media release- Camp Bayou Open House 4/19, 8am-2pm

Media contact: Dolly Cummings

phone: 813-363-5438

Camp Bayou Open House Highlights Activities

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin will host their semi-annual Open House on Saturday, April 19 from 8am -2pm. A variety of family-friendly activities will be offered throughout the day.

8 am: Great American Cleanup begins. Volunteers help cleanup the preserve. Contact Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful to register: 813-960-5121.

9 am: Family Naturalist Program with Dolly Cummings. Today's theme: What is a Watershed? (Part of ongoing Family Naturalist Program which is a weekly watershed education and stewardship series for ages 4 through adult. conducted each Saturday from 9a.m.–10a.m., April 5–June 28, and funded by a Community Education Grant from the Alafia River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.)

10 am: Native Plants with Florida Master Naturalist Becki Stafford. Learn about native plants for the home landscape, visit the plant nursery and learn how to grow your own.

11 am: Butterfly Bing-OH with Armin Furrer. Visit the members of the Eagle Audubon Society of Sun City Center in their "Butterfly Habitat" gazebo to learn about the local butterflies and the plants they love.

11 am: Nature Writers Workshop with Diane Alvarez, PhD. Bring a poem, reflection, or story you have written about nature plus copies of your work to share or plan to read aloud. For info, contact beautyberry@tampabay.rr.com .

Noon: Spring BBQ with Pit master Frank Cummings. BBQ fundraiser- $10/person., Vegetarian items available.

1 pm: Wetland Walk-n-Wade with Camp Bayou volunteer. Take a walk through the wetlands to the river to see what critters we can net. Your feet WILL get wet!

Ongoing activities throughout the day include:

- Fossil Museum and fossil pit (dig for small fee) with Paleo volunteers.

- Nature Center open- check out the exhibits and free resources.

- Nature Arts in Classroom with Jeri Hundertmark.

- 3 trails through varied habitats, guided walks every hour on the half hour.

- Friends of Ucita- Learn about Florida's Native People with Florida Master Naturalist Fred Jacobson.

- Native People's Camp- created by Eagle Scouts from Troop #11.

- Archaeologist for a Day with Mark Dunn (simulated dig, small fee).

- Native plants for sale.

Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. For general information and directions visit http://www.campbayou.org/ or call 813-641-8545.

Don't forget, you can find out what's new at Camp Bayou by going to www.campbayou.blogspot.com - "Camp Bayou Nature Notes". You can also access this blog and others from Camp Bayou's home page: www.campbayou.org .

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Pictured: George Shambaugh hunts critters in the river with a group during last year's Open House.