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ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

  • Group:Parks & Museums

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

Admits up to four people for $7 per person. Pass is valid for general admission only. The most up to date information regarding open days and hours is available on their Hours & Admission page.

ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is a premier science and nature museum located on Burlington’s scenic waterfront, dedicated to inspiring families with interactive discovery, environmental stewardship, and the wonders of the Champlain Basin. Since opening in 2003, this vibrant learning center has offered over 100 hands-on exhibits, a live-animal gallery featuring more than 70 local aquatic and terrestrial species, an immersive 3D theater, and traveling and special seasonal exhibits. Housed in Vermont’s first LEED-certified lakefront aquarium, ECHO blends sustainability with education, showcasing everything from engineering challenges and lake weather systems to a towering replica of Champ, Lake Champlain’s legendary cryptid.

Visitors can explore a variety of engaging indoor experiences—from early childhood STEM play in Champ Lane and interactive zones like Awesome Forces and Engineer It!, to daily animal encounters and special exhibits such as the current Rube Goldberg contraptions. The Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater offers science films to complement learning, while seasonal programming, outreach events, and a STEM-filled traveling festival extend ECHO’s mission beyond its walls. Families can also pause at the café for a waterfront creemee or stroll the adjacent Lake Champlain walkway. With rich, hands-on exploration and a commitment to accessibility, ECHO ensures visitors of all ages leave with new insights into science, nature, and the health of the Lake Champlain ecosystem.