Information for Prospective Hosts

Hosts are expected to provide housing for their intern if the intern does not live in the area of placement and needs housing. 

• Hosts should plan to allocate time to adequately supervise their intern. Many students will need regular guidance and oversight. 

• Provide a positive, varied learning experience. The hope is that this program should be a learning experience for the interns in addition to a positive experience for the participating organizations. The intern should receive varied stewardship and land conservation experiences, so they have the opportunity to learn about all facets of land conservation.  

• After student applications are due on January 31, 2027, MCHT will send each host a batch of applicants and the host will be responsible for interviewing and vetting the applicants.
• This process must take place as quickly as possible after receiving the applications in the interest of moving the program along and not losing applicants to other summer job opportunities.
• Hosts must notify the internship program manager of any complications, concerns, questions, offers, and acceptances throughout this process.

Hosts will teach their intern land trust procedures, goals and mission. Hosts will help them develop new skills (examples include monitoring easements, supervising volunteers, GPS, trail maintenance and planning, etc.) and expose them to the realities of land conservation. 

Hosts must carve out time to sit down with their student and complete the Intern and Host Expectation Form in the first week of the program. These forms are due to MCHT by June 11.

Hosts should be prepared to pay their interns the current federal reimbursement rate for mileage if the intern is required to travel to do their work. This also includes mileage reimbursement for group meetings, trainings, and the end of the program celebration.

Host land trusts should be prepared to complete and submit feedback forms by August 13, 2027.