The service learning program at Mount Grace Land Conservation Trust works to foster an ethic of service and civic engagement among young people, and to increase the connections that children and young adults feel to the land. The coordinator designs projects that teach young people about working lands while contributing to the protection and stewardship of farms, forests, watershed areas, community gardens, and parks. The coordinator develops service learning opportunities for hands-on conservation such as:
- Exploring local vernal pools and learning about their protection
- Creating pollinator gardens
- Stream monitoring
- Trail creation or clean-up on protected lands
- Wildlife habitat improvements
- Making and painting signs for conservation lands
The service learning coordinator is part of the AmeriCorps MassLIFT program and serves in the entire Mount Grace region of twenty-three towns. (Ashburnham, Athol, Barre, Bernardston, Erving, Gardner, Gill, Greenfield, Hardwick, Hubbardston, Leyden, Montague, New Salem, Northfield, Orange, Petersham, Phillipston, Royalston, Templeton, Warwick, Wendell, Westminster, and Winchendon)
AmeriCorps-Massachusetts Land Initiative for Tomorrow (MassLIFT) is a collaborative effort of
seven regional conservation groups. MassLIFT aims to increase collaboration among local
conservation groups, increase the land protection and outreach capacity of volunteer
conservation groups, foster a conservation ethic in young people through volunteerism in
service to the land, inspire a new generation to pursue careers on the land, and increase
support for conservation in the community as a whole by encouraging diverse community members to use
protected lands. MassLIFT is funded in part by an AmeriCorps grant administered by the Massachusetts
Service Alliance.
Mount Grace Land
Conservation Trust
Conservation Trust
Service Learning
MOUNT GRACE LAND CONSERVATION TRUST
1461 Old Keene Road, Athol, MA 01331
Ph 978-248-2043
www.mountgrace.org
