ECHO Camps

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ECHO Camps

ECHO offers science, stewardship, and engineering-design themed day camps
during summer break and school vacation.

Set against the backdrop of the bustling Waterfront in Burlington, Vermont, a day at ECHO camp can move from a behind-the-scenes observation of ECHO’s animal care activities to a LEGO engineering challenge. ECHO offers a selection of exciting science, stewardship, and engineering-design themed day camps for children entering 1st to 3rd grade. Led by STEM educators, our program takes full advantage of ECHO’s exhibits and outdoor location next to beautiful Lake Champlain.

ECHO Memberships
ECHO Members receive discounts on camp rates and exclusive access to our Summer Camp registration lottery. To learn more and become a member, visit our Memberships Page.

Camp Scholarships
ECHO has limited scholarship funds available for those requiring financial assistance to participate in our camps. 
Summer 2025 scholarship application coming soon. Check back on this page or see below for more information.

Questions?
Contact
 camps@echovermont.org or (802) 864-1848 Ext. 145

Spring 2025 Vacation Camps

Registration for Science in Motion (Feb. 24–28), Spring Fling (March 3–4), and Space Explorers (April 21–25) Vacation Camp is now sold out.
To join the Spring 2025 Vacation Camps waitlist, click the link below.

Openings in camp will be filled from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis. 
Please note: this waitlist applies to Spring 2025 Vacation Camps only. For information about Summer 2025 camp registration, see below.

Summer 2025 Camp Registration

We have a different registration process this year! Keep reading for more details.

This year, camp registration for ECHO Members will be conducted through a lottery process. Due to outstanding demand for camp over the past several years, we made this change to ease the process of registering for families, as well as to improve equity in access to camp. 

Note: Applications for our scholarship fund will be processed in a separate stream; please do not submit a lottery application if you plan to apply for a scholarship.

Camp Registration Timeline

Camp registration will take place over the course of three weeks beginning Wednesday, January 15.

Wednesday, January 15
Camp applications open for ECHO Members
Note: Your application serves as your “ticket” for the registration lottery – and does not guarantee a spot in camp. 

Wednesday, January 22
Applications close.

Wednesday, January 29
Lottery acceptances notified via email.
Waitlist opens for ECHO Members not offered spots in camp. 

Wednesday, February 5
Deadline for accepted families to claim their camp registration.
Unclaimed spots begin filling from the waitlist.
Waitlist opens for non-members.

2025 Summer Camps

Nature Explorers | Grades 1–3 | June 16–20

Three campers gather around to inspect the contents of an owl pelletMonday–Friday, June 16–20, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Unravel the wonders of nature on the shores of Lake Champlain and beyond! Campers will learn about local ecosystems through hands-on science investigations, engineering challenges, and animal encounters.

ECHO Member Price: $400

 
Spy Camp | Grades 1–3 | June 23–27

Two campers use a magnifying glass to inspect a rockMonday–Friday, June 23–27, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

In this popular returning camp, our ECHO agents in training will use STEM skills to build gadgets, design secret codes, study the science of fingerprints, solve scientific mysteries, and more.

ECHO Member Price: $400

Science Loves Art | Grades 1–3 | June 30–July 3

An ECHO Camp counselor and camper crouch down to draw on the pavement with colorful chalk

Monday–Thursday, June 30–July 3, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Calling creative campers! Experiment with color, light, physics, and chemistry to create awesome artwork and dynamic designs. During this week at ECHO, campers will curate their own science art show.

ECHO Member Price: $320

Nature Explorers | Grades 1–3 | July 7–11

Three campers gather around to inspect the contents of an owl pelletMonday–Friday, July 7–11, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Unravel the wonders of nature on the shores of Lake Champlain and beyond! Campers will learn about local ecosystems through hands-on science investigations, engineering challenges, and animal encounters.

ECHO Member Price: $400

 
Spy Camp | Grades 1–3 | July 14–18

Two campers use a magnifying glass to inspect a rockMonday–Friday, July 14–18, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

In this popular returning camp, our ECHO agents in training will use STEM skills to build gadgets, design secret codes, study the science of fingerprints, solve scientific mysteries, and more.

ECHO Member Price: $400

Science Loves Art | Grades 1–3 | July 21–25

An ECHO Camp counselor and camper crouch down to draw on the pavement with colorful chalk

Monday–Friday, July 21–25, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Calling creative campers! Experiment with color, light, physics, and chemistry to create awesome artwork and dynamic designs. During this week at ECHO, campers will curate their own science art show.

ECHO Member Price: $400

Nature Explorers | Grades 1–3 | July 28–August 1

Three campers gather around to inspect the contents of an owl pelletMonday–Friday, July 28–August 1, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Unravel the wonders of nature on the shores of Lake Champlain and beyond! Campers will learn about local ecosystems through hands-on science investigations, engineering challenges, and animal encounters.

ECHO Member Price: $400

 
Spy Camp | Grades 1–3 | August 4–8

Two campers use a magnifying glass to inspect a rockMonday–Friday, August 4–8, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

In this popular returning camp, our ECHO agents in training will use STEM skills to build gadgets, design secret codes, study the science of fingerprints, solve scientific mysteries, and more.

ECHO Member Price: $400

Science Loves Art | Grades 1–3 | August 11–15

An ECHO Camp counselor and camper crouch down to draw on the pavement with colorful chalk

Monday–Friday, August 11–15, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Calling creative campers! Experiment with color, light, physics, and chemistry to create awesome artwork and dynamic designs. During this week at ECHO, campers will curate their own science art show.

ECHO Member Price: $400

Nature Explorers | Grades 1–3 | August 18–22

Three campers gather around to inspect the contents of an owl pelletMonday–Friday, August 18–22, 8:30 am – 3:30 pm

Unravel the wonders of nature on the shores of Lake Champlain and beyond! Campers will learn about local ecosystems through hands-on science investigations, engineering challenges, and animal encounters.

ECHO Member Price: $400

 

Camp Scholarships

ECHO has limited scholarship funds available for those requiring financial assistance to participate in our camps. 
Summer 2025 scholarship application coming soon. Check back on this page for more information.

Note: Applications for our scholarship fund are processed separately from general camp registration; please do not submit a lottery application if you plan to apply for a scholarship.

For questions about Summer Camp scholarships, contact camps@echovermont.org or (802) 864-1848 Ext. 145

Summer Camp FAQs

This year, camp registration for ECHO Members will be conducted through a lottery process. The timeline for registration is as follows: 

  1. From Wednesday, January 15 through Wednesday, January 22, ECHO Members can complete our Summer Camp lottery application. An application is required to be selected for ECHO Camp. Applying does not guarantee a spot in ECHO Camp, as we anticipate that applicants will outnumber available spots.
  2. On Wednesday, January 29, applicants will receive an email with either their registration link and accepted camp weeks or an invitation to the Summer Camp waitlist. Accepted applicants will have until 11:59 am on Wednesday, February 5 to claim their spot in camp by completing payment in full and submitting their camper’s registration form. 
  3. Beginning at noon on Wednesday, February 5, unclaimed spots will begin filling from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis. Non-members will also be invited to join the waitlist at this time.

Applications for 2025 Summer Camps will open on Wednesday, January 15 and remain open through Wednesday, January 22. ECHO Members will receive an email and the application link will be posted on this page at that time. 

Applications for the Summer Camp registration lottery will be open from Wednesday, January 15 through Wednesday, January 22. 

Applicants offered a spot in camp will be notified on Wednesday, January 29, Following notification, selected applicants will have one week (until 11:59 am on Wednesday, February 5) to claim their spot(s) in camp.

Unclaimed spots will begin filling from the waitlist at 12:00 pm on Wednesday, February 5. 

Submitting a Summer Camp application does not guarantee a spot in ECHO Summer Camp. We anticipate that applicants will outnumber available spots.

Applicants not selected for a spot in ECHO Camp will be invited to join our Summer Camps waitlist. 

ECHO Members receive exclusive access to our camp registration lottery, priority access to our Summer Camps waitlist, and a discounted price for camp registration. 

To learn more and become an ECHO Member, visit our Memberships Page.

At this time, 2025 Summer Camp lottery applications are open to ECHO Members only. ECHO Members not selected for a spot in camp will also receive priority access to our Summer Camp waitlist beginning Wednesday, January 29. ECHO Members also receive a discount on camp registration prices. To learn more or become an ECHO Member, visit our Memberships page.

Non-members may join the waitlist beginning Wednesday, February 5. Openings in camp will be filled from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis. 

You may submit up to two campers to the registration lottery in the same general application. Children from the same application will be grouped together and may be selected for up to 2 camps as a pair. Only one application “ticket” is required per household, regardless of number of campers.

No more than two campers per household may register for the same camp. 

If you would like to place two children in separate camps, you may submit two camp applications; however, in doing so, there is a risk of only one applicant being selected for a spot in camp. 

ECHO Members who submit a camp application but are not selected for a spot in ECHO Camp will be emailed a waitlist link on Wednesday, January 29. 

Non-members will be invited to join the waitlist beginning Wednesday, February 5. A link to the waitlist will be posted on this page at that time. 

Openings in camp will fill from the waitlist on a first-come, first-served basis.

ECHO’s Guest Services representatives are not able to facilitate camp registration from the front desk. 

ECHO has limited scholarship funds available for those requiring financial assistance to participate in our camps. Summer 2025 scholarship application coming soon. Check back on this page for more information.

Note: Applications for our scholarship fund are processed separately from general camp registration; please do not submit a general application if you plan to apply for a scholarship. Scholarship recipients may register for 1 week per child.

At this time, ECHO is no longer accepting scholarship applications for Spring 2025 Vacation Camps. 

Due to outstanding demand for ECHO Summer Camps over the past several years, ECHO is switching to a lottery process to ease the process of registering for families and improve equity in access to camp. 

For questions about ECHO Camps, contact camps@echovermont.org or (802) 864-1848 Ext. 145

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