ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain Vermont's innovative science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront. Visit echovermont.org or call 877-324-6386.
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Come explore Vermont's innovative science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront. Discover over 100 interactive family experiences, 70 live species, seasonal changing exhibits, 3D movies, and more. Stop by the Champ Café for coffee, drinks, snacks, and the Museum Store for fun, educational toys.

✏️🎞️🎥 Excited to bring your stories to life? Animationland, our new exhibit, lets you create your own animated productio...
10/17/2025

✏️🎞️🎥 Excited to bring your stories to life? Animationland, our new exhibit, lets you create your own animated production through storyboarding, sketching, stop-motion moviemaking, and more! Open through January 4.

Thank you to our local sponsor, Northfield Savings Bank.

Note: Animationland was produced and is toured by the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, Oregon.

ECHO is deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Abele, one of our first board chairs and a visionary leader whose dedicat...
10/17/2025

ECHO is deeply saddened by the passing of Mary Abele, one of our first board chairs and a visionary leader whose dedication brought ECHO to life.

When the Museum was just a dream, Mary and John believed in what we could become. Their generosity provided essential support in our earliest days, but it was Mary's exceptional leadership that truly made the difference. She guided us through challenges, bringing wisdom, determination, and an unwavering commitment to our mission of connecting people with science and nature.

ECHO would not exist without Mary. Her legacy lives on in every child who discovers the wonder of Lake Champlain, every family that explores our exhibits, and every student inspired to ask questions about the natural world.

We are forever grateful for her vision and leadership. Our thoughts are with her family and all who knew and loved her.

🔔 Heads up, imagineers: registration for The Art of Animation Camp at ECHO is back open! Thank you for your patience as ...
10/16/2025

🔔 Heads up, imagineers: registration for The Art of Animation Camp at ECHO is back open! Thank you for your patience as we resolved some technical difficulties with the registration process.

Inspired by ECHO’s newest special exhibit, Animationland, get ready to dive into the amazing world of animation in this two-day camp. Explore the science of moving images and how our eyes perceive the world around us. Campers will make flip books, draw their own animations, and take advantage of the unique technology and interactive opportunities in the Animationland exhibit.

🗓️ November 24 & 25, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

🍎 Open to campers currently enrolled in grades K–3

🔗 Registration open NOW at https://www.echovermont.org/events-programs/camps/

If you experience any issues while registering, please reach out to our Camps team at [email protected]

See you soon!

🔔 UPDATE 10/16 at 3:10 pm: Registration for The Art of Animation is back open at https://www.echovermont.org/events-prog...
10/15/2025

🔔 UPDATE 10/16 at 3:10 pm: Registration for The Art of Animation is back open at https://www.echovermont.org/events-programs/camps/ . Thank you for your patience as we resolved some technical difficulties with the registration process.

Previous update 10/15 at 12:50 pm: Registration for The Art of Animation is temporarily paused due to technical difficulties. We are working on a solution and will update this post as soon as we have more information. We apologize for any inconvenience.

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🎨🎥 Ready, set, register! Registration is open NOW for our all-new November vacation camp: The Art of Animation!

Inspired by ECHO’s newest special exhibit, Animationland, get ready to dive into the amazing world of animation in this two-day camp. Explore the science of moving images and how our eyes perceive the world around us. Campers will make flip books, draw their own animations, and take advantage of the unique technology and interactive opportunities in the Animationland exhibit.

🗓️ November 24 & 25, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

🍎 Open to campers currently enrolled in grades K–3

See you there!

Breaking lake monster news... Join CHAMP, the mascot of the Vermont Lake Monsters, along with ECHO and ECHO's Champ, on ...
10/14/2025

Breaking lake monster news... Join CHAMP, the mascot of the Vermont Lake Monsters, along with ECHO and ECHO's Champ, on Friday, October 24, for a legendary Halloween celebration for all ages!

Note: Mascot CHAMP will be at ECHO 5:30-6:30 pm. Event goes until 7:30 pm.

Members (free) and general admission—see tickets in the link in the comments to RSVP.

Not a member? Join the ECHO Member family and come to the party for free! We have annual memberships for households of all sizes.

10/13/2025

🦕🔎 Today on Lake Monster Monday, we ask a scientist… Nina Ridhibhinyo, ECHO's Director of Programs and our very own in-house Champ Expert, discusses the possibility of the timing of Champ's arrival here as a plesiosaur. During the last ice age, this area was covered by a mile-high glacier. Therefore, the earliest Champ could have arrived here, was around 13,000 years ago, when the last glacier melted and ocean water flooded in, forming the Champlain Sea. The short-lived Champlain Sea was home to many marine animals, including beluga whales and seals. Over time, its salt water was replaced by fresh water, creating present-day Lake Champlain.

🍦⏰ The creemee countdown is on! This coming Tuesday, October 14, will be the last day before Champ’s Legendary Creemees ...
10/11/2025

🍦⏰ The creemee countdown is on! This coming Tuesday, October 14, will be the last day before Champ’s Legendary Creemees shuts down for the season. Thank you everyone, including best friends Elephant & Piggie, for stopping by to support us and ECHO this season. Every purchase went to supporting ECHO's mission of inspiring the joy of scientific discovery and the wonder of Nature.

Hours: Saturday 12–7 pm, Sunday 12–5 pm, Monday and Tuesday 11 am–5 pm.

We hope to see you in the next few days and if not, see you in May 2026!

🎥 Blast off to faraway galaxies and explore distant lands in ECHO's Dealer.com by Cox Automotive 3D Theater! With shows ...
10/10/2025

🎥 Blast off to faraway galaxies and explore distant lands in ECHO's Dealer.com by Cox Automotive 3D Theater! With shows starting every 30 minutes, your next adventure is only a short wait away. You can find the full schedule and watch trailers at https://www.echovermont.org/about-echo/theater/

One week from today, we’re turning up the fright factor and kicking off our all-new 18+ events series with ECHO After Da...
10/09/2025

One week from today, we’re turning up the fright factor and kicking off our all-new 18+ events series with ECHO After Dark: The Science of Fear. Think you have what it takes to overcome your fears and complete the ritual before the night is up?

🐍 Come face-to-face with snakes, bugs, heights, death, and knowing in our five-part ritual for a chance to win a devilish reward.

🏆 Compete for one of three prestigious prizes in our After Dark Costume Contest emceed by Rhedd Rhumm and judged by local experts from Nightmare Vermont and Lyric Theatre Company

📷 Snap a photo with Vermont’s favorite local monster and a surprise guest creature

📽️ Enjoy films with the fish in Into the Lake where we’re screening a double feature of classic horror flicks

Plus, pop outside to the Southern Smoke VT food truck for mouth-watering local BBQ or head upstairs to the Death Cafe and satiate your thirst at a cash bar hosted by Sugarsnap

Ready to face your fears? Get your tickets now at the link in the comments.

🎧 Join us for Sensory-Friendly Sunday this weekend on Sunday, October 12! From 9-10 am, admission is FREE for anyone wit...
10/08/2025

🎧 Join us for Sensory-Friendly Sunday this weekend on Sunday, October 12! From 9-10 am, admission is FREE for anyone with sensory-processing differences. The museum will be closed to the general public, and lighting and sounds will be adjusted to allow visitors to enjoy the museum in a calm environment. Interact with ECHO’s exhibits, visit the live animals, and access our KultureCity sensory backpacks! See the link in comments to RSVP.

🎨🎥 ECHO Campers, get ready for the best November Vacation ever! Registration opens next Wednesday, October 15, for our a...
10/07/2025

🎨🎥 ECHO Campers, get ready for the best November Vacation ever! Registration opens next Wednesday, October 15, for our all-new vacation camp: The Art of Animation.

Inspired by ECHO’s newest special exhibit, Animationland, get ready to dive into the amazing world of animation in this two-day camp! Explore the science of moving images and how our eyes perceive the world around us. Campers will make flip books, draw their own animations, and take advantage of the unique technology and interactive opportunities in the Animationland exhibit.

📋 Registration opens Wednesday, October 15 at noon

🍎 Open to campers currently enrolled in grades K–3

10/06/2025

🦕🔎 Mark Henderson, Research Associate Professor, at UVM Rubenstein School, talks about the different activities scientists would undertake to prove the existence of Champ. Scientists require direct physical evidence to officially recognize a new species.

So far, all evidence for Champ is indirect, including numerous eyewitness accounts, images, and possible sound recordings. Creatures like the giant squid, okapi, and platypus were once dismissed as myths by Western science but were accepted as real species after physical specimens were discovered and studied.

Come see more at our Champ: America’s Lake Monster exhibit at ECHO!

Address

1 College Street
Burlington, VT
05401

Opening Hours

Monday 10am - 5pm
Tuesday 10am - 5pm
Wednesday 10am - 5pm
Thursday 10am - 5pm
Friday 10am - 5pm
Saturday 10am - 5pm
Sunday 10am - 5pm

Telephone

(802) 864-1848

Website

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Our Story

ECHO is an innovative science and nature museum located on the Burlington, Vermont waterfront and overlooks Lake Champlain and the Adirondack Mountains.

Our mission is to inspire and engage families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain. We are a nonprofit organization dedicated to fostering a science-savvy community where people and nature thrive together.

Through more than 100 interactive exhibits; 70 species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians; major changing exhibits; a 2,500-square foot early learning interactive space; ECHO encourages visitors to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and to explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship. This work is delivered by a dedicated team of 27 staff, 175 volunteers and interns who serve more than 16,000 volunteer hours per year, and more than 45 community partners. ECHO is home to a consortium of organizations working for public and academic engagement in science: the Lake Champlain Basin Program; the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory and research vessel; US Sea Grant Watershed Alliance; and the Lake Champlain Navy Memorial located in Hoehl Park.

Visit our website for more information: www.echovermont.org