ROCKPORT –Maine Coast Heritage Trust, a statewide land conservation organization, is offering teens paid internships through the Teen Ag Crew program to gain hands-on experience in sustainable agricultural practices and learn about their local food system from food production, processing and distribution to consumption and waste management. Ideal applicants will be independent, creative, hardworking teens ages 14-18 who have a desire to work as a team and learn new skills.

Teen Ag Crew interns will work part-time this spring and fall and full-time in the summer growing vegetables for food pantries and public schools at Erickson Fields Preserve, located at 164 West Street in Rockport.

MCHT's Teen Ag Crew has been an open door for many teens just entering the workforce. No previous farming experience is required. The work is both challenging and rewarding and contributes to the midcoast community by partnering with Good Shepherd Food Bank and other hunger relief initiatives to address food insecurity.

"Teen Ag Crew is a great first-time job," remarked Aaron Englander, Erickson Fields Farm Manager. "It gives teens the opportunity to make a positive impact on their community, expand their resumes, and expand their social circles beyond the walls of their schools."

Last year, MCHT employed students from MSAD 40, RSU 13 and MSAD 28. Sebastian Sanfilippo, one of two Oceanside High School students who made up the 9-member crew, commented, "I really liked the camaraderie of the whole group, persevering through challenges." Sebastian and the cre harvest 25,000 lbs of produce from their 4-acre garden that year.

The application deadline is Friday, April 13. Teens interested in applying may email jalbury@mcht.org or call 207-236-2739. More information about Maine Coast Heritage Trust and Erickson Fields Preserve can be found at www.mcht.org.