FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
November 11, 2014
Contact: Steve Smith
Director of Animal Care
802.864.1848 ext. 128
ssmith@echovermont.org

“ILLUMINATE THE LAKE” Winter Festival at ECHO
19-day celebration of animals in winter, December 13 through 31
Includes Reindeer, Opossum, Skunks, Husky Dogs and more.

BURLINGTON, Vt. — The holidays can be a frenetic and hectic time for families so ECHO is mixing it up a little this season by presenting a 19-day festival that focuses on the animals in our region highlighted by three Saturday’s of visiting mammals to the aquarium and science center.

“We want to draw people’s attention to the animals of our region and get them thinking about what they do in the winter, how they survive. The mammals we have coming will help us tell a deeper story of winter, survival and the history of these animals and their habitats”, said Steve Smith, ECHO’s Director of Animal Care.

ECHO educators and animal care staff will use the nineteen days from December 13 through December 31 as a way to educate folks on the winter habits and habitats of some of the region’s best known animals as well as introduce a series of mammals over the three Saturday’s that are part of the festival. Animals demonstrations will be at 11:30, 12:30 and 2:00 p.m. each of the three Saturdays and all of the events are FREE with admission to ECHO.

Schedule:
Saturday, December 13, Wildlife Encounters. Meet and learn about the Arctic Fox, Skunk, Groundhog, Porcupine and Opossum, our region’s only marsupial.

Saturday, December 20, Saturday: October Siberian Huskies. Learn and meet this gentle and loyal breed of dogs. Find out about the history of sled dogs, the science of keeping them healthy, the equipment used and the many commands they learn.

Saturday, December 27, Vermont Reindeer. Meet, greet, pet and learn about reindeer. Find out about their connection to other wildlife in our region. Learn about their history and how they came to be connected to the holidays.

Daily demonstrations and activities every day will include investigating the winter habits of the fish, turtles, frogs and snakes of our region. Multiple hands-on activities include snowflake making, burying a moose in snowflakes, exploring animal fur, stitching snowflakes, wildlife films and more.

The interior and exterior of ECHO will be illuminated with white lights and in the evening folks on the waterfront can enjoy a creative lightshow across and up and down the façade of the aquarium. This light show was programmed with the help of members of Generator, a maker space supporting the creativity and collaboration among artist, engineers and entrepreneurs. More information at http://www.generatorvermont.com

BONUS: On December 31, New Year’s Eve: Guests with First Night Buttons get in ½ price all day.

For more information call (toll-free) 1.877.324.6386 or visit www.echovermont.org