Webster Groves School District Adventure Club Timeline

1982  Mick Anderson, Director of Community Education forms a task force involving parents representing each elementary school to set guidelines for a pilot program to be held at Bristol Primary. The project grew out of a survey sent to parents on programs for School Age children and would operate year-round to include before and after school, half-day kindergarten, winter and  spring break, summer and would close only on national holidays.

1983   Mary Ruth Musick was hired as a full time staff person to pilot the program. It began with 35 students and 2 part time teachers with a budget of $40,000. Ms. Musick named it Adventure Club because she knew it would be an adventure.  The concept of School Age care was revolutionary. In fact, no other area school districts provided this service at this time.

1984   The Adventure Club program expanded to all elementary schools in the district to include the sixth grade center. Children were able to attend Adventure Club in their home schools. The enrollment for school year and summer programs doubled and then tripled.

1986   Ms. Musick developed an extensive summer enrichment program at Bristol Primary.  Children had the opportunity to choose from a wide array classes such as first aid, sewing, gardening, calligraphy, African and Native American Culture and more.

1987   Webster Groves Adventure Club program became the first school-aged program in Missouri to receive voluntary accreditation from the Missouri Department of Elementary and Secondary Education.

1988   Adventure Club has been the model for Rockwood, Blue Springs School Districts and the 4-H programs at the University of Missouri-Columbia as well as in school districts in New York and South Carolina, and aboard.

1993   Adventure Club is instrumental in helping to organize The Missouri School Age Care Coalition. A staff member for Adventure Club serves on the first elected board.

1994   Adventure Club has 500 elementary students enrolled out of 3,000 in the district, a staff of up to 40 and a budget of $702,000.

Adventure Club is instrumental in helping forming the National School Age Care Alliance. The first National School Age Conference is in St. Louis.

1997   Kim Demling accepts the position as the first full time Childcare Coordinator, ensuring that Adventure Club programs continue to strive for excellence not only through the summer but also during the school year.

Ilene Shore becomes the Childcare Coordinator and during her tenure she advocated for more staff development and training opportunities.

1999   Leadership and structural changes occur; Renee Joiner becomes the first Director of Early Years Education. Her responsibilities include the management of Adventure Club, as well as Parents as Teachers, and the Early Childhood Education Centers. During Mrs. Joiner’s term she implemented technology advancements for all 6 sites by ordering at least 1 new computer for each school that include math, reading and science software.

Janice Thompson and Patrice Norman become Co-Childcare Coordinators. They divide their leadership roles to ensure coverage of all six sites in an efficient and prudent manner.

2000   Winter Break Millennium celebration is kicked off at Hudson Elementary. Participants celebrate with a parade and voyaged via Metro-Link to downtown St. Louis, to appear live on KSDK-TV channel 5 Show Me St. Louis program.

2001 Leadership changes occur; Janice Thompson becomes Program Coordinator for all 6 schools. Marty Baker joins the program as the Director of Early Years Education. Ms. Baker introduces thematic kits to the program. Adventure Club staff developed and implemented 50+ kits that range from Kitchen Chemistry to Recreation.

Susan Horn becomes the first Assistant Director of Early Years Education.

2002   October 12^th Adventure Club participates for the first time in the 3^rd Annual Lights on After-School Event that promotes awareness, support, and advocates for more After School programs nationwide. The celebration brings families, staff and administrators from across the district together for an evening of dinner, karaoke, bingo and a silent auction at Clark Elementary.

2003   Oct 13^th Webster Groves Adventure Club invites the community, families, staff, and administrators past and present to help celebrate 20 years of keeping the Lights on After-School. Happy 20^th Anniversary!

Webster Groves Board of Education honors the program with a resolution expressing its appreciation for the program and staff for all of its good work. Adventure Club continues to grow and thrive in the Webster Groves School District.

2006   Julie Wuch becomes the new Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education Center.

2007   On November 16, 2007 the Adventure Club Program chosen as the 2007 United Cerebral Palsy Employer of the year in recognition of ongoing support of UPC’s Employment Resource program. On December 10^th Webster Groves School Board commends the Adventure Club Program for being UPC’s employer of the year. The program continues to operate year round and currently serves 375+ children.

2008   Adventure Club will celebrate 25 years of service to the Families and Community of Webster Groves School District.

2010   Adventure Club continues to grow and plans to serve the Webster Groves School Community for another 25 years! Merlene Gilb becomes the new Assistant Directory of The Early Childhood Education Center.

2011   The Early Childhood Education Center; which include Adventure Club, the Pre-school and Parents as teachers is recognized by the Missouri School Board Future Builders Foundation Early Childhood Program of the year. Merlene Gilb becomes the new Assistant Director of Early Childhood Education Center.