[et_pb_section bb_built=”1″ admin_label=”section” _builder_version=”3.0.47″][et_pb_row admin_label=”row” _builder_version=”3.0.47″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″][et_pb_text _builder_version=”3.0.72″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” background_layout=”light” text_orientation=”left” border_style=”solid”]
ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
The ECHO Leahy Center is neither an ordinary children’s science museum nor a fancy nature center, it’s both. Most of the permanent exhibits center around life in Lake Champlain. There is an amazing exhibit on Zebra muscles that really shows how scary they can be. There are more than 100 interactive exhibits including 70 species of fish, reptiles, and amphibians, but I wouldn’t think of it as an aquarium. Most of the exhibits are hands on and allow kids to do something or change something.
The ECHO Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a 501(c) non-profit organization with a mission to inspire and engage families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain. It is mostly volunteer run, but the facility is beautiful, modern, and LEED-certified. It is right on the lake itself, so you can walk out and walk along the lake.
The Center includes a traditional kid’s play area with water feature, slides, and pretend market, but the ActionLab with lake themed science projects is much better for kids over 3. There was a special Thomas Edison themed exhibit when we visited, but it ends in just a week or two. It will probably be replaced by something equally fun.
The Center is great in the summer because the park surrounding it makes for a beautiful walk and there’s ice cream. In the winter it is great because it is something to do inside to escape the cold. It was raining ice when we went, yet we still felt like we experienced some Vermont nature without freezing.
And the area is fantastic as it is right near a ton of good restaurants and Church Street shopping.
Plan your visit here.
[/et_pb_text][/et_pb_column][/et_pb_row][/et_pb_section]