Overview
The Peconic Land Trust is one of the most consequential conservation organizations on Long Island — and one of the few that genuinely puts families, students, and young farmers to work alongside its staff. This isn't observation from a distance. Whether your child is pulling invasive plants from a nature preserve, watching a shorebird survey unfold at the water's edge, or spending nine months learning to manage an organic farm from seed to harvest, the science here is real and the stakes are real. Nearly 14,000 acres of farmland, woodland, and wetland protected since 1983 because people showed up.
Volunteering Puts Your Child in the Field (All Ages)
The Trust's volunteer program spans a wide range of activities, and most of them get you outside fast. Stewardship work includes planting beach grass, removing invasive species and installing native plants, repairing fence lines, and maintaining trails across the Trust's preserves. Office-side opportunities exist too — helping with mailings, research, and outreach — but for a curious kid, the field work is where it clicks. Younger volunteers are welcome with parental participation.
Events Connect Families to the Land (All Ages)
Throughout the year, the Trust runs its "Connections" programming — a calendar of educational events designed to bring people closer to the landscapes around them. Past events have included shorebird nature walks, dairy farm tours at Mecox Bay, and transplanting days at Quail Hill Farm. The range is intentional: some events are quiet and observational, others are hands-on. Check the calendar at peconiclandtrust.org/get-involved/events for what's coming up — the lineup shifts seasonally and specific dates aren't locked far in advance.
The Apprenticeship Is the Real Thing (Ages 18+)
For older students and young adults seriously considering farming or food systems work, Quail Hill Farm's Advanced Apprenticeship is worth knowing about. This is a nine-month paid position, March through November, on the Trust's 30-acre organic CSA farm in Amagansett. Up to three apprentices are accepted each year.
The program is specifically designed to bridge the gap between early farm experience and the management skills required for more advanced positions. Apprentices cycle through every essential rotation — propagation, transplanting, CSA management, harvest coordination, post-harvest handling, cut flower harvest and arranging — and typically log 30–50 hours of tractor operation. Alongside the field work, apprentices receive paid classroom instruction from farm staff, Peconic Land Trust staff, and regional food systems leaders, and develop individualized learning goals with hands-on coaching throughout the season.
Application & Eligibility
The apprenticeship requires a formal application and is designed for beginning farmers who have had at least one prior farm experience and are ready to take on more responsibility.