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NEW FROM
THE ECHO BLOG |
DISCOVERING ECHO: AN INTERN'S PERSPECTIVE |
POSTED MAY 13 AT 3:28 PM |
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For Immediate Release
Contact: Steven Leibman
802-864-1848 ext. 125
sleibman@echovermont.org
ECHO’S OPEN DOOR SUCCESSES AND ECHO EARTH WEEKS
ANNOUNCED
Support of Community, Government, and Private Sector
Partnerships Are Key
(BURLINGTON, VT) 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, today announced the successes of ECHO’s Open
Door access programs. Speakers also addressed the critical
importance of the project’s partnerships with government
entities, like the EPA, and the private sector, such as
Hannaford Supermarkets, in tandem with community support. In
addition, ECHO made a community appeal to raise $165,000 for
ECHO’s Open Door in 2006, from individual contributions. Lastly,
the events and activities encompassing ECHO Earth Weeks — a
two-week celebration of Earth Day in April — were officially
announced.
In 2005, ECHO’s Open Door raised $362,077. Individual
contributions and private foundations were $108,752; funding
through an EPA Lake Champlain grant was $200,000; and Hannaford
Supermarkets three-year, annual commitment is $53,325.
Senator Leahy stated, “ECHO’s Open Door has been a tremendous
success in breaking down financial, cultural and geographic
barriers to community members who want to learn more about the
Lake Champlain Basin. The new contribution from EPA will help
the next generation to renew our commitment to take good care of
the Lake and its Basin.”
Robert W. Varney, regional administrator of EPA's New England
office said, “EPA is proud to continue our support of the good
work by ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center at the Leahy
Center for Lake Champlain. This facility is an exciting resource
for people living in the Champlain Valley to learn about their
beautiful Lake and surrounding environment.”
Mary Abele, Chair of the ECHO Board: “On behalf of the ECHO
Board of Directors, volunteers and staff, I would like to
express my gratitude to all of the individual donors and ECHO
Annual Pass Holder’s for their support of ECHO’s Open Door. We
are also deeply grateful for the contributions of Senator Leahy,
EPA New England and Hannaford Supermarkets.”
Heather Paquette, Hannaford Supermarkets District Manager
stated, “Hannaford Supermarkets is proud to support the ECHO
Basin Backyard Explorers program and student fair, to help ‘open
the door’ to ECHO visits by thousands of elementary and middle
school students from the Lake Champlain Basin. Hannaford is also
delighted to be the event sponsor of ECHO Earth Weeks, and in
particular, its new ECHO Earth Weeks Art Contest; designed to
impress upon students the importance of safeguarding our
environment in order to maintain a healthy food chain for all of
us.”
ECHO Earth Weeks, a two week celebration of Earth Day in the
Champlain Basin, is April 17-30. Beyond the Hannaford ECHO
Backyard Basin Explorer student fair (April 17-20), the event
features the following activities:
- ECHO Earth Weeks Art Contest, sponsored by Hannaford
Supermarkets, with the 2006 theme of a “Healthy Food Chain.”
Vermont and upstate New York K-12 students are encouraged to
enter their art — to be displayed during ECHO Earth Weeks
MudFest (April 22-30) — which will be panel-judged and
eligible for prizes. The Grand Prize Artist will win an iPod
nano, among other prizes, and their classroom will receive
an Apple iBook laptop computer. Artists from three grade
levels will also win prizes. For details go to
echovermont.org. The event’s media sponsors are the
Burlington Free Press, WPTZ/NewsChannel 5, and WDEV, and its
prize sponsor is Small Dog Electronics.
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- ECHO Earth Weeks MudFest, is April 22-30. Mud-themed
activities, games and daily “Muddy Music” performances by
regional artists featuring Patti Casey; Pete Sutherland;
Sandra Wright; Jon Gailmor; Sheefra; Mountain Girl Band
featuring Tammy Fletcher, Dakota Foley & Jim Pitman;
PossumHaw; Colin McCaffrey; and Lewis Franco. The event will
also feature eco-exhibitors and Voices for the Lake
stewardship workshops for families.
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STATUS OF ECHO’S OPEN DOOR PROGRAMS (November 2005 to
March 2006)
- 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.
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- ECHO After School: Registered 165 low-income 4-12 year
olds to participate in ECHO Encounters; games, crafts,
science experiments, and ECHO Treks.
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- Hannaford ECHO Backyard Basin Explorer (EBBE): ECHO
registered nearly 2,000 students. The 2005/06 EBBE program
offers free ECHO Classes, and a free visit during ECHO Earth
Weeks student fair to present student environmental projects
and presentations.
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- The Library ECHO Pass — which library patrons borrow
like a book to redeem for two dollar admission — has been
distributed to over 365 Basin libraries.
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- MOBIUS Mentoring, Inc. Free admission to 300 children
who participate in the MOBIUS Mentoring Movement, when
accompanied by their mentor at the standard admission.
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- Social Service Agency Vouchers. Distributed 1,210 Annual
Passes and 3,697 two-dollar admission vouchers through
regional social service agency partners to youth, senior
citizens, people with disabilities, and economically
disadvantaged families.
- Teacher and Teacher Ambassador Programs: Free daily
admission to Vermont and New York educators. 78 teachers who
serve as Teacher Ambassadors — the liaison between ECHO and
their school — received a free Family Annual Pass, with
benefits of three free guests, and free admission to over
280 science museums.
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- Vermont and New York Resident Discount: Social service
agencies distributed 3,697 two-dollar admission vouchers.
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ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center at the Leahy Center
for Lake Champlain is Vermont’s Lake Aquarium and Science
Center, on the beautiful Burlington Waterfront. ECHO
features 60 species of live fish, amphibians, invertebrates,
and reptiles, with more than 100 hands-on experiences, and
hosts major traveling exhibits several times a year. The 2.2
acre site also highlights the Lake Champlain Navy Memorial.
For more information on ECHO, visit our website at
www.echovermont.org, call Toll-Free 1-877-ECHOFUN, or write
to ECHO, One College Street, Burlington, VT 05401.
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1.802.864.1848
