A New Exhibit for an Old Legend
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain in Burlington, Vermont, recently opened its new Champ: America’s Lake Monster exhibit, celebrating the enduring folklore of Lake Champlain’s most famous resident. As part of this colorful and immersive space, Workinman Interactive designed and produced four custom digital exhibits that mix play, history, and education to give visitors an unforgettable encounter with the legend of Champ.
Games that Bring Folklore to Life
The Champ Through the Ages section features three original kiosk games, each authored in Workinman’s powerful HTML5 engine and displayed on touchscreens throughout a vibrant timeline of Champ folklore.
Champ Snap invites players to channel their inner photographer, racing to capture a clear photo of Champ while dodging birds, otters, and drifting logs. Inspired by the famous 1977 Sandra Mansi photograph, the game captures a retro look and exhilarating feel.
In Cryptid Inspector, guests test their observation skills by sorting real animals from mythical creatures in a rapid-fire trivia challenge that awards playful titles at the end.
The Great Serpent Escape, styled like a classic P. T. Barnum show poster, turns the lake monster’s tale into a Frogger-style adventure, as players guide Champ past mobs, cows, and locomotives to freedom. The game is inspired by P. T. Barnum’s notorious offer to reward $50,000 to anyone who could bring him Champ’s hide.
A Digital Aquarium Full of Champs
Beyond the timeline games, Workinman expanded on its acclaimed SketchTank platform to create the Champ Design Studio, a four-screen digital aquarium experience. Here, visitors design their own Champ, choosing body parts inspired by historic sightings, adding color, personality, and flair. Once complete, their unique monster swims out into a massive digital display of Lake Champlain, where it joins others in the community’s growing pod of creations. Guests can even return to the kiosks to design custom foods and watch their Champ devour the snack in real time.
Workinman’s exhibit design team collaborated closely with ECHO’s experts to ensure the games and creative studio reflected authentic details from Champ lore while also delivering fun, approachable experiences for families. The result is a collection of digital exhibits that blends history with play, folklore with technology, and leaves visitors with both a smile and a story to share.
Learn more about the Champ: America’s Lake Monster exhibit and play those minigames here.
About ECHO
ECHO, Leahy Center for Lake Champlain, is a dynamic science and nature museum located on the Burlington waterfront. Dedicated to inspiring and engaging visitors with the ecology, culture, and history of the Lake Champlain Basin, ECHO combines interactive exhibits, live animal encounters, and innovative programs to spark curiosity and stewardship in every guest.
About Workinman
Workinman Interactive is a leading studio in digital exhibit design, creating playful, educational, and deeply engaging experiences for museums, aquariums, and science centers across the country. From interactive games to our customizable SketchTank Virtual Coloring Aquarium, we specialize in transforming spaces into hands-on digital adventures that connect with audiences of all ages.
