Anyone ever visit a nuclear power plant?

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

We're learning about nuclear energy in our physics study right now, and we have a couple of nuclear power plants within a relatively close drive, so I thought about visiting one. I looked at their websites, but there doesn't seem to be information about visiting them. I just wondered if it was not common for school groups or the general public to visit a nuclear power plant. I will try to call, but there is not even a general number for the plants, just numbers for directors and such.

 

Here's the one nearest to me.

[Jane in NC]

In the post 9/11 world, it is pretty tough to get inside the fence at a nuke plant. Some have hands-on centers off site for visitors.

[Caroline]

_{We visited the one in Port Saint Lucie, FL. It was really just a museum. We weren't anywhere near the reactors. But it was a cool museum.}

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

In the post 9/11 world, it is pretty tough to get inside the fence at a nuke plant. Some have hands-on centers off site for visitors.

_{We visited the one in Port Saint Lucie, FL. It was really just a museum. We weren't anywhere near the reactors. But it was a cool museum.}

 

That's all I really want. Can't seem to find that around here, though.

[Spy Car]

I can't imagine touring a nuclear power plant would be very popular with school parents around here. Of course having our closest plant "on the fritz" doesn't help matters.

 

Bill

[Matryoshka]

That's all I really want. Can't seem to find that around here, though.

 

The one nearest me does tours - hs and regular school groups are going there all the time. They have an educational center next to the plant, though I think you do get to go into at least part of the real plant (probably not anyplace sensitive).

[GWOB]

Quite a few times. Dh works at a nuclear power plant. Our plant doesn't really do public tours, though they sometimes allow family members to view the simulator. The only plant I can think of that has a cool museum-like thing is in North Carolina.

[nmoira]

Quite a few times. Dh works at a nuclear power plant. Our plant doesn't really do public tours, though they sometimes allow family members to view the simulator. The only plant I can think of that has a cool museum-like thing is in North Carolina.

 

I had to ponder this post for a bit to decide if you were serious. :) Now I can't get the theme song out of my head.

[GWOB]

 

 

I had to ponder this post for a bit to decide if you were serious. :) Now I can't get the theme song out of my head.

 

Lol! Dh really does work at a nuclear power plant. I don't really have blue hair. Yet ;)

[Dmmetler]

I went on a field trip to one for a high school chemistry class. It was pretty interesting-among other things, we got to try out the simulators (and, IIRC, ended up melting down the simulated plant). I'd say go, if you can.

[thescrappyhomeschooler]

I just tried calling two plants that are sort of near to me, and both had recordings which said no one was available to take my call! What's up with that? :ohmy: Are they having issues? :scared: :D

[jar7709]

I toured Hanford with a class in college. But that was before 9/11, I've been told it is harder (but not impossible) to arrange tours now. I've also taken the kids to see some mothballed cooling towers at a reactor plant that never became operational; there's no museum or tours allowed, but those cooling towers are so gigantic that the kids were pretty impressed just by standing on the road next to them.

[windmillmarie]

I went on a tour of one in high school but that was well before 9/11. I don't know what they do now, but I'm curious as well. We have a few near us too.

[mommaduck]

I'm not sure if I would want to tour one. Driving past Three Mile Island, pointing, and saying, "hey, kids, there's the nuclear power plant!" is enough for me.