Looking for What's Next? Serve with LSLT Through AmeriCorps
- Brooke Orr
- Jun 27
- 3 min read
Two years ago, I walked across the stage at Salisbury University with an Environmental Studies degree in hand and one overwhelming question on my mind: What's next?
Like many recent graduates, I was riddled with this anxiety of not having everything figured out. My plan was simple: apply to every environmental job I could find while splitting my time between my Salisbury apartment, whose lease was quickly expiring, and my parents' home across the Bay Bridge.
Just days after graduation, I received an email from my favorite professor encouraging his graduates to apply to this organization with a funky name, AmeriCorps.I thought there was no harm in trying and put my professor down as a reference (not then knowing he was the Board President of where I would end up).
What resulted from the 30 minutes it took me to apply was six interviews with local environmental nonprofits all looking for someone to help them. I got so much experience interviewing that I felt like a pro which was a big deal for someone who gets intense butterflies for any event that is just slightly bigger than a casual hangout with friends.
Upon interviewing with the six different AmeriCorps organizations and many places back at home, I had a comfortable number of offers on the table - not a bad spot to be in! No matter how many pros and cons lists I made or how much my mom wanted me to move back home and be close, I couldn’t stop thinking about my interview with a small organization that sat right on the Pocomoke River - Lower Shore Land Trust (LSLT).
During my interviews with LSLT, I didn’t feel like I was being interviewed for a set position I would be boxed into. Instead, I felt like I would have the freedom to explore different areas and help shape my own role. My coworkers assured me that I would get to work alongside every colleague, gaining experience in management, communications, restoration, conservation, stewardship, grant writing, and so much more - A dream to a recent grad who has no clue what they want to do.
At the end of my decision-making process, I knew LSLT was where I wanted to be. I didn’t choose the highest-paying offer, and I’ve never once regretted that decision because I chose the place where I knew I could make the greatest impact. I have since secured a full-time position with LSLT, stepped into the role as coordinator of the Delmarva Restoration Conservation Network, become a member of the City of Salisbury’s Sustainability Advisory Committee, assisted in the planning and planting of over 10 native habitats locally, and created a community I hold dear to me.
Last year LSLT was lucky enough to welcome Lauren Imhof, our current AmeriCorps member to the team. We have shared an office and gotten so close that we’re now roommates! However, as her service year at LSLT ends, her desk will soon be empty, yet there is still SO much to be done!
This is why LSLT is seeking to add not one, but TWO AmeriCorps members to our organization for the 2026-2027 service year. If you're a recent graduate, have a passion for conservation, enjoy working outdoors, or are simply searching for what's next, I encourage you to apply.
I never expected that a 30-minute application would lead me to a career and a community that feels like home, but that's exactly what happened. If you're on the fence about AmeriCorps and would like to hear firsthand about the organization, please don't hesitate to reach out to me at Brooke Orr (borr@lslt.org).
