ECHO is celebrating our most beloved lake monster CHAMP with at two-week-long focus on this mysterious, elusive and magical creature. Everyday during ChampFest there will be things to do, explore, witness and watch that help folks understand a little more about and what it would mean for us if Champ was swimming around in our Lake Champlain.

But the most exciting part may be this...on Saturday, February 22 during ChampFest, ECHO will have on display, for the first time to the public, the actual photo of Champ taken by Sandra Mansi in 1977! This photo will be on display from 2/22 through the end of ChampFEST on March 2.

In 2012, Ms. Mansi gifted this photo (which is copyrighted) to ECHO so that it might be used to further the message of Lake stewardship and enhance the educational programming at the science center. We are excited to make this photo available for all to see and to invite the public to view an ECHO exclusive film short (at 2 p.m. daily) that tells the story of Sandra Mansi and this now famous photo.

More information about ChampFEST and other fun activities at ECHO (such as the current traveling exhibit "Alice's Wonderland") can be found on our website: http://www.echovermont.org.

We encourage you to come on out and make the most of winter school vacation and enjoy this celebration (and more!) at ECHO!

Cheers,
Gerianne Smart
Director of Marketing & Communications
ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science Center