DETROIT – The Michigan Science Center and ITC Holdings Corp. will host a special Arbor Day program on Friday with schools throughout the state to highlight the museum’s new ECHO Distance Learning Program.

ECHO, part of the Science Center’s Traveling Science program, uses video conferencing to connect classrooms from any location with a museum educator who conducts interactive lessons in real time. ITC Vice President of Engineering Joe Bennett will team up with the Science Center for a special Arbor Day lesson on the importance of trees, how ITC works with communities to safely plant the trees away from power lines, and how ITC helps promote natural habitats in its electricity transmission corridors.

“We are excited to work with ITC on this Arbor Day program,” said Charles Gibson, Michigan Science Center director of innovation and outreach. “Variety is very important for students, and ECHO helps us approach learning from every direction. When we use a variety of techniques, we can transform how students learn.”

ECHO content is aligned with Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS), a new set of national science standards designed to help students achieve a cohesive understanding of science over time. ECHO combines technology and hands-on elements to engage students and transform how they learn. The program is made possible by a $300,000 donation from ITC.

“ITC is proud to be a longtime supporter of the Michigan Science Center, and to help bring its programming to the far reaches of the state to communities like Adrian, Grayling, Durand, New Boston, Port Huron and more, which are also served by ITC,” said Bennett. “Furthermore, we know that the budding young scientists, mathematicians and engineers we are inspiring today will develop the energy solutions of the future.”