Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Georgia Professional Development Spotlight: To Maine and Back
Darlington School: Private Boarding School in Rome, GA
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Professional Development Spotlight: To Maine and Back

Owen Kinney | September 27, 2016 | 296 views

With the help of a generous grant from Darlington’s Thatcher Master Teacher Fund, our family traveled nearly 4,000 miles in search of learning opportunities and teaching insights. Our journey included visits to a University of Michigan field station, the wilds of central Pennsylvania, Bar Harbor in Maine, and Washington D.C.  The two-week experience provided professional development opportunities in the realms of scientific field research, natural history observation, and creative technologies.

 

The first leg of the journey took us to the Edwin S. George Reserve (ESGR), a research station of the University of Michigan. The 1300-acre tract of undisturbed forest has hosted numerous field studies since the 1930’s, including a 55 year-long mark-recapture study of three freshwater turtle species (1953-2008). The goal of our visit was to reinstate the data collection process for these turtles after an 8-year hiatus. Starting as a college student in 1994, I have spent 15 summers working at the ESGR on research related to the population demography and evolutionary biology of turtles as well as the effects of wetlands policies on semi-aquatic life. My oldest son, Ian, and I joined a team of scientists on a mission to re-survey the turtle population, collect blood samples for genetic analyses, and assess the impact of invasive plants on nesting areas. We also used unmanned aerial vehicles to collect baseline images for habitat restoration plots. Over the past 20 years, my work with this group of colleagues has kept me connected with the professional research community and has allowed me to continue publishing impactful ecological research. The results from turtle studies on the ESGR are used throughout the world to manage and protect long-lived species, including sturgeon, sea turtles, and even sharks.

 

After fulfilling our research objectives in Michigan, we headed deep into the State Forests of central Pennsylvania in search of Wood turtles. We spent two days assisting with field research and hiking along the unspoiled trout streams that support one of the last remaining populations of this rare species. Because of over-collection for the international pet trade and habitat loss, wood turtles are becoming critically endangered across their range in the northeast. The goals of this study are to identify essential habitats of the Wood turtle, assess reproductive biology of natural populations, and to determine the ability of smaller populations to rebound if illegal trade is curtailed.

 

After a very long drive, we arrived at our northernmost destination-  Bar Harbor, Maine.  After an emergency stop at the L.L. Bean outlet to purchase winter coats, we enjoyed unseasonably (but refreshingly) cool temperatures. The rocky coastlines and rich coniferous forests of Acadia National Park afforded us amazing opportunities for wildlife viewing, photography, and hiking. However, the highlight of the trip was a whale watching expedition into the Gulf of Maine. As the temperatures at sea dipped into the low forties and blistering winds tossed the ocean, we spotted Atlantic Puffins, Razorbills, and King Eiders in the white caps. We also spotted gray seals as they bobbed up to check out our boat. The greatest sightings, however, were a pod of four Fin whales (2nd largest animal that has ever lived on Earth) and two Humpbacks breaching the surface within 60 feet of our boat.

 

On our return south, we stopped for three days in our nation’s capital. The first stop on our itinerary was the Fab Lab in downtown Washington D.C. Fab Labs are part of a global network of MakerSpaces focusing on digital fabrication and the connections between Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics (STEAM). After a meeting with the Director of the lab, we enjoyed a two-hour visit with several artists and engineers that lead programs at the facility. We learned a great deal about how to expand the impact of our MakerSpace at Darlington. As enrollment in our Design Thinking and Robotics classes grows and new creative opportunities in the I-periods emerge, we hope to build more connections among the “makers” in our school and local community.  The remainder of our time in DC was spent speed walking among the various museums and the National Mall. There was so much to see and so much to learn.

 

I want to extend a great big THANK YOU on behalf of our family to the Thatcher family for their generous support of our professional development. The opportunities to travel to the places and to experience the concepts that we share with students each day are what make Darlington such a great place to teach.