E-Team: Thanks for a Great Year

The 2011/2012 E-Team session is coming to a close I want to take a moment to thank all of the teens involved. I find myself reflecting on my first year as the leader of this group I am overwhelmed by the enthusiasm and dedication to ECHO these high-school students have shown over the past academic year. 

E-Team member teaches guests about the water cycle.

When we started our work back in October, we were all relatively new to ECHO and the idea that the E-Team would be able to take over and run ECHO for programs was daunting to many. But these teens jumped right in, learning about object interpretation, natural sciences, environmental stewardship, the history and culture of the Champlain Basin. Collectively, the E-Team has mastered over twenty encounters, been on multiple field-trips that have encouraged off-site volunteering and the exploration of new experiences (such as the recent sailing excursion) and logged more than 1,500 volunteer hours. 

E-Team members talk about animals in the Sea Tank.

On top of these accomplishments the E-Team was able to take over operations and educational programming – opening the doors of ECHO to community groups after hours and successfully runing three Community Science Nights.   

While you will still be able to see some members of the E-Team helping educate and delight guests here at ECHO though the summer, the original team has already worked their final shifts and is getting ready for its final, celebratory meeting. To all of the E-Team – thank you from the entire staff here at ECHO. You’re contributions have been enormous. Additionally, you all have my personal thanks, congratulations and very best wishes for the future! Great work team - after a long year you deserve to take a rest. 

Relaxing after a long day of teaching guests.