UNITY — More than 100 employers from Maine and New England spoke with students majoring in conservation and seeking sustainability careers and internships on Tuesday at Unity College.

Director of Career Services Nicole Collins said participation by employers has increased steadily. The event, held at the Tozier Gymnasium inside the Student Activities Center, aimed to connect students with employers in natural resource management, sustainability and outdoor businesses.

Staff photo by David Leaming Unity College student Shannon Johnson listens to park managers Fritz Appleby, left, and Matt McQuire of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry about employment opportunities during a career fair at the college on Tuesday.

Derek Ellis, left, a park ranger at Lake George Regional Park in Skowhegan, speaks about his work to Unity College alumnus Dave Hammond during a well-attended annual Environmental Jobs Fair on Tuesday. Staff photo by David Leaming

Staff photo by David Leaming Unity College student Sunshine Gardner tries to beat the top score in a popular punching bag event sponsored by the Maine Army National Guard during a career fair at the college on Tuesday. Gardner is majoring in adventure-based environmental education.

“A growing number of organizations are finding people at these career fairs who can do the work the environmental century demands,” Collins said.

Tuesday afternoon, Derek Ellis, a park ranger at Lake George Regional Park in Skowhegan, spoke about his work to Unity College alumnus Dave Hammond, who said he has a strong interest in park management and is exploring employment possibilities. Unity College student Shannon Johnson listened to park managers Fritz Appleby and Matt McQuire, of the Maine Department of Agriculture, Conservation and Forestry, about employment opportunities.

Some employers, such as L.L. Bean, ReVision Energy, DEW Animal Kingdom and Sun Dog Solar, offered live demonstrations of environmental work.

“In the environmental century, every employer — from GE and IBM to the smallest land trust or conservation nonprofit — needs people to integrate sustainability in their organizations,” Unity College President Dr. Melik Peter Khoury said in a statement.

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