ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain — Local services in Burlington

The educational mission statement of the museum claims "our expert education staff works to create a connection to Lake Champlain that in turn helps develop a strong sense of stewardship-- igniting a passion to make our home a better place." I do not believe the museum meets its own mission statement.

Our visit to the museum began quite hopeful with the exhibit about Love and Forgiveness. It was very well executed and perfectly interactive for our six year old. It was well thought out and enjoyable. However, once you enter the animals exhibits it becomes clear that this is a museum built with the interests of the observer in mind and not the basic needs of the animals hailing from the Lake. Besides food and water, it seems as if an institution such as this should work to ensure the animals' basic needs for exercise or even minimal movement should be considered. The tanks and cages are so small that there is literally no space for movement for several of the animals.

I was struck particularly by the case for the frogs. The american bullfrog is cased in a clear cylinder that is slightly larger than his body. The animal would not be able to stretch its legs out at any moment. Hopping is obviously never possible. It is kept in a case so that it is purely for display. There were other striking examples of tanks that were far too small for the animal in question. I am not alone in feeling uneasy with this museum. Other parents I talked with who are also interested in conservation and science are becoming irritated by the conditions animals are kept in "educational" facilities such as the Echo Museum.

It is difficult to imagine that the project of teaching future generations about the importance of respect for the natural environment is possible as long as sentient beings are displayed as props. I can only hope these practices which fail to find respect for the natural world will be remanded to the history of environmental education as they have no place in a forward...

I wasn't expecting to go here. I was hanging with my friend from out of town, they told me about this place. I was lucky enough to come here during an outside event, the polar plunge. Once the plunges I had seen were over, I couldn't watch EVERY one take the plunge, I was frozen. I felt lucky that this place has a bench area by the restroom and the gift shop. I was thankful for the warmth, and the available coffee to help warm up my hands. After the Polar Plunge we went around this place. They have SO MUCH TO SEE! I found myself playing with the sound machines that are visible when You first walk in, just look up. I have now been here a few different times, and I don't know what is my favorite activity, there's so much hands on stuff to do. The cost is worth it, since I did spend almost my entire days here when I come to 'play'. I really like the map that shows the difference in the topography from Canada to New England, I have been to Canada a few times, I never thought of it as FLAT, but that map really put the landscape into perspective, and explained even more, why Vermont doesn't have the housing other places do, there's a lot of mountain land, not like Massachusetts, or Canada, where there are plateaus that make habitation possible. I was really impressed by the map. I did have fun building a zip line that had to get the turtle down safely, the poor turtle would be dead 100 times over if I had to really build the zip line platforms, it was fun to 'competitive' with kids that don't usually have an equal hand of failure. We were all 'trash talking', the worker was probably sore from laughing, I forgot how honestly mean kids can be when allowed to trash talk, I enjoyed it, but I am still licking my metaphorical wounds! Will be back for another trip in the...

I’m in the minority of reviews It seems, and indeed my niece did have a nice time, but it remains that the interactive science portions are poorly maintained, and do not work well. Kids can still entertain themselves, but I wouldn’t come for them being able to absorb concepts.

It had been several months since our first visit and still under construction, still full price (not complaining much about that, they need the money), still not communicating that movie tickets are on top of admission tickets (but where is admission money going if not to maintain the functionality and cleanliness of the science portion?)

I’m just again disappointed and want Vermont to do better. Take cues from the Orlando Science Center.

The wood turtle is an amazing little guy. Didn’t see him last time. Also enjoyed the live show (but could you please not double book events so kids have to miss feeding times? With what little is going on it seems possible).

Sorry to be so critical, but Vermont is my home state and I grew up here, and other science centers are outclassing us. Please do minimal upkeep and resetting of exhibits, or replace so that concepts are well conveyed.

There is cool stuff here and kids will entertain themselves but I’ll be looking for other museums until construction is done. Seemed better when I moved 10 years ago, but perhaps that’s because I had nothing to compare it to. There should be continual improvement. What’s going on?

I want to be able to privatize this review because I want people to come and enjoy themselves, I’m sure they still will, but management needs to be aware and...