LAMH Staff
At Learn at Morse Hill, we offer hands-on, project-based education with programs that focus on the whole child and support optimum learning experiences. Our staff of qualified, passionate educators, low student-to-teacher ratio, and individual attention provide an exceptional learning environment.
Corinne Shaw, Founder
Corinne lives her life with the goal to foster a safe space where all people feel free to be who they are. She is an expert at creating and cultivating a community who share a common vision. Corinne is a flexible educator with almost two decades of experience partnering with children and their families to create optimal physical and emotional experiences for growth and development. She began her career in education at a local home daycare (nature-based, whole food/vegan philosophy) in Leverett before opening her own daycare Free To Be. She has twelve years of experience owning and operating the Waldorf inspired nature based home daycare. After needing to close the daycare due to COVID-19 last spring she decided to see it as an opportunity to implement a dream she has had to open an outdoor learning program for elementary aged children.
Corinne grew up in Leverett in a family devoted to outside activities year round. She has attended Morse Hill since her mother opened the program when Corinne and her siblings were children. She grew up attending and then working at the camp. She knew Morse Hill would provide the perfect landscape for her vision. She created a team and has worked to bring to life her dream and is thrilled to be able to start sharing it with children and families.
Corinne lives with her family in Northampton and has a passion for the outdoors, creating, learning, crafting, animals and making the world a better place.
Teaching Team
Jess Evans
Jess is a versatile educator who holds a bachelor’s degree in Early Childhood Education and was recently accepted into the Children, Families, and Schools graduate program at the University of Massachusetts. Most recently, she has taught preschool-aged students at UMASS’s Center for Early Education and Care. Previously, she has worked with infants, toddlers, preschoolers, and elementary-aged children in a variety of settings. Jess is also a nature educator who has hosted walks and programs for individuals and family groups across Western Massachusetts and beyond. Jess is First Aid/CPR certified.
Jess and her eleven-year-old daughter Mariella live in Shutesbury, MA and enjoy a wide range of outdoor activities. Jess is an avid hiker who loves to get out on the many trails of the Pioneer Valley, including on snowshoes in the deep winter. She is also deeply interested in studying wild mushrooms and forest ecology and has been the president of the Pioneer Valley Mycological Association since 2018: a non-profit club that leads mushroom walks and offers educational programs throughout Western Massachusetts.
Jess is a nature photographer whose work has been exhibited at Arcadia Wildlife Sanctuary in Easthampton, MA and The Bower Studio in Amherst, MA. Her love for mushrooms and other tiny aspects of the forest lead her to notice and capture these wonders on film.
Jess and Ella also enjoy vegetable gardening, doing puzzles, sewing, and spending time with their two fluffy cats, Peanut and Bruce.
Jess is our primary learning facilitator this yearalso serves as a member of the LAMH Leadership Team.
Dana Kurpaska
Dana has been a part of the Morse Hill Outdoor Education Center family since 2012 as a junior and then senior counselor for the summer adventure camps, among other roles. He is a class of 2014 graduate of Amherst Regional High School and studied engineering at UMass Amherst.
Dana lives with his family and golden retriever Haley in Pelham, MA and grew up locally. He enjoys snowboarding, mountain biking, hiking and climbing.
Dana is passionate about outdoor and adventure education. To be able to inspire love for the outdoors as a part of one's job is a very rewarding experience. He is excited to be working with Learn at Morse Hill and joining them on their adventures academic and beyond.