Forced Family Fun: History, Science and a Beautiful Cruise on Lake Champlain
Vermonters and visitors offered a chance to experience the lake in a whole new way.
Want to explore Lake Champlain like a scientist or dive into its rich history? This summer, Lake Champlain Sea Grant and University of Vermont Extension are offering public boat trips aboard the R/V Marcelle Melosira, the university’s research vessel, giving Vermonters and visitors a chance to experience the lake in a whole new way.
The trips, running in July and August, depart from both Burlington, Vermont, and Plattsburgh, New York, and come in two flavors: Lake Champlain Live and Stories of the Lake. At $35 per person for Vermont trips and $45 for New York ones (to cover extra vessel costs), these two-hour excursions are a unique way to connect with the lake. Space is limited to 24 people per trip, so early registration at go.uvm.edu/boat-trip is a smart move. A few scholarships are available—email seagrant@uvm.edu for details.
Lake Champlain Live is all about hands-on science. You’ll get to tow for plankton, check water samples for invasive species, and measure water clarity, learning how researchers study the lake’s health. It’s a chance to geek out on limnology (that’s the study of inland waters) and see the lake through a scientist’s eyes.
If history and culture are more your speed, Stories of the Lake takes you to landmarks like Red Rocks Park, Lone Rock Point, Rock Dunder (a site significant to the Abenaki), and even the Horse Ferry shipwreck near Burlington’s North Beach, weather permitting. You’ll hear about the lake’s geology, its naval history post-European settlement, and the deep ties local Native tribes have to these waters.
Trips from Vermont launch from the Rubenstein Lab/Echo Building at 3 College St. in Burlington. The schedule includes:
July 11: 10 a.m.–noon, Lake Champlain Live
July 11: 1–3 p.m., Lake Champlain Live
July 31: 5–7 p.m., Stories of the Lake
August 14: 10 a.m.–noon, Stories of the Lake
On the New York side, two trips depart from Plattsburgh City Marina at 2 Dock St., with free parking available:
July 9: 10 a.m.–noon, Lake Champlain Live
July 9: 1–3 p.m., Lake Champlain Live
Kids eight and up are welcome but must be with an adult if under 18. Everyone needs to wear closed-toe shoes for safety, and you’ll need to arrive 15 minutes early for a safety talk and liability waiver. For questions, reach out to Lake Champlain Sea Grant at seagrant@uvm.edu or (802) 777-9130. If you need accommodations, contact Student Accessibility Services at access@uvm.edu or (802) 656-7753 at least two weeks ahead.
Whether you’re curious about the lake’s ecosystem or its storied past, these trips offer a rare chance to cruise Champlain with experts who know it best. Don’t wait—spots won’t last long.
Explain limnology further
Explore Abenaki history
Make it more engaging