In June of 2006, Libra Future Fund launched a new initiative, Summer in Maine, which seeks to promote internship opportunities and create a network of interns who can experience all that living in Maine has to offer. Internships provide a unique opportunity for college students to gain valuable experience, make professional connections in Maine, and introduce them to Maine as a potential place to live and work.

Building upon successes from prior years, the Summer in Maine program grew to 75 interns at 8 different employers. Activities from 2009 included a dinner at the Portland Country Club with some of the most prominent business leaders in Maine, an overnight whitewater rafting trip on the Kennebec River, and a barbecue at Pineland Farms in New Gloucester.

Organizations affiliated with Summer in Maine 2009 were:

CIEE: Council on International Educational Exchange, Portland
Gulf of Maine Research Institute, Portland
IDEXX Laboratories, Westbrook
L.L.Bean, Freeport
Maine Medical Center Research Institute, Portland
MaineHealth, Portland
Pineland Farms, New Gloucester
TD Bank, Portland

Internships:

While Summer in Maine actively promotes internships in various industries throughout Maine, selection of candidates for those positions is left to the discretion of the individual employers. Interns involved with Summer in Maine are employees-at-will of their respective organizations. While we do not actively recruit or hire interns, we may be able to refer candidates to affiliated internship opportunities. Students interested in this may contact Libra Future Fund.

Why an employer would want to take part in Summer in Maine:

• Recruit bright college students to your organization
• Increased exposure for your company
• Unsurpassed summer experience for your interns at virtually no cost
• Strengthen your internship program
• Promote Maine to talented young people and contribute to the growth of Maine’s economy

Why an intern would want to take part in Summer in Maine:

• Opportunity to test out a career in a specific industry and make professional connections
• Participate in a first-rate internship
• Meet other people, share experiences and make new friends
• Experience some of the awesome things that living in Maine has to offer
• Tear down class IV rapids on the Kennebec River

Co-directors:

Sean Dugan
Erik Hayward

Employers and students interested in Summer in Maine may contact Erik Hayward at 207-879-6280.