Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: FRIDAY, October 22, 1993                   TAG: 9310230238
SECTION: CURRENT                    PAGE: NRV8   EDITION: NEW RIVER VALLEY 
SOURCE: VICTORIA CARROLL CORRESPONDENT
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Medium

RAINBOW RIDERS SEEKS TO OFFER MORE THAN DAY CARE

But their scores are lower when it comes to providing quality programs to help the children in their care develop .

``Day care has to be more than just a place where a child is dropped off and picked up again,'' explains Gail Olinger, a teacher at Rainbow Riders Childcare Center in Blacksburg.

Olinger is among eight mentor teachers working under a state grant to educate area day care providers.

For a second year, the Virginia Council on Child Day Care and Early Childhood Programs has selected Rainbow Riders as one of five model centers in the state to receive an $80,000 grant for education.

Rainbow Riders uses the grant money to mentor and assist other New River Valley child care providers.

Under the conditions of the grant, Rainbow Riders selects seven child care centers for training.

``Each center that we work with gets an individualized training workshop that's just for them that goes for nine months,'' says Lynn Hill, Rainbow Riders owner and manager of the grant.

Each of the seven centers receives $1,000 for supplies and equipment. The grant also pays for mentor teachers, substitute teachers at the centers, guest speakers and other expenses.

At Rainbow Riders, the trainees team up with mentor teachers like Olinger.

Mentor teachers also visit trainees after the classes are over.

``It's a lot of work,'' says mentor teacher Katherine Bucca. ``But by helping to educate other people, we're benefitting children and parents, too.''

Mentors say they also benefit from the experience.

``It's built our self-esteem and our sense of professionalism,'' Hill said. ``It's just been incredibly empowering to share your ideas and to see people take those ideas and use them ....''

She estimates that the grant program touched the lives of almost 1,000 area children last year. As many more children could benefit this year.