| ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center | |
|---|---|
| Established | 2003 |
| Location | Burlington, Vermont |
| Type | Aquarium and science center |
| Visitor figures | 100,000 |
| Director | Phelan R. Fretz |
| Website | echovermont.org |
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center, formerly the Lake Champlain Basin Science Center, is located on the Burlington waterfront in northern Vermont. It is home to more than 70 species of fish, amphibians, invertebrates, and reptiles, major traveling exhibitions, and the multimedia Awesome Forces Theatre. The name ECHO represents the mission of the organization which is to “educate and delight” people of all ages about the Ecology, Culture, History and Opportunities for stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin.[1][2][3]
Located at the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, ECHO has been open to public since 2003, offering daily animal encounters and hands-on activities that are educational and family-friendly. The Patrick and Marcelle Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a 2.2-acre (8,900 m2) campus recognizing Senator Patrick Leahy's dedication to the stewardship of the Lake Champlain Basin. The Leahy Center is also home to the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein School of Environment and Natural Resources, Lake Champlain Basin Program Resource Room, and Lake Champlain Navy Memorial.
The Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is Vermont’s first LEED certified Green Building. It is the only lake aquarium in the United States with this certification. With this designation, ECHO is the third certified building in New England and joins a group of fewer than 70 LEED certified buildings in the United States.