Roy Hyatt Environmental Center (RHEC)

Butterflies are fluttering, flitting and flying inside this beautiful butterfly house just waiting to help us educate students and adults all about the metamorphosis of the butterfly!  

In 1968, the first Environmental Center, to later be named in honor of Roy Hyatt, opened to students in Escambia County, Florida.  In 1980, land at the present site on Tobias Road was acquired from the federal government.  The main building, which housed a microscope lab, reptile room, large classroom, and office space was demolished in 2016 to make room for a new updated building.  In 2019 the new building opened which houses a microscope lab, a reptile room, a large planetarium/conference/multi-purpose room, a bird/multi-purpose classroom, and an office space.  Other educational facilities at RHEC include the old library which has been transformed into the undersea "beach" classroom, the bird bus used as a bird blind for bird watching activities, another bird watching blind, the newly completed butterfly house,  the butterfly garden and gazebo, two  outdoor education classrooms/pavilions, as well as 120 acres of trails leading through upland pine forest, seepage bog, and much more .  Normally, the instructional program each school year includes daily field trips with annually updated hands-on, experiential science-based curriculum appropriate for 2nd and 5th grade students.

Currently the RHEC is opened from August through June according to the academic calendar of the School District of Escambia County, Florida.  During those months it is opened Monday through Friday for educational field trips by appointment only.  RHEC is not open to the public, although we do offer several open to the public events annually.  Check the website and the Facebook page for dates and times.

The mission of the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center is to assist students in mastering science concepts and processes through the integration of science disciplines in studying the environment.  Our goal, from the Florida Environmental Education Act, is that the students "come to know the natural world as a complex system that must be cared for."  As we carry out our mission and work toward this goal, we also further the strategic aims of the School District of Escambia County, Florida, which are the following (1) highest student achievement (2) a safe learning and working environment (3) a high performing work force, and (4) an efficient and effective system.  Find out more about the Escambia County School District.

Enjoy a few pictures from the Roy Hyatt Environmental Center.