• SPRING INTO ECHO EARTH WEEKS
  ART CONTEST & MUDFEST!
• ECHO'S OPEN DOOR SUCCESSES ANNOUNCED
• ECHO HEADLINES!!
• WHERE'S NEWTon NOW?
• ANIMAL CARE NEWS
• RUBENSTEIN LAB & LCBP REPORT
• EVENT SHOWCASE
• VOLUNTEER'S VOICE
• FRIENDS AND FEEDBACK

Support of Community, Government, and Private Sector Partnerships Are Key

On Saturday, March 4th, Senator Patrick Leahy, Robert W. Varney of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Heather Paquette of Hannaford Supermarkets, along with ECHO Board members Mary Abele and Tom Little, announced the successes of ECHO's Open Door access programs. Speakers also addressed the critical importance of community support, and the project's partnerships with the Environmental Protection Agency, and Hannaford Supermarkets. Lastly, the events and activities encompassing ECHO Earth Weeks - a two-week celebration of Earth Day in April - were officially announced.

In addition, ECHO made a community appeal to raise $165,000 from individual contributions in 2006 to support ECHO's Open Door next year.

Pictured (l-r): Robert W. Varney, Heather Paquette, Senator Patrick Leahy, Mary Abele.

Snapshot of ECHO's Open Door Successes:

• Through your extraordinary support of the Annual Pass Matching Gift, 1,270 free Annual Passes were given to low-income neighbors for every Annual Pass purchased or renewed Nov. 21, 2005 through December 31, 2005.

• 377 Vermont and New York libraries have a Library ECHO pass. Passes have been used more than 1,678 times since December.

• 4,164 admission vouchers have been distributed to low-income people region-wide.

• 1,872 school children have registered for the Hannaford ECHO Basin Backyard Explorer Program.

• 185 children have registered or participated in ECHO After School; offering subsidized admission and healthy activities for low-income children after school.

ECHO's Open Door has garnered a wonderful outpouring of community support. We've received many calls, letters, and e-mails since launching the project. Here's a sampling of what people are saying:

"I wanted to bring my children there since it opened, but found the cost prohibitive. I can't wait to take my kids there during my son's holiday break from school!" - Single mom on public assistance; sons are ages 8 and 12-years-old.

"The program has been of enormous value to the families we serve. None of these families would have been able to afford a visit on their own and all expressed surprise and delight at the possibility." - Shelly McSweeney, Lund Family Center

"Thank you for the generous ECHO's Open Door Library Pass. Our patrons are very happy for the opportunity to visit ECHO at a reduced price. Your kindness is greatly appreciated." - Maureen K. Badger, Children's Programming Director, Georgia Public Library

"Just last week I took a nine-year-old girl from Burlington to ECHO - it was her first time and mine. We explored everything and all she kept saying was, 'This is so cool.' And, best of all, as we were leaving she asked if we could come back again and could she bring a friend." - Ikey Spear, Women Helping Battered Women, Inc.

I had fun doing the class. I liked doing the game. It was fun. I also liked learning about what is littering the land. I liked learning about the animals. - Michael, 4th grader, Coventry Village School

Thank you for your ongoing support!

TEACHERS & HOME SCHOOLERS - SIGN UP FOR WPTZ WEATHER CLASSES TODAY!
"Sky Scanners" is one of the nine extraordinary classes ECHO offers to Vermont and upstate NY schools. The class gives children a truly unique, "insider" perspective on the science of weather forecasting, because it's taught by none other than WPTZ/NewsChannel 5 meteorologists Gib Brown or Erik Heden. 3rd - 8th grade students learn about weather fronts, high-and-low pressure systems or what's happening at our Burlington Waterfront satellite weather station. Space is limited, so sign up now by calling Toll-Free
1-877- ECHOFUN ext. 100. What are folks saying about the class?

"Dear Mr. Brown: Thanks for teaching us about weather. It was nice of you to come in and teach us. I learned a lot! I hope we meet again at ECHO. I also liked how you took the time to give us autographs. I learned how to make a weather chart. Maybe when I get older I can be a meteorologist like you. You really encouraged me to be one and I bet you encouraged other students too." - Kyra Bevins, St. Joseph's School

"I thought the program was both fun and educational for the home school students. Gib's enthusiasm and ability to include the students and offer hands on activities made learning the concepts enjoyable." - Cindy Dickinson, Home school Mom

ECHO ENCOUNTERS
Echo Encounters is the name for all of ECHO's extraordinary public programming activities. So when you see an "ECHO Encounters" in your local Calendar listings or on the ECHO website, be sure to mark down the date as surefire, family-friendly experience! Click here for the latest scheduled ECHO Encounters.

FEBRUARY RAFFLE WINNER!
The lucky winner of an iPod Shuffle - generously donated by our friends at Small Dog Electronics in Waitsfield - is Andrea Melville of Northfield, Vermont. Congratulations!

WINTER HOURS COMING TO AN END!
Through March 31, ECHO will be open Tuesday through Sunday, 10 a.m.- 5 p.m. But as of April 1, we'll be here for you 10 a.m. - 5 p.m., seven days a week.

SPOTTED Friday, February 24: Greeting visitors at our Beluga Whale Dig! sneak preview party in his new "dig" helmet. Folks had a wonderful time in our new expanded geology area, and doing all the related activities and games. Likewise, a marvelous time was had by those who attended the informative "Walking On Whales!" presentation by Geology Professors Emeritus Barry Doolan from UVM, and William Kirchgasser from SUNY Potsdam.

Pictured: Baby Liam Buck and Mom Pam Moreau greet the big orange guy.

SAD DAYS AHEAD: Beloved Colleague to Move On

By Steve Smith, Director of Animal Care and Exhibits

Given the task of reporting significant developments in Animal Care, I feel compelled to convey perhaps the saddest news I've had to report since being at ECHO: One of our great Animal Care staff members, Wyn Hall, has decided to move on. Wyn's significant other, Stephanie, has secured her first employment (post law school) in Columbia, South Carolina, so Wyn and Stephanie are heading south.

Wyn has had a tremendous impact on ECHO. He has been an outstanding employee. Wyn's animal care reflected a genuine concern for the welfare of the animals. His talks, demos, animal feedings were truly fun, entertaining, and educational. His audiences were always fully engaged and seemed to really enjoy his programs. Wyn was always there to help when exhibits or the physical plant needed work. If he had never before worked with something, he was always willing to carefully take it apart and work with it until he could fix it and put it back together.

Wyn's accomplishments, his abilities, his knowledge, his sense of humor, his good nature - and most of all, his leftover Halloween candies - will truly be missed by
co-workers, volunteers and our guests. His will be tough shoes to fill. Best of luck to Wyn and Stephanie!

BREAKFAST WITH THE ANIMALS

Get up-close-and-personal with ECHO's critters. For only $10 per person, you can participate in animal feedings, go behind-the-scenes at ECHO, and then chow-down with our Animal Care staff. This unique program starts promptly at 8 a.m. and ends at 10 a.m. Click here to register or find out more information.

Information and news from our science and stewardship partners based with ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain.

RUBENSTEIN LAB

Streams in Motion

By Mary Watzin, Director, Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory

The streams and rivers draining to Lake Champlain are in constant motion. While some migration in stream channel location and shape is natural, when whole streambanks collapse, or the stream carves a new path through the floodplain, it is an indication that this stream has become unstable, and may be a significant source of pollution to Lake Champlain. Researchers at the Rubenstein Lab are conducting studies to determine how much pollution unstable streams contribute to Lake Champlain. This pollution often contains phosphorus that can contribute to the algae blooms that occur in some sections of the lake in summer. If we can learn how to recognize how much motion is normal - and how much is not - managers can target unstable stream reaches for restoration that might reduce algae blooms over the long term.

LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM

New Classroom Resources Feature NEWTon!

Follow ECHO's red-spotted newt mascot NEWTon as he travels around the globe to visit the world's most extraordinary lakes! New classroom resources for middle school (grades 5-8) include a NEWTon 24" x 36" poster and activity sheets in four subject areas: science, math, language arts, and social studies. The resources were created through a partnership of LakeNet, ECHO, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program, and funded by the US Environmental Protection Agency New England. The materials are intended to help educators broaden their students' knowledge of freshwater issues impacting our planet. Stop by the Resource Room at ECHO for the poster or call the Lake Champlain Basin Program at (802) 372-3213 or ECHO's Toll-Free 1-877-ECHOFUN ext. 100.

On February 21, the ECHO Event staff really heated things up, with the help of 800 Response. The company held a luau for their employees and families, complete with hula dancing and a limbo contest. More than 70 guests enjoyed food by St. Pierre's Catering and were served by Green Mountain Bar Service. Jeanne Landau of 800 Response, said, "Everyone had an absolutely wonderful time at the party last night. The kids thoroughly enjoyed touring ECHO - reading and learning. The staff was fantastic - they were so helpful and such good sports! Hope to do another event at ECHO in the future."

ECHO's already booking holiday parties for next year! Please contact our Event Manager, Lisa Long, for more information on creating a party that's absolutely extraordinary: Toll-Free at 1-877-ECHOFUN ext. 124 or just click on the link below.

Interested in holding your next event at ECHO? Just click here. »

SONJA ALLEN

Are you a native of Vermont? If not, where were you born?
Yes, I am a native Vermonter.

What is your role at ECHO? How long have you been volunteering?
I have been working in the Animal Care Department for sixteen months.

What attracted you to volunteer at ECHO?
I would like to be an oceanographer, and since Vermont has no ocean, I thought volunteering at ECHO would be the next best thing. As a senior in high school, I would like to gain more experience in this field. At ECHO, I'm exposed to animals living in and around water. I've gained experience in dealing with frogs, snakes, turtles, and fish, which will make me more confident in my career.

What does ECHO mean to you?
It's hard to put down in words what ECHO means to me. I can honestly say that I look forward to coming every Saturday, and I will miss being here when I go off to college. The atmosphere is comfortable and I never feel like an outsider. I've made both human and animal friends, whom I look forward to seeing each week. Sixteen months go by so fast and it's hard to remember a time when I didn't volunteer here! I judge myself by what I am able to accomplish at ECHO. When I first started volunteering here, I was afraid of the frogs, which I have overcome. ECHO is a wonderful place and I can't imagine my life without it.

Can you share a memorable moment or project you've had at ECHO?
The first time I had to clean the inside of the shiner tank was one of my most memorable moments. In order to clean the tank, you have to climb on to a platform and lean over to scrub the inside of the tank with a brush on a long handle. Meanwhile there is rushing water close by going into the tank. I leaned so far over I almost fell in to the tank! I was able to catch myself before going in. It would have been a shame to fall into a tank on my first day!

Any advice for someone like you who wants to get involved in their community?
The hardest part in getting involved with the community is starting. After that it's easy. More than likely you will enjoy what you are doing and want to continue. There are so many options all you have to do is look. It's a good feeling to be needed and know you are making a difference.

VOLUNTEER AT ECHO

Would you like to have your "Voice for the Lake" be heard? Are you interested in having a constructive impact on your environment on a daily basis? If you answered "yes," then come to the ECHO Volunteer family and see how you can create positive change for the Lake Champlain Basin. Your mission is to educate and delight visitors about the Ecology, Culture, History and Opportunities for stewardship in the Lake Champlain Basin. Volunteer opportunities are available for all interests and abilities. Benefits include reciprocal admission to hundreds of other national and international museums, extensive training, and the peace of mind that comes with knowing you are helping the Basin. For more information please contact Chrissy Keating, Volunteer Coordinator, at (802) 864- 1848 x116 or e-mail ckeating@echovermont.org

NewsChannel 5 Live at ECHO
Ever wonder what it's like behind the scenes of live weather on television? Come down to ECHO at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain the second Thursday of every month and find out! Watch Chief Meteorologist Tom Messner deliver his Weather Plus forecast as we broadcast live on "First at 5," 5:30 Now," and "NewsChannel 5 at 6pm."

ECHO Update Feedback
Consistent with our stewardship mission, we are saving resources by communicating electronically. We will never give away or sell your email address. Let us know if there is anyone who you think would enjoy getting ECHO Update and please, pass it on to a friend! We welcome your comments about this e-newsletter. Would you like to see additional topics included or some ommitted? Do you like the format? ECHO wants to know!

ECHO's Official Radio Stations

For all the latest on ECHO Public Programs, exhibits, and events, please listen to our official radio stations: 98.9 WOKO FM, KOOL 105 FM and WJOY 1230 AM - and click on the ECHO link at woko.com, wkol.com and wjoy.com.

Please send your feedback to Steven Leibman, ECHO's Marketing Manager and Update Editor. »

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