ECHO is a beloved Vermont staple offering the opportunity to learn about the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and grants opportunities to learn about, explore and participate in stewardship. With a strong initiative for equal learning opportunities and accessibility, this award-winning facility is the place to visit to engage with science.
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a comprehensive science and nature museum with over 100 interactive exhibits featuring 70 species of fish, reptiles and amphibians. Exhibits are hands on and designed to engage families in the wonders of science and nature.
ECHO has a mission to make science learning accessible to everyone and do so with their Open Door Access Program. With this program discounted admission vouchers are offered in partnership with more than 65 social service partners.
There are a number of interesting exhibits and of course animal enclosures with animals like snapping turtles, American eels, Dart frogs, gartersnakes and so much more. They even have a special exhibit of aquatic invasive species including zebra mussels, white perch, and koi. View their full animal list here.
Exhibits at ECHO are always changing and improving and cover a wide variety of areas.
Awesome Forces has a dozen interactive exhibits showcasing the processes that shaped the Lake Champlain Basin.
Champ Lane is the early learning exhibit for young learners complete with a tree house, slide, mock streetscape with a café, market, and puppet theater, a book nook, and the animal care kids lab.
Engineer It showcases engineering tasks and processes with a tinkering bench, test stations and changing challenges. The most recent (running through Oct. 30, 2024), challenges visitors to build a boat that floats and can hold the most weight without sinking.
Northfield Savings Bank 3d Theater shows movies every 30 minutes on a variety of different topics. Tickets are $3 for members and $5 for nonmembers.
The Baby Turtles Exhibit features a live aquarium with spiny softshell turtles, an endangered species native to Lake Champlain.
Frog World features the only non-native animals with 7 different species of frogs from around the world.
Wildlife Kayak Adventure presents the unique opportunity to travel down the river through Vermont’s Missisquoi National Wildlife Refuge.
There are also a variety of rotating exhibits throughout the year.
The current exhibit running from May 25, 2024 through January 5, 2025 is “The Pigeon Comes to Burlington – a Mo Willems Exhibit.” Through this exhibit, meet the lovable characters in Mo Willem’s world.
ECHO is open 10 am – 5 pm daily besides certain holidays.
Ticket prices are as follows:
Adults: $20.00
Students & Seniors: $18.00
Children (ages 3-17): $16.50
Children (ages 2 and under): Free
Members receive free admission.
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is located at 1 College Street, Burlington, Vermont 05401. For directions, click the button below.
Experience the science and natural wonders of Lake Champlain at ECHO via Amtrak to Burlington Station (BTN) via the Ethan Allen Express Route.
