Volunteer

The Cape Porpoise Archaeological Alliance (CPAA) is a professionally led citizen science initiative focused on the Archipelago of Cape Porpoise, Maine, which has seen at least 8,000 years of human activity. KCT partners with the Alliance and the Brick Store Museum to document and contextualize the archaeology of the islands and intertidal zone threatened by global sea level rise. The urgency of climate change makes citizen scientist engagement vital to rescuing the archaeology of the dynamic tide-scape before it is lost. This is an incredible opportunity to volunteer as a citizen scientist, receive training by CPAA in the standards and ethics of archeological practice and work with professional archeologists in the field and laboratory.

Community volunteers with a diversity of experience and expertise strengthen our board committees and help us make better informed decisions.  Whether in operational areas such as finance, communication or governance or for ad hoc committees created to oversee particular projects, KCT welcomes candidates to apply to be part of the decision-making processes of this dynamic organization.  The level of commitment varies for each committee - some ad hoc committees meet only a handful of times while others meet regularly throughout the year, either in person or virtually.

Trust in Education

Core to KCT’s mission is to foster a love of our local land and waters amongst our community’s youngest generation. The Trust in Education program engages and empowers youngsters to enjoy their local outdoor spaces and to care for them as well. We run field trips, create educational content, support environmental clubs and summer camps.  A small group of volunteers with education, environmental, and/or childcare experience supports the Education Coordinator, and many others are needed to help as we strive to grow our work towards serving all RSU21 schools.  A very fun way to volunteer is to chaperone one of the many field trips run and hosted by KCT - but there are many other ways to contribute to this program for anyone wanting to support the growth of our community’s next generation.

Community Education 

Do you have special outdoor, naturalist, or citizen science skills? Along with our local schools, KCT also aims to engage community members in outdoor and naturalists programs on our properties. Volunteering could include leading groups on walks, such as foraging or birding or helping to enlist and train additional docents. 

Trail Fest, community celebrations, potlucks, auctions, concerts and more! These are just some of the events sponsored by KCT and that are made possible by our volunteers.  Opportunities range from planning events to turning up on the day to greet people.  You might be taking tickets, directing traffic, preparing or serving food, setting up or breaking down.  We take as much or as little help as you are able to offer as everyone has a part to play.  This is a great way to connect with KCT members and the community.

Trail Fest is an annual highlight of the KCT calendar and an important fundraising event.  Taking place in fall, it offers runners and walkers timed races through KCT property trails and a place to gather, refresh and celebrate afterwards.  Volunteers plan and prepare every detail of the event from getting sponsorships to registering participants, from checking race courses to managing parking - and everything in between…  This is a fun, energized, all-hands-on-deck event and all volunteers will be found appropriate work according to their capacity!

The KCT gardens bring vibrant beauty to our headquarters on Gravelly Brook Road. Our dedicated garden volunteers work diligently throughout three seasons to maintain and expand these lovely spaces. Recently, we established two new gardens, and in 2025, we aim to enhance the Story Book Trail by refurbishing it and adding native plants and woodland flowers.

Additionally, our garden volunteers organize an annual fundraiser. While past events have featured plant sales, next year we will be excited to introduce a fresh and engaging concept!

We invite you to get involved—whether you want to lend a hand in the gardens or assist with our annual fundraiser. Your support can make a real difference!

KCT owns multiple islands off Cape Porpoise and maintains no-fee primitive campsites on three. Every year, hundreds of people - local and from outside Maine - take advantage of this opportunity to experience the islands in their pristine beauty, both for camping and daytrips. Our Island Stewards program relies on volunteers who journey to the island by small boat every few weeks from May through September to open and close the sites, pick up any trash, monitor fire pits, and perform other minimal maintenance. Only one of these islands is accessible without a boat, so as a steward you’ll be able to see the islands in all their perfection in a way few others can. Besides the beauty of the islands, you’ll have the satisfaction of hearing appreciative words from any campers and day-trippers you meet. You will also know that you are furthering understanding and support for the critical importance of maintaining our links to an unspoiled natural world.

Trips are scheduled on a first come-first served basis every few weeks based on tides and weather, with four people plus a pilot traveling in a 16-foot skiff owned by the KCT. You will need to be nimble enough to disembark from a boat into knee-deep water; other than that no particular skills are needed. Please go to kctislands.org to learn more about the islands and the camping experience.

The community labyrinth at Emmons Preserve is cared for by a small group of volunteers who enjoy the special space of the labyrinth itself.  From May to November, the work includes weeding & raking, planting and maintaining the integrity of the stones outlining the path.  Volunteers help when needed for special or group events - such as solar lighting the labyrinth before Christmas Prelude.  In general, the work can be done by a handful of people meeting for a few hours once per month.

KCT owns and maintains multiple structures such as the Headquarters, Leahy house, Clem Clark boathouse as well as the structures on Goat Island.  With each of these properties the needs vary… from mowing, cutting brush, to maintaining equipment and buildings.

We’d love to hear from you if you have GIS skills, some light carpentry experience, general knowledge of buildings and what is entailed to maintain them, or interest in mowing and landscaping, we’d love to hear from you!  Anyone with an open mind and a willingness to “chip in” would be appreciated.

The KCT Trail Stewards maintain approximately 30 miles of trails, bridges and boardwalks throughout the Trust properties. This is an active and fun group of volunteers that meet regularly year-round and weather permitting. We seek all skill levels from simple carpentry, trimming and clearing brush to clearing sticks and small branches from the trails. Whether building, clearing brush or scouting areas for new trails, one of the many satisfying aspects of the work is meeting members and visitors on the trails. Their generous praise, support and use of the trails makes all the hard work worthwhile!