VermontBiz The King Street Center Lemonade Stand is serving up a twist today as they begin their 27th season, returning to the waterfront after two decades on Church Street Marketplace. In partnership with ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, the stand will be serving a variety of hand pressed citrus drinks right outside the science museum.
Photo: King Street Center lemonade stand moves to ECHO. Courtesy photo.
King Street Center bought the lemonade stand in 1997 from the owner of “Kids Lemonade”, a program that donated the majority of its profits to local youth organizations. That summer, the small wood-framed stand and 10 teens sold lemonade near Waterfront Park. Four years later, the stand celebrated its grand opening on Church Street Marketplace, who generously provided a coveted vendor spot for the nonprofit organization at no cost for the next twenty-three years.
“We are so grateful to the Church Street Marketplace for lending us one of the best spots in the city to serve our community,” said Shabnam Nolan, King Street Center’s Executive Director. “With our new strategic plan focused on deepening connections with families and community partners, moving the Lemonade Stand to ECHO, who has a longstanding history of serving children and families in Burlington, is an exciting opportunity for us.”
Almost three decades later, the King Street Center Lemonade Stand continues to be a cornerstone of the Center’s teen programming. More than building job skills, the stand has connected over 300 Burlington youth to the community and to each other – serving as a catalyst for future opportunities that have led to many successful careers in finance, culinary arts, social work, and more. This type of high-quality prevention programming has been critical to Burlington’s most vulnerable youth population, providing stipends so they can learn while earning money during a time when school is not in session and risk is at its peak.
"King Street Center's work is invaluable to the City of Burlington," said Ted Lawson, ECHO's Executive Director. "As part of our ongoing partnership, ECHO is thrilled to host King Street Lemonade this summer. We're proud to support this opportunity for young people in our community to learn important job skills."
The King Street Center Lemonade Stand will be operating Tuesday through Friday from 11:00 A.M. to 5:00 P.M. every week through mid-August.
About King Street Center
Founded in 1971, King Street Center is a 501c3 nonprofit organization located in downtown Burlington whose mission is to empower youth to explore their talents and find their voice through learning, play, and community. They serve children ages 18 months to 18 years old and their families through their Head Start Toddler and Preschool, K-5, Middle School, High School, Mentor, and Family Support programs. Every day, over 140 children receive warm meals, receive academic support, engage in enrichment activities, healthy physical activity, and career exploration. For more information on the King Street Center, visit www.kingstreetcenter.org.
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 marks 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:echovermont.org.
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