Rutland County Head Start (RCHS) is now offering the Vermont Outdoor Adventure Program (VOAP) to our 3-5 year-old preschool students in Head Start classrooms. VOAP is an outdoor program led by Jim McCuen and his team from Rutland Mental Health Services (RMHS).
With parent permission, the guides lead children on regular outdoor trips to explore the wonders and beauty of Vermont’s natural landscapes. Recent trips have included hiking at White Rocks Recreation Area, and exploring alongside Wheelerville Brook in Mendon.
“We began offering outings to Head Start in 2010. These consisted only of clients from RMHS,” says McCuen. “This summer we began offering trips to all Pre-K attendees at Head Start.”
“VOAP counselors get kids moving and engaged in the great outdoors with the benefits of a therapeutic modality,” says Donna Barrow, Director of Rutland County Head Start and Early Head Start. “The response has been tremendous!”
The Vermont Outdoor Adventure Program of Rutland Mental Health Service’s Behavioral Health Division uses therapeutic, experiential and adventure-based activities to help children achieve their emotional and behavioral goals. VOAP is staffed by experienced wilderness guides and professional mental health counselors who provide therapeutic adventure-based programming throughout the year.
Rutland Mental Health Services is part of Community Care Network, the local parent agency for Rutland County Head Start. Community Care Network is a consortium of programs providing services for behavioral health, developmental disabilities, volunteer, and early childhood education to the greater Rutland Region.
To learn more about Vermont Outdoor Adventure Program offerings at Rutland County Head Start, call (802) 775-8225.
For more information on the RMHS VOAP program, call (802)775-2381.