteers for Peace group. Volunteers will cook meals as a group. Bring some recipes from home to share, and let us know if you have any dietary needs. There is one restaurant, one ice cream shop and one store within walking distance of the dormitory, as well as 11 kilometers of nature trails to enjoy. It is a 2 kilometer walk to the beach.
📍 About the location
Wells, Maine is a popular tourist destination in the summer. There are public beaches within walking distance and bicycles are available. Public transportation in the area is limited. Located 5 kilometers from the Reserve is the Wells Transportation Center, which provides bus and train service to the region’s larger cities (Boston, New York city, and Portland, Maine). Reserve educational programs are available to volunteers, as are local beaches and nature trails.The local Shoreline Trolley runs until early September (usually through the Labor Day holiday) and connects Wells with the nearby towns of Kennebunk, Kennebunkport and Ogunquit.
There will be many opportunities to enjoy beauty and nature, along with informal discussions about topics of interest to the group. Bring music, games or other activities to share.