Meet The Participants

Learning Adventure provides care for up to 26 children ages 3-10 in their learning facility located at 12 John Stark Road in South Hero. Director Elaine Chasse writes, “I would like my program to participate in the Apprenticeship Program because I would like to have staff with more qualifications. With more education/qualifications our program’s quality increases. This Program is a great opportunity to get more qualifications while considering time and financial challenges of those in the field."

Apprentice Melinda Bellows started work at Learning Adventure in 1998. Prior to this, she spent some time as a volunteer teacher’s aide at a parent cooperative preschool. It was here that she discovered her love of working with children. Melinda writes about the program, “I feel this will give me a new self-confidence in myself and my work that I did not have before.”

Mentor Elaine Chasse has a BA in Elementary Education earned in 1991. She received her Early Education endorsement in 2006 from the VT Department of Education, working with the Vermont Higher Education Collaboration Program at the University of Vermont. Currently the owner and director at Learning Adventure, Elaine is coaching apprentice Melinda as she progresses through the training program. She is excited to learn how to share her knowledge and experience is a clear effective manner. In addition, she supports the Apprenticeship Program because of the benefits it brings to the children. Elaine writes, “I believe that any child benefits from more experienced and knowledgeable caregivers. Experience and knowledge help a child to be part of an environment that is age appropriate, with expectations that are reasonable, and unfold a curiosity and desire in children that help them to be partners in their own education/care giving.”