Vermont Business Magazine The ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain will open a new and expanded toy store in early September in downtown Burlington in collaboration with Vermont Teddy Bear.
The Tinkering Turtle by ECHO and Vermont Teddy Bear, located at 210 College St., will feature a unique selection of hands-on STEM toys, pretend play, games, puzzles, books, and signature brands like Fat Brain, eeboo, Melissa & Doug. The store will include a Vermont Teddy Bear Design Studio, inviting guests to create their very own custom, one-of-a-kind classic.
From selecting the fur color of each part to assembling the joints, placing the heart, and filling the stuffing, this extra loveable Teddy Bear will be made for you by you.
“We’re thrilled to be opening this new store with Vermont Teddy Bear,” said Kelsey VonDerLinn, ECHO’s Director of Sales & Guest Services. “This has been a dream of ours for many years and we are enthusiastic about it coming to fruition. Being able to host Vermont Teddy Bear’s Design Studio in our space will add an exciting interactive element for guests to experience.”
The new store represents ECHO and Vermont Teddy Bear’s ongoing commitment to local community engagement and offers imaginative toys for tinkering minds. All proceeds will go to supporting science education and ECHO, Vermont’s science and nature museum.
"Our partnership with ECHO comes with a lot of excitement. As two local businesses that are committed to community growth, together, we look forward to engaging visitors with interactive educational exploration and creative thinking. Over 40 years ago Vermont Teddy Bear began as a cart on the Church Street Marketplace. I'm very pleased to be returning to downtown Burlington, this time with our Teddy Bears, Stuffed Animals, and Design Studio in The Tinkering Turtle toy store," said Bill Shouldice, Vermont Teddy Bear’s CEO.
Further information will be announced at echovermont.org and social media. The store’s opening celebration will take place on Saturday, September 23rd from 10 am - 5 pm at 210 College St.
About ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain is Vermont’s science and nature museum on the Burlington waterfront. The Museum’s mission is to inspire and engage families in the joy of scientific discovery, wonder of nature, and care of Lake Champlain. Visitors can discover over 100 interactive family experiences, 70 live species, seasonal changing exhibits, and The Northfield Savings Bank 3D Theater. ECHO aims to make the world accessible to developing minds in a way that children learn best, through hands-on science play, in Champ Lane, an early childhood exhibit. In Awesome Forces and Engineer It exhibits, visitors of all ages tackle daily engineering challenges at our tinkering bench as well as delight in discovering the forces that have shaped the Lake Champlain Basin. ECHO encourages visitors to view the natural environment as part of their neighborhood and to explore, learn about, and consider opportunities for stewardship. 2024 will mark ECHO’s 30 years of teaching more than 3 million visitors about the role of science in our culture and lives. To learn more about ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, visit: https://www.echovermont.org/
About Vermont Teddy Bear Co.
The Vermont Teddy Bear Company started in 1981 when our founder opened a cart on Church Street in Burlington, Vermont and began selling Teddy Bears that he made in his garage. Forty years later, our Bears continue to be best friends, a part of the family and beloved heirlooms. Each one of our meticulously-designed, artisan, handcrafted Bears is guaranteed for a lifetime. Vermont Teddy Bears make the perfect gifts for men, women and children for any occasion, from Christmas to new babies and everything in between. The Vermont Teddy Bear Company includes Vermont Teddy Bear, PajamaGram, and PajamaJeans. Located in Shelburne, Vermont, the VTBC creates personalized gifts that have surprised and delighted for 40 years.
Source: 8.9.2023. BURLINGTON, VT- The ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain
