MOTE: Outreach Center now open

FROM PAGE 11

First Impressions

Inside the outreach center, children were immediately drawn to the invertebrate touch tank. Accompanied by her grandfather, Benjamin Webb, Harper Chastain was among the first to visit the exhibit. When asked what she touched, she said, “A starfish.”

“This is amazing. This is probably the best thing that could come out here, especially with the environment in the state it’s in,” Webb said.

“The number of exhibits is more than I expected. It’s fabulous,” Carol Carter said.

TDC member, businessman and conservationist Ed Chiles said, “We sit here on the edge of the largest gulf in the world and we know we’ve got challenges. We’ve got to educate our visitors, our locals and, most of all, our kids. They’re the ones that are going to be dealing with this for the next 60-70 years and feeling more of the impacts we’re feeling right now. We need them to make sure the people in the policy positions understand that we’ve got to protect our environment and our marine resources. This is a great place to get that message across.”

City Commissioner Charlie Salem said, “It’s great for our tourists and residents to get educated about keeping our water clean and keeping vibrant the habitat that supports so many jobs and so much recreation in this area.”

Resident Mary Bacon said, “It’s fantastic. It’s just what we needed out here.”