Over the last month, we have welcomed 18 new youth employees to the Audubon Vermont team including 12 Junior Conservation Technicians, five interns, and one AmeriCorps Member. We can't wait to see the fresh perspectives, energy, and innovation they will bring to our work and to the Youth Conservation Leadership Program (YCLP). YCLP at Audubon Vermont provides paid service-learning opportunities for young adults including work-based learning programs for high school students, internships for college students and recent graduates in environmental education, conservation, and policy, and year-long service positions through AmeriCorps. The goal of YCLP is to engage youth and young adults in meaningful environmental work during a time in their lives when they are making important decisions about their educational and career paths. Read on to learn a bit about the new faces you may see around Audubon and what projects they will be focused on.
Junior Conservation Technicians
Read through short bios from JCTs here.
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Interns
Emma McKillip
she/her/hers
Youth Conservation Leadership Intern
Emma is originally from Chicago and attended the University of Michigan, where her love of birds was sparked by the enchanting calls of loons in the summer. She has worked as an Outdoor Educator in Glacier National Park, volunteered on farms across the Pacific Northwest through WWOOF, and moved to New Zealand to be a Park Ranger. She fell in love with Vermont after a season as a Conservation Crew Leader with the Vermont Youth Conservation Corps working on carpentry projects in State Parks, and has been here since! Emma will co-lead our Junior Conservation Technician Program, help develop a new alumni survey, and support YCLP.
Zoe Decker
she/her/hers
Education Intern
Zoe is originally from Virginia and moved up to Vermont to attend UVM. She graduated in 2024 with a B.S. in Environmental Science with a concentration in Agriculture and the Environment and a minor in geospatial technologies. Zoe is currently in the second semester of her Master’s of Natural Resources program through Virginia Tech, where she hopes to apply this educational background to a future in environmental education programming. Zoe will be assisting with and leading field trips and outreach programs at the Green Mountain Audubon Center as well as develop new teaching materials.
Sarah Maroney
she/her/hers
Early Education Intern
Sarah is originally from Connecticut where her love of the natural world was cultivated through summers playing on the beach and on the rocky coast of Maine where she later lived with her grandmother. She recently graduated at the end of 2024 from the University of Vermont with a BA in Environmental Studies and Global History, and is looking forward to beginning a career meshing her passion for community work, conservation, and education. Sarah will support all of our programs developed for students five and under such as Playgroup and Forest Playschool.
Carolena Bellini
she/her/hers
Environmental Policy Intern
Originally from the outskirts of Philadelphia, Carolena began her studies at the University of Vermont in 2021 as a double major in Environmental Studies and Political Science. Throughout her career at UVM, Carolena has gained experience in environmental policy research and analysis, mainly working in the Vermont Statehouse with legislators. Outside of policy work, Carolena was an Organic Farm Production Intern for Common Roots and completed a travel study in the Amazonian Basin of Ecuador researching indigenous communities, biodiversity, and the impact of the oil industry. Her time in Ecuador inspired her current undergraduate thesis on international development and its social and environmental implications. Carolena will work with our interim Executive Director to represent Audubon Vermont at local policy meetings and advocacy groups as well as write press releases as needed.
Devin G. Brennan
he/his/him
Environmental Policy Intern
Devin grew up and watched birds near the East Fork of the White River in Martin County, Indiana and next to Lake Huron in Port Huron, Michigan. He went on to receive a B.S. from Central Michigan University in 2019, where he majored in Philosophy, double minored in Political Science and Ethics, Values, and Society, and received a Certificate in Critical Reasoning. Now, he lives and birds near the White River in Royalton, Vermont. Devin is attending VLGS to learn how to protect natural environments—especially riparian areas—and their beneficiaries through business, law, and policy. Devin will work with our interim Executive Director to represent Audubon Vermont at local policy meetings and advocacy groups as well as write press releases as needed.
AmeriCorps
Cali grew up in Minnesota and spent her childhood paddling and hiking in the Boundary Waters and the UP. She has always been an avid explorer, fascinated by every part of the natural world. In college, this curiosity along with her passion for outdoor recreation evolved into a keen interest in conservation work. After graduating from Brown University last spring, she worked as a Summit Steward for the Adirondack Mountain Club, educating hikers about the rare and fragile alpine communities of the High Peaks Wilderness. She is thrilled to be serving with Audubon Vermont as their Conservation Specialist AmeriCorps Member, and excited to experience the beauty of Vermont in all of its seasons.
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Want to spend your summer outside with us? You could be our next Youth Conservation Leadership Program participant! We are currently hiring for three positions:
