Hannah Chamberlain has had some hands-on experience in land conservation.

In 2015, she hiked the entire Appalachian Trail — from Georgia to Maine. Starting in April, it took her a mere five months and six days. After her journey, she went to work for the AT Conservancy, helping to protect the land while building and maintaining trails and coordinating volunteers.

Now Chamberlain, who grew up in Massachusetts and studied environmental science at the University of Massachuetts Amherst, is putting her knowledge and experience to good use in Maine. On Oct. 19, she was named the land steward of Midcoast Conservancy, a non-profit environmental conservation organization based in Wiscasset.

The organization was formed in January to encompass four other organizations: the Damariscotta Lake Watershed Association, Hidden Valley Nature Center in Jefferson, the Sheepscot Valley Conservation Association and the Sheepscot Wellspring Land Alliance.

The mission of the conservancy is to “support and promote healthy lands, waters, wildlife and people in the mid coast through conservation, education and recreation.” It protects around 6,500 acres of land, either through direct ownership or private parcels, working with the land owners.

Chamberlain's duties include stewarding around 60 miles of trails, working to manage and promote the lands the conservancy protects, while helping to identify new conservation projects.

Chamberlain said there will be groomed ski trails at HVNC during the winter, as well as plenty of trails to hike, there, and at the Sheepscot Valley Watershed in Whitefield and Alna, “all the way up to the headwaters near Montville.”

A community-supported organization, the conservancy has a strong volunteer group, and it can always use more. Chamberlain said there are a lot of opportunities for trail work, water quality testing and taking part in events, like the annual Live Edge Music Festival at HVNC.

Other than coming to Maine for a couple vacations — hiking Katahdin and Acadia, and to visit her brother when he attended Chewonki Semester School, Chamberlain said she hadn't spent a lot of time here. But she said she’s excited about her new job.

“I love my career because it allows me to be outside and enjoy nature, but I still get to spend a lot of time with people. I'm especially inspired by Midcoast Conservancy's group of volunteers. They are passionate, dedicated people and I am really grateful to get to know them through my work.

“The Appalachian Trail made me realize — in a very tangible way — that if you work every day toward a goal, you will be able to accomplish that goal — even if at times it seems like an impossible task ... I became even more grateful for the wilderness that we have here in the U.S.

In the summer months, the conservancy has a secondary office on Damariscotta Lake in Jefferson, where many of its water quality programs are based.

Chamberlain believes we sometimes take protected lands for granted. “But so much work went into making the Appalachian Trail a wilderness experience — and now all Americans can enjoy it. I think of that in Midcoast Conservancy's work as well. We are working to ensure that midcoast Maine will have beautiful, wild places for the generations of people who come after us to enjoy.”

The public is welcome to stop by the Midcoast Conservancy offices at 36 Water Street in Wiscasset Monday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. A new website will be launched in a few weeks.

Call (207) 389-5150 for more information.