Tanya Monforte

Review of ECHO Lake Aquarium and Science...

The educational mission statement of the museum cl...

The educational mission statement of the museum claims "our expert education staff works to create a connection to Lake Champlain that in turn helps develop a strong sense of stewardship-- igniting a passion to make our home a better place." I do not believe the museum meets its own mission statement.

Our visit to the museum began quite hopeful with the exhibit about Love and Forgiveness. It was very well executed and perfectly interactive for our six year old. It was well thought out and enjoyable. However, once you enter the animals exhibits it becomes clear that this is a museum built with the interests of the observer in mind and not the basic needs of the animals hailing from the Lake. Besides food and water, it seems as if an institution such as this should work to ensure the animals' basic needs for exercise or even minimal movement should be considered. The tanks and cages are so small that there is literally no space for movement for several of the animals.

I was struck particularly by the case for the frogs. The american bullfrog is cased in a clear cylinder that is slightly larger than his body. The animal would not be able to stretch its legs out at any moment. Hopping is obviously never possible. It is kept in a case so that it is purely for display. There were other striking examples of tanks that were far too small for the animal in question. I am not alone in feeling uneasy with this museum. Other parents I talked with who are also interested in conservation and science are becoming irritated by the conditions animals are kept in "educational" facilities such as the Echo Museum.

It is difficult to imagine that the project of teaching future generations about the importance of respect for the natural environment is possible as long as sentient beings are displayed as props. I can only hope these practices which fail to find respect for the natural world will be remanded to the history of environmental education as they have no place in a forward looking pedagogy.