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By Becca Rimmel, Volunteer Coordinator/Educator
Volunteers at ECHO fill many different roles. Much like an
ecosystem, each part works together to make the whole operation
function.
Below, a few of our Volunteers share a “Day in Their Life” here
at ECHO. From Sophia, who arrives here at 7 a.m. to feed the
turtles, to Danielle, who might host a concert until midnight —
each of our 80 Volunteers plays a critical role in making ECHO
who we are. Here are their stories.
Pictured: ECHO Lake
Aquarium and Science Center ©2006 Curran Photography
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ANIMAL CARE INTERN SOPHIA MARIE ANDERSON |
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 At 7 a.m. on Monday mornings I begin my first of three shifts
for the week. On Mondays, I feed the turtles and clean the
bullfrog tank.
We fill containers with de-chlorinated water, then add Reptomin
(turtle food pellets) into them. While the Reptomin soaks, I cut
up fruits and vegetables and put worms into a bowl — most of the
turtles think they are a big treat. Once we have them in their
eating tanks, I dangle the worms in front of them and they snap
them right up.
While the turtles are eating, I bring all the tools I’ll need to
clean the bullfrog tank out onto the floor. I put on gloves,
moisten them, cup the frog in my hands, put him quickly into a
container, and place the perforated cover on. Then I drain the
tank, take the filter apart to clean it, take all the rocks out
of the tank to clean them, vacuum out the remaining gunk on the
floor of the tank, and rinse and scrub the inside.
Then I bring everything back to the tank, put the filter back
together, and rebuild the exhibit. I fill the tank with water,
making sure to leave part of the rocks dry, dip the container
back into the tank, and let the frog out. I then clean up all my
tools before ECHO opens at 10 a.m. for the day.
Pictured: Sophia lifts a turtle out of its tank for feeding
time.
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E-TEAM SUMMER STAFF/EDUCATOR EMILY GIESELMAN |
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 My bike and I arrive at ECHO — it’s 8:55 a.m.. I hear a soft
bubbling and humming coming from the Animal Care room as I clock
in. Making my way up the dark navy stairway I see a colorful
maze of tubes lining ECHO's floor (Animal Care is cleaning the
tanks), and I make sure to take a sharp right turn so my clumsy
feet don’t find themselves wrapped up in them.
It is 9:01 a.m. — I grab the plastic tub with all of my
materials and head to the classroom to set up for camp. An hour
or so later the
E-Team staff and I finish setting up a woodland
wonderland — Oh my, it’s already 10:01! The campers have arrived
and we rush downstairs to welcome them. With the counselor’s
help, we get 15 excited campers upstairs and lead them through
the interesting sights and sounds on the way.
I introduce myself once more and start to talk about our
stillwater friend, the North American Beaver. As I talk I hear a
little voice next to me say "Er...um...Lady?".
"Yes?"
I answer back.
"Um, I saw a beaver once."
"Oh really?! That’s great!" I say.
Then the rest of the campers chime in to talk about their
experiences with beavers. This is the part of teaching that I
love the most; when kids share information with each other and
enjoy doing so. For the rest of our time together we make our
very own beaver lodge and sing "If You're a Beaver and You Know
It Slap Your Tail." At 11:30 a.m., their van arrives to take
them back to the Boys and Girls Club. We all say goodbye until
next week, and I take a much-needed lunch break before the
afternoon rush.
Pictured: Emily Gieselman on the exhibit floor; Zach, also of
E-Team, at the Sea Tank.
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EXHIBIT INTERPRETER VOLUNTEER BEVERLY NICHOLS |
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Upon arrival at
ECHO, I meet with the Staff to check the day’s schedule. There are a number
things to do: teaching at the sea tank, engaging folks in a number of ecological
or biological educational activities, or just helping Guests get the most out of
each exhibit. In addition, Volunteers can help with the preparation of
Educational materials for various activities.
The sea tank is
a priority for each Volunteer shift. Children and adults are often fascinated by
the chance to touch live sea stars, and love to hear interesting facts about
them, such as how they eat.
Being a part of
the ECHO Educational team is so rewarding. The Staff are great, and it’s good to
know that I’m passing on knowledge of, and appreciation for, the Lake Champlain
Basin.
Pictured:
Beverly Nichols assists Bryan, Steph, and Tom Gildone, and Christain Williams of
Conneut, Ohio, with the FrogWorld e-card feature.
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MARKETING/NEW EXHIBIT VOLUNTEER KELSEY PIRIE |
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Have you ever wondered what it’s like to volunteer in the ECHO
office? Behind the scenes of all the animal tanks and exhibits,
a team of dedicated Staff, Interns, and Volunteers work together
to ensure that all aspects of the science center run smoothly.
Whether it’s coming up with ideas for new exhibits or helping to
spread the word about ECHO, there’s always something new
happening here.
 I am currently creating a series of trivia cards to be displayed
at each of the tables in Think! Café. This involves a good
amount of research and creativity, in addition to designing the
overall appearance of the cards. The main focus is to engage the
public in thinking about the significance of eating locally
produced foods, as well as the concept of Reduce, Reuse &
Recycle. My hope is that families will use these trivia
questions to incite conversation as they enjoy a meal together
in ECHO's very own café.
Pictured: Kelsey Pirie hard at work.
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EVENTS VOLUNTEER DANIELLE BESSERY |
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I usually come into ECHO around 4:30 p.m. on the day of a big
Event, to start arranging Café tables and chairs. Then I grab
the glass cleaner and wipe the hand prints from all over the
windows and doors, left by our pint-sized Guests during the day.
Then the Event begins. My job is to answer any questions people
have as they come in, occasionally walking through the event
itself to make sure things are going smoothly. My favorite part
is walking around the balcony during a sunset.
Once people start heading out, that’s when the real work begins.
I help load all the tables and chairs back onto the cart and
bring them back downstairs. We clean up any messes we find and
put all the displays and what-not back where they belong. Once
the place is ready for another day, we do one last walk through
to make sure that ECHO is ready for another day.
Pictured: Danielle Bessery greets Event attendees as they
arrive.
Would you like to join ECHO’s Volunteer Family?
Find out about
the various ways you can get involved
here.
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HOW HEALTHY IS LAKE CHAMPLAIN?
 Find out by reading the Lake Champlain Basin Program’s 2008
State of the Lake and Ecosystem Indicators Report. This 32-page
report answers important questions frequently asked by the
public about the health of Lake Champlain and covers issues in
three key areas: phosphorus and algae, human health and toxins,
and biodiversity and aquatic invasive species. The report is
available online at
www.lcbp.org/lcstate.htm or call 800-468-5227 for free
copies.
Pictured: Cover of the 2008 State of the Lake Report, courtesy
of the LCBP.
BY POPULAR DEMAND —BODY LANGUAGE
EXTENDED UNTIL NOVEMBER 1ST
 Dancing with your own silhouette, painting the walls with your
shadow, spinning 'til you're just plain silly... if you’re one of
the thousands of visitors who came to love our Body Language
exhibit this summer and couldn’t bear to see it go — you’re in
luck! This special show now runs through November 1st, and has
been updated with even more ways to discover the fascinating
physics of human movement. With new interactives plus free
workshops on Segway(TM) riding, Burlington Ultimate Frisbee,
Geometric Bikes, and more, Body Language is sure to delight both
first-timers and repeat visitors alike. Sponsored by Merchants
Bank, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Vermont, and Vermont
Chiropractic Association.
Don’t miss...
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NEW: The Frictionator! All objects are not created equal —
at least not when they’re hurtling down a ramp in a race
with your friends'!
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Free Segway riding workshops with SegRides of Vermont —
experience the world’s first self-balancing,
electric-powered transportation device. Moving your body
moves the Segway!
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Giant Snibbe Screens: Where you can literally dance and
paint with your own shadow, and then e-mail the image to
family and friends.
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Turntable Tricks: Grab onto a larger-than-life turntable and
experience dizzying angular momentum and centrifugal force —
but hold on to your lunch!
Find specific dates and times of workshops and sign up for
Segway tours by visiting our
calendar.
**CAUGHT IN THE ACT**
Share your Body Language experience with others by
emailing us photos from your visit, and we’ll post them in the next
Update!
Pictured: Young Guest tests his maximum velocity, Tom Messner tries out a Segway from SegRides
of Vermont, Guests enjoy dancing with the Snibbe Screen.
MOVING ON
ECHO is sorry to say goodbye to two Staff-Members this month:
Bill Miller of Facilities and Rosy Metcalfe of Animal Care and
Facilities. We will miss them both and wish them luck in future
endeavors.
AMAZING AMBASSADORS
By Director of Education Tracy Truzansky
In 2005, ECHO launched the
ECHO School Ambassador Program
to help schools stay informed about our Education programs and
exhibits. Three years later, nearly half of the 650 schools in
the Lake Champlain Basin have identified a teacher, librarian,
or administrator to be their school’s liaison to ECHO.
An ECHO School Ambassador helps pass on information on ECHO
without excessive brochures and postcard announcements. With a
click of a button they keep thousands of teachers informed on
upcoming professional development opportunities, contests,
student events, exhibits, and curriculum links through ECHO and
with our partner organizations.
Does your school have an ECHO School Ambassador?
Pictured: ECHO School Ambassadors enjoy an Inquiry Training
Night.
HOMETOWN HERO
 As a real estate agent, Louise Merriam knows the significance of
a home. It can make you feel safe, relaxed, and part of a
community. So when it comes to people without homes, she is
doing all she can to make a difference.
Louise is not only a dedicated Volunteer for the
Committee on
Temporary Shelter (COTS), she is a regular champion of
their cause. As a member of the Northwestern VT Board of
Realtors, she has inspired and organized her fellow colleagues
to get involved. From raising money in the annual COTS Walk, to
brightening the COTS Day Station with fresh paint, new
furniture, and a garden, Louise is always finding ways to
brighten the days of the people COTS serves.
Louise was recently honored for her work by the
United Way of
Chittenden County, who named her Hometown Hero of the
Month. Louise was interviewed by NewsChannel 5's Chief
Meteorologist Tom Messner for the WPTZ "Hometown Hero" news
segment, hosted monthly at ECHO.
Pictured (l-r): Hometown Hero Louise Merriam, United Way
Volunteer Coordinator Kathy Mackin, ECHO Executive Director
Phelan Fretz, Channel 5 Chief Meteorologist Tom Messner.
REGATTA FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN RAISES AWARENESS — AND FUNDS!
Pictured: Competitors in the Regatta sail past the Leahy Center
Environmental Campus. $5,000 from the Benefit Event went toward
stewardship programs at ECHO. Photo ©2008 Randy Kruger.
 GREEN MOUNTAIN COFFEE RAFFLE
The
winners of this month's raffle prize - a Better World Gift Basket
- courtesy of our good friends at Green Mountain Coffee, is
Salynn Hanlon,
of Cranford, New Jersey. Congratulations!
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LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM |
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News from Leahy
Center partner the Lake Champlain Basin Program
 Question:
How long is the growing season in the Lake Champlain Basin?
Answer:
The growing season varies dramatically in different parts of the
Basin, from 150 days along Lake Champlain to only 105 days in
the higher elevations. In Burlington, Vermont, for example, the
average date of the last frost is May 11 and the first frost
occurs around October 1. In contrast, Lake Placid, in New York’s
Adirondack Mountains, averages June 19 for the last frost and
August 29 for the first. A longer growing season and fertile
soils make the Champlain lowlands a rich agricultural area. The
north-facing slopes of the mountains have the shortest growing
seasons and the lowest temperatures. Lake Champlain also
influences the area’s climate. During the fall and early winter,
the water remains warmer longer than the air, and temperatures
in the Champlain Valley are moderated. Conversely, in the
spring, breezes off the Lake keep the shoreline areas chilly,
extending cool conditions well into May.
Pictured: Vegetables ©Julie Silverman/ECHO
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By Event Hostess Mallory Wood
 For over five years now, Seven Days has held their highly
regarded "Seven Daysies" awards party at ECHO. It’s always
guaranteed to be a fun and interesting evening, as each
category's winner — from Best Pizza to Best Vermont Getaway —
come to celebrate being chosen by the readers. This year’s event
was certainly a memorable night for the winners as well as all
in attendance.
Did you know that ECHO Annual Pass Holders now receive 10% off
new event bookings?
If you would like to host your next function at ECHO, please
contact Event Manager
Vivien Schueler at 877-ECHO-FUN ext 124.
Pictured: Guests of the Seven Daysies enjoy ECHO; Seven
Daysies award presented by Pamela Polston, Seven Days
Co-Owner/Founder, Assoc. Publisher/Co-Editor.
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VOLUNTEERS OF THE MONTH: The Education Interns |
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If you came in for a visit this summer, chances are you ran into
one of ECHO's summer Education Interns: Paige Fisher, Danielle
Whitley, and Nick Costello. All working towards their
undergraduate degrees at local colleges, the three have spent
the season developing new school curriculum, introducing turtles
to guests, and even playing with worms.
When asked what attracted them to ECHO, our Interns replied "The
animals, as well as the idea of combining science, stewardship,
and hands-on learning in order to deliver the positive messages
behind ECHO. To us ECHO is a leader for a sustainable future,
but also takes the time to learn from the past, and works to
preserve the natural wildlife and resources that the Lake
Champlain Basin has to offer."
There were so many memorable moments throughout the summer...
Wacky Wednesdays were a highlight, with creative programming and
participation by lots of enthusiastic young visitors. Paige
remembered that "watching kids concentrate so hard on their
boats during Wacky Wednesday was amazing, because they were so
into the lesson plan that I had created. It was such a great
feeling!"
When asked what advice they’d like to give to someone who loves
animals, the environment, and kids, the Interns said, "Get out
there and get involved! It’s a great feeling to know that you’ve
transferred your passion to someone else."
Check the
Get Involved
section of our website for more information. And next time
you come on down, take time to talk with one of our Volunteers
to find out what ECHO's really about.
Pictured (l-r): Paige Fisher, Nick Costello, and Danielle
Whitley.
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SUPPORT ECHO ON TOURISM SITES
ECHO, like so many of Vermont's attractions,
relies
heavily on the tourism audience. Many
travelers these
days are choosing destinations over the
internet,
through online reviews by the general public; we could
use your grassroots support! Please
visit
your favorite travel website - and encourage
relatives
or friends who have experienced ECHO to do so
too -
and add another positive voice to our attraction
reviews. This will greatly help bring folks
to both
Vermont and to ECHO. The following are a
couple of
websites to get you started - thanks in advance!
IgoUgo
TripAdvisor
Yahoo! Travel
Photo: © Jeff Clarke 2007
WPTZ/NewsChannel 5 Live at ECHO
Mark your calendars to especially watch WPTZ/NewsChannel 5 on
the second Thursday of every month, when Chief
Meteorologist Tom Messner broadcasts his
Precision
Weather forecast live from ECHO during "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 whom you think
would
enjoy getting our 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 omitted? Do
you like the format? ECHO wants to know!
Click
here to send us your feedback. Thanks for
your input!
Update Staff:
Editor: Steven Leibman, Director of
Marketing and Communications
Assistant Editor: Grace Per Lee,
Marketing
and Communications Coordinator
Reporter: Britney Thompson, Marketing and
Communications Intern
Reporter: Takeshi Okoshi, Marketing and
Communications Intern
Design: Travis Cook, Webmaster
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