So long, fare well, and thank you.

June is always bittersweet for us at ECHO. We are gearing up for a busy summer season, welcoming camps, out of town guests and generally enjoying the beautiful ECHO deck, but it is also the time we say goodbye to many interns and volunteers, including the E-team, our environmental ambassadors.

The E-team spent the last 8 months at ECHO learning everything about the Ecology Culture History and Opportunity of the Basin and learning how to share this information in a fun and educational way with visitors.

As the E-Team coordinator, I am especially proud of the accomplishments of the E-team this year because we are now officially a part of the ASTC (Association for Science and Technology Centers) Youth Inspired Challenge. This initiative is inspired by President Obama’s goal to increase STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering and Mathematics) knowledge in our nation’s youth. At ECHO we have cultivated a small community of young learners that is curious about the natural world and science, looks forward to a future education and career in science, and values education and dialogue on the issues. Congratulations E-team, and thank you for being leaders. You are the future of the Lake Champlain Basin!

Written by Kirsten Brewer, ECHO's Open Door Coordinator, Americorps State
(posted by Gerianne Smart, Director of Marketing and Communications)

Pictured: 2011 ECHO E-Team! © ECHO