Leahy Center For Lake Champlain Inc

ALL OF THE FOLLOWING IMPROVEMENTS WILL TAKE PLACE AT THE LEAHY CENTER’S EXISTING MUSEUM BUILDING. PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF EQUIPMENT WILL BE UNDERTAKEN BY TO BE DETERMINED CONTRACTORS. CONTRACTORS WILL BE CHOSEN VIA A COMPETITIVE BIDDING PROCESS UTILIZING VARIOUS REQUEST FOR PROPOSALS (RFPS). THE OVERALL GOAL OF THESE IMPROVEMENTS IS TO DECARBONIZE THE LEAHY CENTER’S ENERGY PROFILE BY ELIMINATING THE USE OF FOSSIL FUELS TO HEAT AND COOL THE MUSEUM FACILITY. THE WORK WILL TAKE PLACE OVER TWO BUDGET PERIODS. DEVELOPING PLANS, WRITING SPECIFICATIONS, AND PRODUCING CONSTRUCTIONS DOCUMENTS AND WRITING THE VARIOUS RFPS WILL TAKE PLACE IN BUDGET PERIOD 1 (BP1). BP1 WILL ALSO INCLUDE ISSUING THE RFP TO SOLICIT QUOTES AND CHOOSING THE VARIOUS INSTALLATION CONTRACTORS. PROCUREMENT AND INSTALLATION OF ALL OF THE EQUIPMENT AND SYSTEMS DETAILED ABOVE WILL TAKE PLACE IN BUDGET PERIOD 2 (BP2). THE CREATION OF THE EDUCATION PROGRAMS AND EXHIBITS WILL ALSO TAKE PLACE IN BP2.

THIS AWARD WILL HELP ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS: * BROADEN OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN TO UNDERSERVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNITY

THE LEAHY CENTER'S PROJECT TITLED "INSPIRING LAKE CHAMPLAIN STEWARDSHIP" WILL UPGRADE ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN'S (ECHO) INTO THE LAKE EXHIBIT GALLERY. ECHO IS A 34,500-SQUARE-FOOT NATIVE ANIMAL AQUARIUM AND SCIENCE MUSEUM LOCATED IN BURLINGTON, VT ON THE SHORES OF LAKE CHAMPLAIN. THE UPGRADED GALLERY WILL FEATURE AN EXPANDED 20,000-GALLON TANK AND UPDATED INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, INTERPRETIVE DISPLAYS, AND SMALLER ANIMAL TANKS. IT WILL SERVE TO EDUCATE THE PUBLIC ABOUT THE IMPORTANCE OF NATIVE WILDLIFE AND THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN ECOSYSTEM. ACTIVITIES TO BE PERFORMED INCLUDE DETAIL DESIGN, DURING WHICH ECHO WILL WORK WITH A DESIGN FABRICATION TO DEVELOP THE TECHNICAL SOLUTIONS NEEDED TO EXECUTE THE UPGRADED INTO THE LAKE GALLERY, AND PRODUCTION AND INSTALLATION, DURING WHICH ALL FINAL TANKS, THEMATIC ELEMENTS, INTERACTIVE EXHIBITS, MEDIA, AND GRAPHICS ARE FABRICATED, ASSEMBLED, SHIPPED, AND INSTALLED. AS A RESULT OF THIS PROJECT, MUSEUM VISITORS WILL HAVE A

THIS AWARD WILL HELP ACCOMPLISH THESE GOALS: 1) BROADEN OUTREACH AND EDUCATION ABOUT THE LAKE CHAMPLAIN BASIN TO UNDERSERVED MEMBERS OF THE COMMUNIT

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

RURAL STEM INITIATIVE

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS

ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN WILL BUILD ON ITS LONG-TERM PARTNERSHIP WITH THE VERMONT ABENAKI COMMUNITY TO IMPROVE INTERPRETATION AND RENEW SUPPORT FOR COMMUNITY PRIORITIES. THROUGH EVALUATION AND ONGOING COLLABORATION WITH ABENAKI PARTNERS, ECHO WILL DESIGN AN EXHIBIT FOR ITS “NATIVE CONNECTIONS” GALLERY AND PROVIDE STAFF WITH CULTURAL COMPETENCY TRAINING TO IMPROVE THEIR CAPACITY TO BUILD AND MAINTAIN HEALTHY COMMUNITY PARTNERSHIPS. ECHO WILL ALSO HOST A PROGRAM SERIES SPEARHEADED BY THE VERMONT ABENAKI ALLIANCE TO ADDRESS ITS NEED TO CULTIVATE THE NEXT GENERATION OF LEADERS, ALIGN CULTURAL REVITALIZATION EFFORTS, AND BUILD CONSENSUS AMONG THE FOUR TRIBAL BANDS. AS A RESULT, ECHO WILL APPROPRIATELY INTERPRET THE ABENAKI COMMUNITY STORY AND HONOR ITS VOICE; THE NEXT GENERATION OF ABENAKI LEADERS WILL FEEL A RENEWED CONNECTION TO THEIR CULTURAL HERITAGE; AND A DEEPER UNDERSTANDING OF THE ABENAKI EXPERIENCE WILL INFORM MUSEUM PRACTICES.

ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN WILL INCREASE ITS CAPACITY TO SERVE RURAL SCHOOLS THROUGH PROGRAMMING OPPORTUNITIES UNDER ITS STEM IN MOTION 2.0 PROGRAM. IN PARTNERSHIP WITH RURAL SCHOOLS, THEY WILL CONDUCT TWO YEAR-LONG TEACHER INSTITUTES BLENDING IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT. THEY PLAN TO DEVELOP A TOTAL OF 270 IN-PERSON AND VIRTUAL CLASSROOM STEM PROGRAMS AND PRODUCE 18 CLASSROOM CURRICULUM KITS AND STANDARD-ACTIVITY ALIGNED GUIDES. AS A RESULT OF STEM IN MOTION 2.0'S ACTIVITIES, THE MUSEUM ANTICIPATE THAT 54 TEACHERS WILL HAVE ADDITIONAL CAPACITY TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES TO K-5TH GRADE STUDENTS IN UNDERSERVED, RURAL COMMUNITIES.

ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN WILL LAUNCH THE PARTNERS IN SCHOOL SCIENCE EXCELLENCE (SCIEXCEL) PROJECT, DESIGNED TO DELIVER HIGH-QUALITY STEM OPPORTUNITIES TO LOW-RESOURCED STUDENTS BY GROWING THE CAPACITY OF NORTHWESTERN VERMONT SCHOOLS THAT LACK SCIENCE SUBJECT SPECIALISTS. BUILDING ON LESSONS LEARNED FROM NATIONAL AND REGIONAL MUSEUM-SCHOOL PARTNERSHIP MODELS, ECHO WILL FACILITATE SCHOOL SELF-ASSESSMENTS IN WHICH PARTNER SCHOOLS WILL EVALUATE THEIR CURRENT STEM PROGRAMS AND IDENTIFY ACTIONS FOR IMPROVEMENT. THE MUSEUM WILL WORK CLOSELY WITH THREE PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND NINE HEAD START PRESCHOOLS TO PROVIDE COACHING, TEACHING METHODS, AND CURRICULUM CONSULTATION. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO OFFER COMMUNITY STEM NIGHTS WHERE PARTNER SCHOOLS WILL ENGAGE FAMILIES IN THE CELEBRATION OF SCIENCE EXCELLENCE. THE PROJECT WILL ALLOW THE MUSEUM TO STRENGTHEN ITS EXISTING RELATIONSHIPS WITH LOW PERFORMING PRIMARY SCHOOLS AND HEAD START PRESCHOOLS WHILE EXPANDING ITS GEOGRAPHIC REACH TO RURAL SERVICE AREAS.

ECHO WILL ENHANCE ITS CAPACITY TO DELIVER IMPACTFUL STEM LEARNING EXPERIENCES FOR ITS VISITORS THROUGH THE IMPLEMENTATION OF A RE-ENERGIZED VOLUNTEER PROGRAM. THE MUSEUM WILL RESEARCH INNOVATIVE PRACTICES FROM THE FIELD AND BUILD UPON BEST PRACTICES FROM ACROSS INSTITUTIONS TO OVERHAUL ITS VOLUNTEER TRAINING AND MANAGEMENT SYSTEMS. PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL INCLUDE BUILDING A BLENDED TRAINING CURRICULUM, IN WHICH VOLUNTEERS PARTICIPATE IN ASYNCHRONOUS AND IN-PERSON INTERPRETIVE CONTENT, AND DIVERSITY AND INCLUSION TRAININGS. THE MUSEUM WILL ALSO IMPROVE ITS VOLUNTEER TRACKING SYSTEMS, STRENGTHEN STAFF SUPERVISOR TRAINING, AND REVITALIZE ITS VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION AND ENGAGEMENT ACTIVITIES. A COMMUNITY OF PRACTICE WILL ENGAGE THREE OTHER SCIENCE CENTERS TO INFORM PROJECT ACTIVITIES AND ASSIST WITH THE DISSEMINATION OF A SET OF TRAINING TOOLS ADAPTABLE ACROSS INSTITUTIONS.

ECHO, THE LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN, WILL WORK WITH A CONSULTANT TO INCREASE ORGANIZATIONAL CAPACITY TO ADDRESS DIVERSITY, EQUITY, INCLUSION, AND ACCESS (DEIA) ISSUES ACROSS THE MUSEUM. PROJECT ACTIVITIES INCLUDE ASSESSING AND UPDATING MUSEUM POLICIES AND PROTOCOLS, TRAINING STAFF, BOARD, AND LEADERSHIP, AND DEVELOPING STRATEGIC ACTIONS FOR DEPARTMENTS ACROSS THE MUSEUM, INCLUDING FACILITIES, GUEST SERVICES, COMMUNICATIONS, PROGRAMS, AND WORKPLACE. THE MUSEUM WILL CONVENE A DEIA COMMUNITY ADVISORY PANEL AND A SERIES OF COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS TO INFORM THEIR WORK. THE OUTCOME OF PROJECT ACTIVITIES WILL BE AN INCREASE IN THE MUSEUM'S ABILITY TO SERVE ITS COMMUNITY BY INCREASING THE CAPACITY OF THE STAFF AND GOVERNING BODY TO APPLY A DEIA LENS TO ALL ASPECTS OF MUSEUM OPERATIONS.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

THE LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN INC. WILL PARTNER WITH VERMONT BUSINESSES FOR SOCIAL RESPONSIBILITY, WATERSHEDS UNITED VERMONT, VERMONT INTERFAITH POWER & LIGHT, AND WE ALL BELONG ON A PROJECT TO CREATE A CULTURE OF CLEAN WATER. THE PROJECT AIMS TO DEVELOP A MODEL FOR MUSEUMS AND LIBRARIES TO ENGAGE COMMUNITIES IN SOLVING THEIR MOST PRESSING CHALLENGES BY ENGAGING UNDERSERVED AND NONTRADITIONAL POPULATIONS, THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY, COMMUNITIES OF FAITH AND IN-STATE, REGIONAL WATERSHED ORGANIZATIONS. BY HOSTING COMMUNITY LISTENING SESSIONS, CONDUCING COLLECTIVE IMPACT TRAINING SESSIONS, AND THROUGH REGIONAL AND STATEWIDE ASSET MAPPING, THIS PROJECT WILL GENERATE AN ADAPTABLE MODEL FOR MUSEUMS, ARCHIVES, AND LIBRARIES TO LEVERAGE THEIR ROLES AS COMMUNITY BROKERS AND CONVENERS TO SUPPORT LOCAL EFFORTS TO IMPROVE AND SUSTAIN A COMMUNITY?S ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH.

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

MUSEUMS FOR AMERICA

FIE EARMARK GRANT AWARDS

DEVELOPMENT OF MISSISQUOI NWR INTERPRETIVE EXHIBIT

ECHO, LEAHY CENTER FOR LAKE CHAMPLAIN IN BURLINGTON, VERMONT, WILL ESTABLISH PROGRAMS TO HELP BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS, WHOSE SCHOOL WAS CLOSED BY THE COVID-19 PANDEMIC AND THEN CLOSED AGAIN FOR A MULTI-YEAR BUILDING RENOVATION. THE MUSEUM WILL COLLABORATE WITH THE SCHOOL TO ESTABLISH THE BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL SPECIAL ACCESS PROGRAM TO SUPPORT REPEAT VISITATION AND PROJECT-BASED LEARNING. THE MUSEUM ALSO WILL DEVELOP THE BURLINGTON HIGH SCHOOL DEVELOPMENT INSTITUTE MUSEUM PARTNERSHIP TRACK AND SERVE AS A BREAKOUT SPACE FOR TEACHERS TO PLAN LESSONS THAT INTEGRATE MUSEUM RESOURCES IN COLLABORATION WITH MUSEUM EDUCATORS. FURTHER, THE MUSEUM WILL ESTABLISH THE HIGH SCHOOL FIELD TRIP ACTIVITY AND EXTENSION LIBRARY BY PAYING TEACHERS TO REUSE THEIR MUSEUM-INTEGRATED LESSONS PLANS. THESE PRODUCTS WILL FORM THE BASIS OF A FIELD TRIP AND EXTENSION LIBRARY THAT OTHER HIGH SCHOOLS VISITING THE MUSEUM CAN USE.

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS - MUSEUMS

NATIONAL LEADERSHIP GRANTS