ABOUT LANDS

What is LANDS?
The Land Stewardship Program (LANDS)  is a unique partnership between the University of Vermont (UVM) Rubenstein School of Natural Resources (RSENR) and the Student Conservation Association (SCA). In their traditional roles, RSENR provides undergraduates with a high quality environmental education for the 21st century, and the SCA provides young people with meaningful conservation service experience in the professional world. LANDS is the merger of these two goals – a College Conservation Corps.  LANDS crews provide on-the-ground support to land management agencies, and in exchange receive tremendous real world education, as well as a modest stipend.   In other words, LANDS is service-learning to address today’s conservation needs.  The name LANDS is a creative amalgamation of the words Land and Stewardship.

Where did LANDS come from?
Land conservation and land management are changing. While the old threats such as loss of habitat and open space due to development still exist and are growing, they are compounded by new challenges like global warming, the need for biofuels to replace fossil fuels, and more recently, economic uncertainty. LANDS was created to address these challenges cost-effectively using advanced college students, at the same time training for the next generation of conservation practitioners.

What do LANDS crews do?
LANDS is about land stewardship, broadly defined.  This includes anything from assessing a property for rare plants before The Nature Conservancy purchases it, to measuring carbon stocks in a forest, to evaluating the threat from invasive species, to engaging in placed-based events with a local community.  LANDS crew projects typically focus on natural and cultural resource inventory, GPS and GIS mapping, report writing, and public presentations.  LANDS crews tackle advanced projects not usually associated with traditional corps/crews. Please visit Previous Projects to see LANDS deliverables.  

   

Who does LANDS work with?
LANDS partners with a wide variety of land management agencies, including federal, state, local and non-profit groups.  Please visit Previous Projects and Partner Links to see some of these partners.

A Crew of Interns?
LANDS projects are typically crew-based, much like the Civilian Conservation Corps, the SCA, and various state corps across the nation.  However, due to the technical and professional nature of this experience and the projects, this is considered to be an internship.  Participants work as a team but are given specific projects based on their experience and interest, like an internship – LANDS is a crew of interns. In this context, academic internship credit is available for those interested in connecting this experience with their college curriculum.

Who are LANDS interns?
LANDS interns are upper-level undergraduates and recent graduates in natural resources and environmental fields.  They come from across the country and abroad. LANDS interns share many characteristics including:

-They work well in teams
-They love the outdoors
-They like hard work
-They have a positive attitude and persevere in difficult situations
-They have a variety of skills and are ready to put them to work.

LANDS is committed to diversifying the conservation movement. Intern applicants from under-represented racial, ethnic, or cultural groups in the environmental field are strongly encouraged to apply.  

   

Where does LANDS happen?
LANDS is based in Burlington at the University of Vermont.  Project work occurs throughout New England.

Where is LANDS going in the future?
Ultimately, the purpose of LANDS is to demonstrate a new model of service-learning – a model that combines the best of academia and the professional world.  Our future goals are to expand the LANDS concept within the university (e.g. new crews in new departments) and to other universities.

Last modified April 06 2011 12:02 PM