LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN INC
1 COLLEGE STREET, BURLINGTON, VT 05401 www.echovermont.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: ECHO'S MISSION IS TO INSPIRE AND ENGAGE FAMILIES IN THE JOY OF SCIENTIFIC DISCOVERY, WONDER OF NATURE, AND CARE OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN.

THE PUBLIC FACE OF THE LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN INC. (DBA ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN OR ECHO) IS AN INNOVATIVE SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER. HANDS-ON SCIENCE IS HOW WE ENGAGE OUR VISITORS EVERY DAY. SINCE 1995, WE HAVE TAUGHT 3 MILLION VISITORS ABOUT THE ROLE OF SCIENCE IN OUR CULTURE AND LIVES. ECHO ANNUALLY WELCOMES MORE THAN 170,000 VISITORS INTO A 34,500-SQUARE FOOT, AWARD-WINNING LEED-CERTIFIED FACILITY. THROUGH 100 INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS; 70 SPECIES OF FISH, REPTILES, AND AMPHIBIANS; MAJOR CHANGING EXHIBITS; A 2,500-SQUARE FOOT EARLY LEARNING INTERACTIVE SPACE; ECHO ENCOURAGES VISITORS TO VIEW THE NATURAL ENVIRONMENT AS PART OF THEIR NEIGHBORHOOD AND TO EXPLORE, LEARN ABOUT, AND CONSIDER OPPORTUNITIES FOR STEWARDSHIP. THIS WORK IS DELIVERED BY A DEDICATED TEAM OF 28 STAFF, 250 VOLUNTEERS AND 75 INTERNS WHO SERVE 16,000 VOLUNTEER HOURS PER YEAR. ECHO IS HOME TO A CONSORTIUM OF ORGANIZATIONS WORKING FOR PUBLIC AND ACADEMIC ENGAGEMENT IN SCIENCE: THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN PROGRAM; THE UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT RUBENSTEIN ECOSYSTEM SCIENCE LABORATORY AND RESEARCH VESSEL; AND THE US SEA GRANT WATERSHED ALLIANCE. THE NONPROFIT IS GOVERNED BY A 19 MEMBER BOARD OF DIRECTORS, WHO RETAIN RESPONSIBILITY FOR DEFINING ECHO'S OVERALL DIRECTION AND FUNCTIONS NECESSARY TO ENSURE THE ORGANIZATION REMAINS ON TRACK AND ACHIEVES ITS GOALS. THE PRIMARY RESPONSIBILITIES OF THE ECHO BOARD FALL IN THE AREAS OF FINANCE, FUNDRAISING, STRATEGY, AND POLICY. AS A GENERAL MATTER, BOARD MEMBERS ARE NOT DIRECTLY INVOLVED IN ECHO'S DAILY OPERATIONS, AS THESE DUTIES ARE THE RESPONSIBILITY OF MANAGEMENT. BOARD MEMBERS SIT ON ONE OF THREE COMMITTEES THAT MEET FOUR TIMES ANNUALLY: POLICY AND GOVERNANCE, PLANNING AND FINANCE, AND STEWARDSHIP. THE ENTIRE BOARD MEETS QUARTERLY WITHIN THE FISCAL YEAR, INCLUDING A TWO-DAY STRATEGY AND APPRECIATIVE BOARD ADVANCE. ECHO AT A GLANCE EARLY CHILDHOOD INITIATIVES: INCREASING ACCESS TO EARLY SCIENCE LEARNING IS A MAJOR GOAL OF THE STRATEGIC PLAN 2023. - PRE-K OUTREACH: ECHO DISTRIBUTES STEM KITS TO CLASSROOMS, ADDRESSING THE NEEDS OF 1,500 EARLY LEARNERS AND 300 PRESCHOOL EDUCATORS BY CREATING CURRICULA, HANDS-ON MATERIALS, CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS, AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING TO SUPPORT SCIENCE LITERACY ACROSS VT. TO REACH FURTHER, ECHO IS COLLABORATING WITH VERMONT PBS TO DELIVER OUR HIGH- QUALITY CURRICULUM TO PRESCHOOLERS THROUGH AN EMMY NOMINATED CHILDREN'S SHOW. AS TWO TRUSTED BRANDS IN VERMONT, TOGETHER WE WILL CARRY SCIENCE EDUCATION BEYOND THE CLASSROOM AND ENRICH AFTER-SCHOOL TIME IN HOMES. - K-6TH GRADE OUTREACH: ECHO IS COMMITTED TO ADDRESSING GEOGRAPHIC EQUITY BY PARTNERING WITH ISOLATED AND LOW-RESOURCE SCHOOLS THAT LACK SCIENCE SPECIALISTS, LIBRARIES, AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES IN RURAL COMMUNITIES ACROSS VERMONT. OVER THE NEXT TWO YEARS, ECHO WILL ENGAGE: - 500 TEACHERS IN CLASSROOMS ACROSS THE STATE WITH WORKSHOPS, PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT TRAINING, CONTINUING EDUCATION CREDITS, AND CLASSROOM COACHING SUPPORT - 5,000 STUDENTS WITH NEW CURRICULUM AND KIT-BASED MATERIALS - REGIONAL LIBRARIES AND SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES TO SUPPORT 5,000+ FAMILIES MEMBERS WITH COMMUNITY STEM NIGHTS IN CELEBRATION OF SCIENCE EXCELLENCE - ECHO EARLY LEARNING (EEL): ECHO IS ENGAGING THE NEW AMERICAN, REFUGEE, AND UNDER-SERVED POPULATIONS TO PREPARE CHILDREN FOR TRANSITION TO FORMAL PRESCHOOL OR KINDERGARTEN. THIS FREE, WEEKLY, INFORMAL CARE PROGRAM FOR BIRTH-FIVE CHILDREN, SUPPORTS PLAY-BASED LEARNING FOR CHILD AND CAREGIVER TOGETHER; READING-READINESS; AND CAREGIVER LEARNING AND RESOURCES TO FOSTER SAFE, SUPPORTIVE, AND ENRICHING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN AT HOME. - SUMMER & VACATION CAMPS: ECHO OFFERS A DOZEN CAMPS FOR K-5 YOUTH IN A DIVERSITY OF SCIENCE TOPICS THROUGHOUT THE YEAR. - E-TEAM: OUR YEAR-LONG TEEN LEADERSHIP PROGRAM INSPIRES 9TH-10TH GRADE HIGHLY DIVERSE STUDENTS TO DEVELOP CAREER SKILLS IN LEADERSHIP, STEM, GOAL SETTING, CONFLICT RESOLUTION, PUBLIC SPEAKING, SCIENCE COMMUNICATION, FINANCIAL LITERACY, DECISION MAKING, AND TEAMWORK. AS A CAPSTONE, THEY LEAD THE ANNUAL COMMUNITY SCIENCE NIGHT FOR 750 PEOPLE FROM THE MENTOR VERMONT COMMUNITY. COLLEGE INTERN AND VOLUNTEER PROGRAM ANNUALLY, 75 UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS GAIN CAREER-RELEVANT EXPERIENCE IN ANIMAL CARE, EDUCATION, INFORMATION TECHNOLOGY, COMMUNICATIONS, AND EVENT MANAGEMENT, WORKING CLOSELY WITH STAFF MENTORS TO FURTHER INDIVIDUAL CAREER GOALS. ADDITIONALLY, 200 EDUCATION AND ANIMAL CARE VOLUNTEERS - RANGING FROM AGE 14 TO 84 - SERVE 16,000+ HOURS ANNUALLY. SAVING THREATENED TURTLES - 500 AND GROWING ECHO IS CELEBRATING ITS 13TH ANNIVERSARY PARTNERING WITH VERMONT FISH AND WILDLIFE IN THE SPINY SOFTSHELL TURTLE HEADSTART PROGRAM. NEONATES COLLECTED BY STAFF FROM NESTS DUG UP BY PREDATORS IN LATE SEPTEMBER ARE BROUGHT TO ECHO FOR OVERWINTERING. THEY ARE RELEASED THE FOLLOWING JUNE BY STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND MEMBERS. SUPPORTING OUR ADULT COMMUNITY WITH NEW CAREER SKILLS ECHO WORKS WITH MULTIPLE COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS AND STATEWIDE DEPARTMENTS TO SUPPORT CAREER DEVELOPMENT, RE-TRAINING, AND BUILD SKILLS FOR FUTURE PLACEMENTS. ADDITIONALLY, TWICE A YEAR, SOME CANDIDATES WORK WITH A PEER, CASEWORKER OR MENTOR TO DO 2 TO 4 HOURS OF SERVICE IN THE ANIMAL CARE AND FACILITIES DEPARTMENT. SERVICE AGENCIES INCLUDE HOWARD CENTER, REACH UP, DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, TRANSITIONAL SERVICES, AND VERMONT ASSOCIATES, TO NAME A FEW. RESPONDING TO SOCIAL JUSTICE IS A CORE VALUE ECHO'S OPEN DOOR PROGRAM STRIVES TO MAKE THE SCIENCE CENTER ACCESSIBLE FOR ALL. CREATED TO SPECIFICALLY BREAK DOWN FINANCIAL, GEOGRAPHIC, AND CULTURAL BARRIERS, ECHO FINDS AFFORDABLE AND EQUITABLE WAYS TO ALLOW ALL MEMBERS OF OUR COMMUNITY TO HAVE ACCESS TO OUR SERVICES AND RESOURCES. BY WORKING WITH AN EXTENSIVE NETWORK OF MORE THAN 65 SOCIAL SERVICE PARTNERS WE REACH OUT TO LOW-RESOURCED FAMILIES, NEW AMERICANS, AND THE UNDERSERVED RESIDENTS IN THIS AREA, FOCUSING ON EVERYTHING FROM CHILDREN'S SPACES FOR OUR YOUNGEST COMMUNITY MEMBERS TO ACTIVE MILITARY SERVICE FAMILIES. IT IS BECAUSE OF THIS PROGRAM THAT MENTOR PAIRS ALL OVER VERMONT HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO EXPERIENCE ECHO AT A DISCOUNTED RATE ANY DAY, NOT JUST ON COMMUNITY SCIENCE NIGHT. - 33,000 GUESTS RECEIVE FREE OR SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED ADMISSION - 935 DONATED MEMBERSHIPS THROUGH THE ANNUAL YOU GIVE, WE GIVE INITIATIVE - 7,240 PEOPLE USED THE LIBRARY PASS DISTRIBUTED TO 615 LIBRARIES STATEWIDE - 2,229 FAMILIES UTILIZED THE FREE MEMBERSHIP AND 4,608 2 PASSES DISTRIBUTED THROUGH 56 SOCIAL SERVICE AGENCIES. - 10,684 STUDENTS FROM SCHOOLS, PRESCHOOLS AND CITY PARKS AND RECREATION PROGRAMS VISITED. - 573 MILITARY FAMILIES WERE WELCOMED THROUGH OUR PARTICIPATION IN THE BLUE STAR MILITARY FREE ADMISSION PROGRAM. - 1,235 PEOPLE VISITED DURING THE MARTIN LUTHER KING, JR. DAY AND COMMUNITY SCIENCE NIGHTS. EQUITY, EMPOWERMENT, AND INCLUSION WE TAKE OUR ROLE AS A COMMUNITY SCIENCE AND NATURE CENTER SERIOUSLY, AND WE BELIEVE IN OUR PRIORITY OF BEING WELCOMING TO ALL. RECENT STAFF TRAININGS HAVE HIGHLIGHTED SYSTEMIC OPPRESSION, SOCIAL AND RACIAL EQUITY, GENDER AND IDENTITIES, DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION, AND SUPPORTING GUESTS AND VOLUNTEERS ON THE AUTISM SPECTRUM. WE ARE ALSO PRIORITIZING ACCOMMODATIONS FOR GUESTS. THIS YEAR, ECHO PARTNERED WITH THE CITY OF BURLINGTON TO INSTALL A MAMAVA LACTATION POD IN ECHO. THROUGH FEEDBACK GATHERED IN THE COMMUNITY, WE PILOTED A SUCCESSFUL SENSORY-FRIENDLY EVENT FOR KIDS, TEENS, AND ADULTS WITH SENSORY PROCESSING DIFFERENCES, AUTISM SPECTRUM DISORDER OR DEVELOPMENTAL DISABILITIES. THIS PROVIDED AN OPPORTUNITY FOR GUESTS WHO WOULD OTHERWISE HAVE BARRIERS TO VISITING ECHO TO FEEL WELCOME AND INCLUDED IN OUR PROGRAMS AND SPACE. IT WAS A SUCCESSFUL EVENT AND WE HAVE IMPLEMENTED A REGULAR SCHEDULE MOVING FORWARD. LEVERAGING THE POWER OF 150 WATERSHED STAKEHOLDERS ECHO CONVENES THE CLEAN WATER NETWORK - PARTICIPANTS FROM LOCAL, REGIONAL AND STATE GOVERNMENT, NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATIONS, BUSINESSES, FARMS, AND COMMUNITIES OF FAITH - EVERY 90 DAYS TO BUILD A CULTURE OF CLEAN WATER ACROSS THE STATE OF VERMONT. MEMBERS AFFIRM THE NETWORK'S VALUE AND ROLE, GIVEN THE CHANGING POLITICAL LANDSCAPE AT THE STATE AND FEDERAL LEVELS, AND PRIORITIZE COLLECTIVE IMPACT ACTIONS FOR THE NEXT QUARTER. TO PROPEL THE WORK OF CREATING A CULTURE OF CLEAN WATER, ECHO CONVENES A BIENNIAL LEAHY CENTER ENVIRONMENTAL SUMMIT, BRINGING STAKEHOLDERS FROM ACROSS THE STATE AND REGION TO DEVELOP COLLABORATIVE STRATEGIES.

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