On the recordAugust 5, 2020
as the coronavirus pandemic continues and in some places worsens, every business and public institution faces significant challenges. These entities must make hard choices, adapt quickly, and ultimately find the balance between the safety of their employees and those they serve and their ability to keep their doors open. The leadership and staff of one Vermont nonprofit, ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, has been a model of perseverance, creativity, and commitment to serving the community during the COVID-19 pandemic, finding creative ways to bring their important programing and resources to the public. The center, located in Burlington, VT is dedicated to educating people of all ages and abilities about science, the natural environment, and the importance of protecting the Lake Champlain watershed and others like it. Recognizing the importance of equitable access to achieving this mission, the center utilizes several programs that break down financial barriers to its facilities and ensures that these educational opportunities are available to all. Most years see more than 167,000 visitors to this award-winning, LEED-certified facility on the Burlington shores of Lake Champlain. Visitors of all ages come to experience over 100 interactive exhibits and 70 different species of fish, amphibians, and reptiles that inhabit the ecosystem we call home.…
