ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain

The ECHO Lake Aquarium & Science Center will launch the “Youth Stewardship Initiative” to connect youth aged 5 to 18 to practicing scientists and stewardship opportunities. The project involves three partners: the Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the University of Vermont’s Rubenstein Ecosystem Science Laboratory, and the Lake Champlain Basin Program. Programs will be designed to engage three age ranges in lake science and stewardship practice, including 26 week-long lake science camps for youth aged 5 to 10, 2 stewardship summits for youth aged 15 to 18, and 10 lake science overnights for organized youth groups aged 8 to 14. Other project priorities will be to produce a lake science and stewardship curriculum; training for staff, volunteers, and interns implementing the three programs; a marketing and promotional package reaching target audiences; and two reports evaluating the success of the program.