June 9, 2021 | St. Lucie Cultural Alliance | Member Spotlight – Rachel Tennant
Contributed by Dorothy Kamm
Member Spotlight – Rachel Tennant
Rachel Tennant, Managing More Than Manatees
Manatee Observation and Education Center
As a child Rachel Tennant, Manager of Manatee Observation and Education Center in Fort Pierce spent her free time exploring the outdoors. Growing up in Hollywood, Florida, she saw trees cut down and land cleared for development and she wondered where the animals would go.
Her affinity for nature and her curiosity led her to major in environmental science – specifically, agroecology, which is the application of ecological principles to agricultural systems and practices – as an undergrad at Florida International University. She moved to Washington, DC for a summer internship at the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and ended up staying with the EPA where she developed self-led training tutorials educating schools and childcare facilities about the risks and prevention of lead in drinking water.
Concurrently, Rachel began pursuing two master’s degrees, one in sustainable development and conservation biology and one in public policy, specifically environmental policy, at the University of Maryland College Park. “I’m not a political person or an activist,” says Rachel. “I’m a teacher. I teach people what they need to know so they can advocate for themselves. This empowers those affected by environmental issues to directly address their concerns and to communicate with various groups. It’s a more effective method,” she adds.
During graduate school, she studied abroad in Peru in the Amazon Rainforest. After graduation, she became a grant writer and project manager for sustainable livelihood projects with indigenous communities at the Amazon Conservation Association in Washington, DC. Rachel also taught the community about eco-friendly projects, resource management and reforestation, and how to monitor their environment to watch for degradation.
It was on vacation with her family at Club Med in Port St. Lucie that her career path took a sharp turn. “I was ready for a change but I wasn’t sure what I wanted to do,” says Rachel. She always loved participating in the Flying Trapeze School whenever her family vacationed at Club Med. On a lark, she applied for a job as a circus performer and trapeze instructor. “I was 28 and thought I was too old, but I was hired,” says Rachel. “I did this for a year both for fun and to learn new skills.”
Beyond athletics, Rachel developed interpersonal skills and learned to be comfortable with an audience and how to encourage audience interaction. “You have to be confident. There is no room for hesitation or there could be an injury. I learned how strong I am, too,” she adds.
After a year Rachel had a choice to make. She could stay on with Club Med as a circus performer, where she would be required to relocate to China, or she could get back onto a career path that utilized her degrees and work experience. “I don’t plan my life,” says Rachel. “I see what opportunities open up and I grab them. I collect experiences.”
She decided to stay on the Treasure Coast. Her organic approach to pursuing her career interests led her to a job as a grant writer and fundraiser at the Manatee Center where she was hired as Development Director in 2017. Within five months she was promoted to Manager.
Rachel has revamped the Center’s online presence to re-brand it as a nonprofit environmental education center. She oversees the Center’s operations and maintains educational exhibits and programs. She also works with the Board of Directors of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation to help with fundraising, making sure resources are available to bring environmental education to as many people as possible.
Although the Manatee Center has been closed due to the pandemic, work has continued behind the scenes with renovation and updating exhibits. An exhibit room covering the history of Fort Pierce and the Treasure Coast has been added. “Visitors should understand the importance of the development of the area and how the environment plays into that,” says Rachel. “They should learn about the history of the Henry D. King Power Plant and how the warm water discharged from the plant into Moore’s Creek attracted manatees.” Although the power plant has long been removed, manatees continue visiting the creek as part of their migration pattern. Center volunteers on average spot 400 manatees yearly.
Through the efforts of the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation a life-like manatee mural is being painted at Moore’s Creek on the seawall opposite the Manatee Center. “Thanks to community donors, the Manatee Foundation raised $3,000 to bring Kenny Maguire, renowned Florida muralist, to the Manatee Center this Spring,” says Rachel. The mural will honor the hundreds of manatees that come to Moore’s Creek each year, and the thousands of visitors that come to the Manatee Center for their chance to spot one. It is the result of a collaboration between the Fort Pierce City Marina, the Treasure Coast Manatee Foundation and the Manatee Observation and Education Center, which is managed by the local Fort Pierce Utilities Authority.
Another fundraising project encouraging community involvement will be installing two thousand oysters on docks at Moore’s Creek, in partnership with Fort Pierce City Marina. “One oyster filters 50 gallons of water on a daily basis,” says Rachel. For a one-dollar donation, an individual can write a name on the oyster before placement.
In addition to her position at the Manatee Center, Rachel is pursuing a law degree from Mitchell Hamline School of Law. “Law school is teaching me a whole new language, one that is very different from that of science,” says Rachel. Although she has no specific plans, “With a law degree, combined with my experience and knowledge regarding environmental public policy, I will have a broader reach to better protect the environment,” says Rachel.
The Manatee Observation and Education Center (www.ManateeEducationCenter.org) is located at 480 N. Indian River Dr. in downtown Fort Pierce. Indoor exhibits and the gift shop are temporarily closed due to COVID-19, but visitors are welcome to view outdoor exhibits, rest on the benches facing Moore’s Creek to watch manatees and walk through the adjacent butterfly garden.
To learn more about the St. Lucie Cultural Alliance and the benefits of membership, please visit ArtStLucie.org, email: info@artstlucie.org or call 772-462-2783.