The New Eco-discovery Center

If you have not been there, you should visit the Nancy Foster Environmental Center at the Truman Waterfront. Although the Center is not scheduled for its grand opening until January 9, 2007, it is now open to the public Tuesday through Thursday, from 10:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. Admission is free. Get there now before the crowds.

The building housing the Center is adjacent to the NOAA offices on the waterfront and is part of a "green" complex, an environmental friendly set of buildings, likely to win some architectural awards. Native grasses and plants are a part of the roof. This earth roof cuts the cost of cooling the building. Rainwater is collected and recycled for use in grey water and for irrigation.

The Center has wonderful interactive exhibits that will appeal to both children and adults. It also has a gift shop that sells environmental books and other items for both children and adults. This is a good place for your Christmas shopping if you are looking for books for children about the reef or ocean. The Foster Center will be a golden resource for teachers to use as an interactive teaching tool to help Key West students and others from all over the Keys learn about the unique ecology of the Florida Keys.