Meet the Manatee Kids

Meet Matt Bienkowski:
(We met Matt at his Mom's store in Crystal River, The Manatee Toy Company.)

Hair: Brown

Eyes: Brown

Married: No

Kids: No

Pets: Dog named Chewie

If you could choose one pet, which would you choose, a dog, a cat, or a manatee? I would choose a dog over a manatee because dogs are on land and you can do more stuff with them. I don't like cats.

Where are you from?: I have lived in Crystal River all of my life.

School: Crystal River Middle School, 8th grade

Favorite subject: Science

Family: One older sister, Nicole, 21; one older brother, Bret, 16

Favorite TV show: Diagnosis Murder

Favorite movie: Broken Arrow

Favorite book: Hardy Boys books

Favorite sports: Golf, water skiing (slalom), sailing, jet skiing

Experiences with manatees: I was in a TV show, "Going Wild With Jack Hannah". I was filmed at the Three Sisters Spring here in Crystal River swimming with manatees. There were three other kids with me and we had a lot of fun petting and playing with the manatees.

I like manatees because they are neat creatures. They are friendly and don't mind people. I recommend to anyone who hasn't seen manatees to come and see them.

Most interesting experience with manatees: A manatee almost flipped my 9-foot sailboat. The manatee's tail hit my boat.

Goals: I want to be a chef or a doctor. My favorite dish to make is Baked Alaska. If I become a doctor, I want to be a radiologist.

My sports goal is to become a certified scuba diver.