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GET MUDDY AT ECHO!
Looking forward to spring? ECHO is ushering in the
arrival of the birds 'n' bees with our 4th annual ECHO
Earth Weeks MudFest event! This two-week
celebration of Earth Day and Mud Season runs April
14th - 27th and features dozens of daily events and
activities, ecology booths, renowned Vermont
musicians, and even free chocolate ice-cream. ECHO
Earth Weeks also heralds the grand opening of
ECHO's green-themed Think! Café.
"Mud Season" is the moniker for Vermont's mixed-bag
beginning of spring; that glorious (if messy) time
when the snow melts, the buds bloom, and winter
coats are replaced with rain slickers and rubber boots
to navigate mud-sloppy walking conditions. It may be
warmer outside, but cabin fever still runs high - so
that's when ECHO Earth Weeks MudFest is the place
to be!
Every MudFest day features oodles of
mud-themed
activities:
- Fling mud from ECHO's upper deck at a
target three stories below, plant a seed to take home,
investigate worms, explore spring in Vermont through
environmental presentations, and much more.
Click here for calendar listings!
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Listen to Muddy Music at One: Produced
by kid-friendly Re-Bop Records of Marshfield,
Vermont, featuring regional roots musicians including
Tammy Fletcher, Jon Gailmor, and PossumHaw.
Click here for the full line-up!
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Interact with talented regional students, as
they showcase their handmade table-top displays and
give group performances on ecology, culture, history,
and the opportunity for stewardship.
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Eat lunch at the launch of ECHO's unique,
green-themed Think! Café; serving fresh, local foods
daily, 10 a.m. - 3 p.m. An interactive experience as
well as an eatery, the Think! Café offers earth-friendly
menu choices, ecology-conscious activities and
games, Wi-Fi, and views of Lake Champlain and the
Adirondack Mountains.
Click here for
more on the café!
With an entire 14 days packed full of muddy fun,
ECHO Earth Weeks MudFest is the way to get
your
spring on.
Pictured: Jack © Gina Plunkett, Tammy Fletcher,
courtesy of Tammy Fletcher
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POP, PUNK & ECO-POLICY |
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ECHO Hosts "WET! A Party Underwater" to
Benefit the Lake, April 26th
On
Saturday, April 26th at 10 p.m., love of music
and the Lake will converge at ECHO, where
concert-goers will have the chance to record D.C.-
bound
messages of stewardship while rocking out to the
sounds of edgy, acclaimed bands. "WET! A Party
Underwater," is a benefit for ECHO's Voices for the
Lake, and is produced by Big Heavy
World. The
show will also feature local radio stations conducting
live, on-air broadcasts and artist interviews. The event
sponsors are Orlio Organic Beer Company, Seven
Days, "The Radiator" WOMM-LP, and WRUV.
It isn't often one gets the chance to speak directly to
Washington, but WET! attendees will have just such a
unique opportunity. Voices for the Lake
videographers will be roving the crowd for people to
voice their environmental positions and have the best
ones delivered to none other than Vermont Senator
Patrick Leahy. The Senator will then review and share
selections with Washington policy-makers, and the
strongest
videos will be
showcased on ECHO's YouTube channel - along with
Leahy's response - premiering this summer.
Voices for the Lake is
ECHO's grassroots initiative to inspire Lake
Champlain Basin stewardship through conversations
and connections enabled by social technologies. All
the profits from the event will be donated directly to
Voices for the Lake.
Boston indie-rockers Pretty & Nice headline the 21 +
event, with Burlington ska/punk band Husbands AKA
and pop group In Memory of Pluto. Produced by local
non-profit Big Heavy World, tickets are $4 in advance
(sold at Radio Bean, Pure Pop, and The Radiator); $6
at the door.
Regional radio stations "The Radiator" WOMM-LP
(105.9 FM) and WRUV (90.1 FM) will be broadcasting
from ECHO all night, hosting live interviews and
performances, and raising awareness of Lake
issues. The event will also include a cash bar
courtesy of Drink, and door prizes like a season's
pass to Bolton Valley Resort, mask and snorkel from
the Waterfront Diving Center, and dinner at A Single
Pebble.
So whether you have an environmental comment or
idea to share with Washington, or just want to hear
some really cool music, head to the Burlngton
Waterfront on Saturday, April 26th and get WET!
Big Heavy World is a volunteer-staffed non-profit
dedicated to preserving and promoting music made
by Vermonters. "Big Heavy" runs a public listening
library and music shop, a record label, and programs
that capture the history of Vermont's music while
supporting the efforts of its contemporary musicians. It
also co-founded the licensed low-power community
radio station "The Radiator" WOMM-LP (105.9 FM). Big
Heavy World was founded in 1996 and is located in
downtown Burlington.
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HEADLINE NEWS |
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E-TEAM BRINGS FAMILIES TO
ECHO
By Sarah Bowering, Americorps VISTA & ECHO's
Open Door Coordinator
 ECHO's E-Team has made
quite the splash this
winter, hosting a total of three Community Science
Nights. The ten Burlington-area teens - members of
ECHO's inaugural Teen Environmental Leadership
Program - hosted the free events for Sara Holbrook,
Northgate, Franklin Square,
Boys and Girls Club, and Barnes Elementary School
neighborhoods. All together, a total of 285 Burlington
residents - many first time visitors - were able to
enjoy ECHO with their families.
Said one Boys and Girls club member-parent, "This
night was really awesome. Thank you to all who put
time in for our enjoyment!"
The E-Team will continue to provide educational
programs to community centers and ECHO guests
until the end of May, when upon completion of their
school-year commitment, they will become eligible for
summer employment at ECHO.
Thank you to Sugarsnap,
Leonardo's Pizza,
American
Flatbread, and Burlington School
District for their
generous sponsorship of these events.
Pictured (l-r): (top) Emily Gieselman, Jesse Guyette,
Marlena Tremback, (row 2) Zoe Robb, Latesha
Landry, Georgia Mason, (row 3) Sarah Bowering -
Coordinator, Nichole Cushing, Nicole McAdam,
(bottom) Zach Mashteare, and Polly Perkins - intern
from UVM.
GREEN-UP GIFTIES
 This year's Green Up
Day is Saturday, May 3rd. Will
you be there?
After a busy morning of Greening-Up, head to ECHO
to enjoy $2 discounts for anyone wearing the Green
Up pin, patch or T-shirt. We are also offering 20% off
all purchases in our new Think! Café, and in ECHO's
Eclectic Gift Shop!
Pictured: NEWTon enjoys a Lake breeze at last year's
Green-Up party.
HOMETOWN HERO
Sometimes the smallest gesture can make a world of
difference, and this month's Hometown Hero knows
first-hand how rewarding that can be. Jared Alvrod, of
UVM, really goes above-and-beyond to connect with
the youths he serves as a volunteer at the Essex
CHIPS (Communities Helping to Inspire People to
Succeed) and Teen Center.
A member of the UVM's Student Athlete-Athletic
Council, which has partnered with the center for two
years, Jared has made a major impression on the
teens and has proven to be a great role model. He
always makes a special effort to make each teen feel
special when they're having a bad day; and on days
when Jared can't be there, his presence is missed.
Jared was recently honored for his work by the United
Way of Chittenden County, who named
him "Hometown Hero of the Month." Jared was
interviewed by NewsChannel 5's Chief Meteorologist
Tom Messner for the WPTZ "Hometown Hero" news
segment, hosted monthly at ECHO.
Pictured (l-r): Phelan Fretz of ECHO, Jared Alvrod,
Andrea Houlihan of United Way, Tom Messner.
GREEN BUZZ - SMALL DOG MAKING A BIG
DIFFERENCE
Brought to you by ECHO's Green Lantern Team
In celebration of Earth Day, Small Dog Electronics will
host its second annual eWaste recycling event next
Saturday, April 19th. Head to their South Burlington
location and recycle old electronics for FREE!
eWaste can be nasty stuff, and each year
improperly-disposed-of computers and gadgets add
hazardous
pollution to our groundwater supply. Be a part of the
solution and put Small Dog's event on your list of
things to do next Saturday!
Get more details by visiting Small Dog
Electronic's website.
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RUBENSTEIN AND LCBP REPORTS |
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Information and news from our science and
stewardship partners based with ECHO at the
Leahy
Center for Lake Champlain.
RUBENSTEIN LAB
The
Rubenstein Ecoscience Laboratory is a UVM
research
lab designed to provide an
environment for students and researchers to
learn
more about, and assist in protecting, the Lake
Champlain Basin and it's tributaries.
 LAKE
CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM
LCBP Resource Room
Question of the
Month
Question: When do the first wildflowers bloom
in the
Lake Champlain Basin?
Answer: The lovely spring ephemerals are among
the first woodland flowers to appear, usually
beginning in late April. Plants such as bloodroot,
hepatica, spring beauty, wild ginger, and Dutchman¡¦s
breeches are called ephemerals because their
flowers are short-lived, often covering the forest floor
before the hardwood trees fully leaf out. Skunk
cabbage is another early bloomer, its flowers usually
hidden beneath last year's fallen leaves. Like many
other dark-colored flowers, skunk cabbage is
pollinated mostly by flies. The flowers actually produce
heat - a benefit to any flies out in cold weather. The
leaves, which emerge after the flowers, smell
unpleasant when crushed, hence the name skunk
cabbage.
Pictured: Skunk Cabbage, © USDA Forest Service
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EVENT SHOWCASE |
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WINTER WEDDING
WONDERLAND
By Vivien Schueler, Event Manager
It may have been cold and snowy outside, but ECHO
was filled with warmth during the recent winter
wedding of Sarah Decker and Justin Mansfield. Set off
by an elegant theme of red, black and white, the bride
and groom mingled with guests across all three
levels of ECHO, then danced the night away beneath
strands of blue lights.
As the night drew to a close, guests were drawn to the
windows, where a dramatic moonshadow was cast
across Lake Champlain.
To book your winter wedding, please contact our
Event Manager at 877-ECHO-FUN
ext 124.
Photo by Paul Lamontagne of Champlain Photo
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VOLUNTEER VOICE |
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Judy Allard
What is your role at ECHO? How long have you been
a volunteer here?
I began volunteering in September of 2007, after
retiring from 38 years with the Burlington School
System. I am an exhibit interpreter, and a consultant to
the education team at ECHO. I am also learning to
handle the animals.
What attracted you to volunteer at ECHO?
I was a biology teacher for many years and ECHO
seemed a perfect fit for me. The staff at ECHO is
extraordinary. When I visited prior to volunteering, I
was so impressed with the dedication and
professionalism of ALL of the staff. Everyone is so
cheerful and helpful, and they love to laugh!!
What does ECHO mean to you?
I see ECHO as a priceless community resource. It is a
place where people can learn and appreciate how
they impact, and can affect, their environment in the
Lake Champlain Basin and beyond. All this and they
can have fun and be amazed at the same time.
Can you share a memorable moment or project you've
had at ECHO?
I have had the opportunity to be involved with the
ECHO-Wheeler School Inquiry Science Project. In this
project the ECHO Education staff met with the
educators and curriculum developers from the
Burlington School System and made direct
connections with the K-5 Burlington Science
Curriculum and activities that occur before, after and
during field trips to ECHO. The Education Staff
retooled their activities to be more inquiry based, and
is extending this process to the activities experienced
by all ECHO guests. As part of this project, every child
at Wheeler is involved in three field trips to ECHO and
every classroom at Wheeler gets three outreach visits
from the ECHO staff.
As part of this project, I have been able to see the
wonderful growth in understanding of the Wheeler
students as well as the increase in the teaching of
science by the exceptional educators at Wheeler. It
has been a privilege to be part of this project.
Any advice for someone like you who wants to get
involved in their community?
Come to ECHO!!! It is a wonderful place to volunteer,
and the setting is amazing. I love being able to be on
the lake and volunteer to help preserve something as
valuable as the Lake Champlain Basin.
Are you interested
in learning more about how you can
become involved with ECHO? Volunteer
opportunities are available for all interests
and abilities.
For more information please contact Becca
Rimmel, Volunteer Coordinator at (802)
864-
1848
x116.
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.
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FRIENDS AND FEEDBACK |
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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!
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
Reporter: Grace Per Lee,
Marketing
and Communications Coordinator
Reporter: Jackie Salvato, Marketing Intern
Photo Specialist: R. Alexander Kepchar, Marketing
Intern
Copy Editor: William Ellwell, Marketing Intern
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