Great Outdoor Summer Job Opportunity:\u00a0 <\/u><\/p>\n
2025 UMaine Extension Apple Orchard Scouts in Monmouth ME<\/p>\n
The University of Maine Cooperative Extension has two full-time summer positions available for apple orchard scouts.\u00a0 Start date is mid-May or soon thereafter.\u00a0 The end date is late-August.\u00a0 We are somewhat flexible for both start and end dates, and can also accommodate if a scout needs a few days off during the May-August scouting period.<\/p>\n
No academic or related work experience is required.\u00a0 Base pay is $15\/hour. \u00a0Scouts must have had a driver\u2019s license for two years.\u00a0 The apple scout route is based at the UMaine Highmoor Farm Agricultural Research Station at 52 Route 202, Monmouth ME.\u00a0 Scouts can begin and end workdays at a Cooperative Extension office in southern or central Maine that is closer to their residence to reduce travel time to and from work.\u00a0 (There are offices in every Maine county).\u00a0 Part of each day\u2019s work is reporting done from home.<\/p>\n
The scouts work as a pair or individually in a 4-day 40-hour work week.\u00a0 Training, vehicle, and gas are provided for travel to orchards in a weekly route through central and southern Maine between Newport and Sanford to inspect apple trees, check traps, and collect data.<\/p>\n
Scouts report observations to growers and to their supervisor by email and enter data into Excel.\u00a0 The data are also used to produce a statewide email newsletter sent to over 500 subscribers to help apple growers make decisions regarding pest management.\u00a0 This has been a great job for college students since 1989, with many scouts liking it so much they came back for second\u00a0and third years.\u00a0 Many have gone on to careers in agriculture, ag support\u00a0services\u00a0and\/or graduate degrees in biological sciences.\u00a0 If there is interest, the summer work could also be used as a summer internship for class credit.<\/p>\n