An environmental education facility unique in West Central Florida, the Manatee Viewing Center makes learning about the environment and electricity fun for all ages. Inside the environmental education building, colorful displays immerse you in the world of the manatee and its habitat. Others show how Big Bend Power Station generates electricity for the community in an environmentally responsible way. See some of the power station’s beneficially reusable byproducts. Inspect actual manatee bones and piece together puzzles. And before feeling the blast of a hurricane in the center’s simulator, find out more about hurricanes and how Tampa Electric prepares for and responds to major storms.
Outside, stroll among butterfly gardens and Florida-friendly landscaping and see solar panels – the largest installation among Tampa Electric’s photovoltaic arrays in the community. Track real-time output from the array inside the education building. You also can see a variety of native and coastal plant life as you stroll along the center’s tidal walk. Catch a glimpse of animals in the wild that make the center’s habitat their home.
The Manatee Viewing Center’s stars are the manatees. When the temperature of Tampa Bay drops below 68 degrees Fahrenheit, the gentle mammals gather in the clean, warm water discharge canal of Big Bend Power Station – sometimes hundreds at a time.
To make a reservation for your school or community group, simply fill out and submit this form.
