07/09/2019 for Immediate Release
Old Lyme, CT: High Hopes Therapeutic Riding in Old Lyme, is pleased to announce that Chelsea Bourn will be joining the team as Program Director.
Chelsea moves to High Hopes from the Glenholme School in Washington, CT where, as Transition Program Director, she was responsible for the development and implementation of life-skills curriculum to young adults aged 18-22, with cognitive and emotional disabilities. Amongst many other achievements, she established an Equine Assisted Therapy Program at Glenholme.
In many ways, Chelsea is ‘returning home.’ From the age of 15, Chelsea was an “avid” volunteer in the High Hopes’ programs, living as she did at that time in Essex. “Although I began volunteering ‘selfishly’ for more time with the horses,” reflects Chelsea, “the time [I spent at High Hopes] eventually guided my professional ambitions.” During her undergraduate career, she completed two internships at High Hopes, one in Occupational Therapy and the other with Special Programs. “I am so happy to be joining the High Hopes’ team … I often joked that I wanted to ‘run summer camp year-round’ and so, experiential learning for people with disabilities became by primary career ambition.”
“We are delighted to welcome Chelsea back in this key position,” said Kitty Stalsburg, Executive Director. “Megan Ellis, our Program Director for the last three years is a hard act to follow, but we have no doubt that Chelsea will continue to build on all that Megan has achieved, as well as utilizing her extensive research career to keep High Hopes’ Programs at the leading edge of Therapeutic Horsemanship in the U.S. and beyond. She brings many strengths in applied behavior analysis, professional development for educators, individual education plans, scheduling, and developing vocational opportunities for students.”
Chelsea holds a Master of Arts in Human Development and Family Studies from the University of Connecticut and a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology with a minor in Special Education from Salve Regina University in Rhode Island. Since 2014, she has taught part-time as an Adjunct Instructor of General Psychology, Lifespan Development, and Child Development at Tunxis Community College.
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Notes for Editors
1. High Hopes is a premier therapeutic riding center and international instructor-training site, accredited by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship International (PATH Intl.) since 1979. We have served people with physical, emotional and developmental disabilities for more than forty years, offering year-round programs in equine assisted activities, including therapeutic riding, carriage driving and equine learning program. We also offer experiential learning through outreach programs, an integrated summer camp program and a variety of volunteer opportunities. High Hopes serves over 1800 people with disabilities each year, underwriting over 70% of all lesson costs and providing financial aid to 100% of our participants. – See more at: http://highhopestr.org/about/our-mission/
2. For more information or to arrange an interview with one of our Trustees or staff please contact: Sarah Crisp, Communications Manager Call: 860.434.1974 x 128
Email: scrisp@highhopestr.org