Teacher learns from wild horses

David Kitchen on Shackleford Banks.

It was a far cry from a crowded classroom, but a great learning experience for a Norwell High School teacher who spent two weeks researching wild horse behavior on a southern island.

David Kitchen, science teacher at Norwell High, participated in an expedition on Shackleford Banks, a barrier island near Beaufort, N.C., funded by a grant from the Sheehan Family Foundation in Kingston through the Earthwatch Institute.

The team collected and analyzed data as part of a project to determine the effects of population control on herd relationships. The research is led by Jessa Madosky, a PhD candidate at the University of New Orleans, Kitchen said.

"This was an exciting opportunity to see firsthand the lessons I teach my students in class," he said. "What I learned in the field will help me provide real-world examples of animal behavior and the interaction between people and animals. The social dynamics of wild horses is more complex than I imagined."

The team camped on the island and spent days looking for, identifying, and recording the behavior of approximately 130 horses. All resources had to be carried into camp and participants spent eight to 10 hours a day in the field.

TRUSTEES TAKE TOP AWARDS FOR PUBLICATIONS: The Trustees of Reservations, the nation's oldest statewide land trust and nonprofit conservation organization, with field operations and its education and outreach center at Moose Hill Farms in Sharon, came away with top honors from the Society of National Association Publications' EXCEL Awards Gala in Washington, D.C. The awards honor the best and the brightest in association publishing. More than 1,200 magazines, newsletters, scholarly journals, electronic publications, and websites were entered in this year's competition.

The Trustees of Reservations received a Gold award for its 2007 annual report; another Gold for General Excellence of Editorial Products; a Silver Award for its member magazine, Special Places; and an EXTRA! Award for the annual report, which the judges called "visually stunning."

The annual report team included Melanie Ingalls of Sharon, vice president for education and outreach; Laurie O'Reilly of Watertown, communications director; and Kate Wollensak of Sterling, creative director.

YOUTH OF THE YEAR: Mary Driscoll of Marshfield has been named Youth of the Year by the Boys and Girls Club of Marshfield, a 1,000-member organization. Driscoll, a 2008 graduate of Marshfield High School, volunteered at the club for four years before becoming a staff member and has worn many hats there, including program assistant to the treasurer of the Keystone Club, tutor in the Power Hour program, and mentor in the Go Girl Go program. Driscoll will attend Bridgewater State College this fall and work toward a degree in elementary education, she said, with a minor in social work.

BUSINESS BRIEFS: Stephen M. Pratt has been named chief executive officer at My Turn Inc., a youth development agency with headquarters in Brockton. He replaces Barbara A. Duffy, the agency's co-founder and CEO. Prior to taking the helm at My Turn, a nonprofit organization, Pratt was principal at Impact Catalysts, a management consultant firm that specializes in helping nonprofit boards and leaders serve their core clientele. My Turn is a community-based agency that works with 14- to 21-year-olds in and out of school to develop goals, skills, and confidence to transition into post-secondary education or training and the world of work.

Erica Boyle of Scituate has started a company, Renewable Energy Systems LLC, offering solar hot-water and heating technology and systems. For 15 years, she was operator and proprietor of Morning Glories Bakery in Scituate.

Following the sale of her bakery in 2005, she studied environmental science at the University of Massachusetts at Boston, an area that captured her interest, she said. The new business provides solutions for residents and businesses seeking to lower fuel consumption costs.

Paul E. Kandarian can be reached at pkandarian@aol.com.