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OVERNIGHTS |
Beneath the
glow of aquarium lights, children glide into a sea of sleeping
bags as the call of the American bull frog echoes across
the room. Above their heads the fossil remains of a beluga
whale drifts in and out of focus. Tonight, they have experienced
one of childhood’s seminal events: a night at the ECHO Lake
Aquarium and Science Center! |
 What
Happens
Groups arrive after ECHO has closed to the public and have exclusive
access to our exhibit halls. Afterwards, the evening’s scheduled
activities begin with a whole-group welcome presentation. Small
groups then rotate between a series of 2 hands-on workshops, with
a break for an evening snack.
At 11:15 p.m., participants will set-up their sleeping bags for
lights-out at 11:30 p.m. Following a light breakfast the next
morning, the groups have additional time to explore ECHO and purchase
souvenirs from our gift shop before departure at 9:00 a.m.
What’s Included:
- Private access to ECHO’s exhibits
- Live animal demonstrations
- 2 exciting, hands-on workshops
- Evening snack
- Unique camp-in experience among our exhibit spaces
- Light breakfast
- ECHO Overnights patch
Groups:
ECHO Overnights are intended for supervised groups of 2nd-8th
graders. We require a chaperone-to-child ratio of 1:7. For additional
information and specials for your specific group, please see below:
School Groups: ECHO will subsidize
1 student for every 7 students registered.
Scout Groups: ECHO is happy to tailor
program activities to support individual troops’ badge-related
goals.
Other Youth Groups: ECHO is the perfect
venue for orientations and end-of-year celebrations.
Rates:
$40/person for groups of 40-100
(ECHO will work to pair small groups together in order to help
them meet the minimum group size)
Or
$1550 flat rate for groups fewer than 40
Booking Your Overnight
Overnights are booked Thursday–Saturday throughout the school year. Call 802.864.1848 ext 142 or email overnights@echovermont.org to inquire about availability.
Share this information: view/download our
Overnights Brochure.
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Sample
Schedule
6:30 p.m. - Check-in/Free Exploration of Museum
7:00 p.m. - Welcome/Live Animal Demo
7:45 p.m. - First Activity Rotation
8:45 p.m. - Snack
9:15 p.m. - Second Activity Rotation
11:15 p.m. - Set-up for Sleep
11:30 p.m. - Lights-out
6:30 a.m. - Wake-up/Pack-up
7:00 a.m. - Breakfast
7:30 a.m. - Free Exploration of Museum/Gift Shop
9:00 a.m. - Departure |
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Frequently Asked Questions
Is every overnight the same?
No. Programming will vary by group age and interest.
When is payment due?
Payment is due 2 wks prior to your program date.
Due chaperones participate for free?
Due to space limitations and materials costs, chaperones
are charged at the same rate as child participants.
What is the difference between a chaperone and group
leader?
Chaperones are responsible for staying with their groups
at all times, supervising their members’ behavior, keeping their
group on schedule, and familiarizing themselves with all Overnights
safety protocols. Group leaders serve as the primary contact for
their entire group and are responsible for communicating logistical
information with ECHO and disseminating pre-program information
to all their adult chaperones.
Who can participate?
Supervised groups of 2nd-8th graders composed of 40-100 people
(includes chaperones at a required ratio of 1:7). Groups fewer
than 40 can book an overnight at a flat rate of $1550. Alternately,
ECHO will assist small groups in seeking out joint reservations
with other groups.
What should participants bring?
Participates should bring a sleeping bag, pillow, camping
pad, flashlight, toothbrush/toothpaste, any medications, and clothes
to sleep in (many participant choose to wear layers and sleep
in light clothing rather than changing into pajamas).
Can I bring an air mattress?
Due to space limitations, we ask that participants refrain
from bringing air mattresses except if needed for medical reasons.
What items should I leave at home?
Tents, hair dryers, electronic devices, valuables, drugs,
and alcohol.
What are the Overnight Program hours?
Overnights begin at 6:30 p.m. and end at 9:00 a.m. the following
day. The full group should arrive by 7:00 p.m., when the doors
will be locked.
Can I park overnight at ECHO, and how much does it cost?
Parking is available in the ECHO parking lot for free.
Where do I go when I arrive?
Groups should enter through ECHO’s main entrance, which faces
College St.
What if my group is arriving by bus?
Buses should turn right onto Lake St and left at the parking
lot. Once your group has unloaded, buses should process to the
north end of Lake St to free parking at the U.S. Coast Guard Station.
Is food included in the Overnight Program?
ECHO will provide an evening snack and light breakfast.
What if my group would like to eat dinner at ECHO?
If your group is planning to eat dinner at ECHO, please plan
on arriving promptly at 6:00 p.m. so that you have sufficient
time to eat prior to the Welcome Presentation at 7:15 p.m.
Will my group earn a Scout badge?
ECHO is happy to tailor activities to meet the individual
badge goals of Scout groups. Please contact the Group Programs
Coordinator at 802.864.1848 ext 142 or overnights@echovermont.org
to discuss your group’s specific objectives.
Where do we sleep?
Program participants sleep in pre-designated spaces among ECHO’s
exhibits and in its classroom spaces.
When is lights out?
11:30 p.m.
Does it get dark after the lights go out?
Safety lights will be kept on following lights out, so it
will never be completely dark.
Will the gift shop be open?
The gift shop will open early at 8:00 a.m.
Will our group have exclusive access to ECHO?
ECHO reserves the right to book additional groups until our
maximum group size it met.
Can I buy dinner through ECHO?
Groups that are traveling a long distance and would like
help arranging dinner, should contact the Group Programs Coordinator
at 802.864.1848 ext 142 or overnights@echovermont.org
. These groups should plan on arriving promptly at 6:00 p.m. so
that you have sufficient time to eat prior to the Welcome Presentation
at 7:15 p.m.
Are sleeping quarters divided by gender?
It depends on the group. Male chaperones for Girl Scout groups
are housed with ECHO staff members in an area separate from the
group. Middle School students are also separated by gender.
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1.802.864.1848
