Added activity- Holiday Open House

Media contact: Dolly Cummings phone: 813-363-5438 6th Annual Holiday Open House at Camp Bayou Ruskin- Camp Bayou's Holiday Open House will be held Saturday, December 6 from 9am-2pm.   Recently added to the schedule is a 'Nature Writers' Workshop', led by Diane Alvarez, PhD. The Workshop will start at 10am in the Classroom. Bring your imagination, love of nature and a short  piece you've written to share with the group. Seating is limited to 20.   Our semi-annual Open Houses are a great way to see a sample of all the exhibits and activities- new and established. Admission to the Open House is free but some activities charge a small fee as noted in the schedule below. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR 674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. Visit us on the web at www.campbayou.org, email campbayou@yahoo.com or call 813-641-8545. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 6th Annual Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 9am-2pm Schedule of Activities at Camp Bayou: 9- 11:30am: Wildlife Celebration presented by the Crawford Art Studio from the South Shore Regional Library. Learn about some of our common birds and create a clay sculpture of your favorite! Led by Suzanne Prach. For all ages. Workshop held in Pavilion. 9am: Guided walking Tour 1- Wetland Walk with Naturalist Becki Stafford. Begins at Nature Center . 9:30am– 1:30pm: Highlight Cart Tours– 20 min tours on 7 passenger cart on the half hour. Meet at Visitor's Center 10am: Aquatic Explorations – Join our Naturalist, George Shambaugh, to net critters in the river. Meet at Pavilion. 11 am: Guided walking Tour 2- Tortoise Trail. Begins at Nature Center . Noon: * Holiday BBQ- Annual fundraiser, Vegetarian items available. $10/person. In Pavilion. (* Reservations are not required but the BBQ fundraiser is 'first come- first served', while supplies last, so come early for a tasty selection!) 1pm: Guided walking Tour 3: River Ramble. Begins at Nature Center .   Plus- On-going throughout the day: o Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum open o Leisey-Casey Discovery Center and Frank A. Garcia Research Library open o Fossil shell pit dig (for small fee) o Nature Center open- with docents from Girl Scout troop 508 of Ruskin o Nature Crafts for Kids– ongoing with Girl Scout Gold Awardee Janet Zicht from troop 966 o Native Peoples Camp tours on the hour w/ Naturalist Fred Jacobsen from Ruskin History Project. o Archaeology dig w/ with Mark Dunn from the Ruskin History Project  (for small fee) o Watershed model demonstrations with Cypress Creek Elementary's Carol Dunn o 3 trails through pine flatwoods, wetlands and riverbank  o Native Plant Nursery with plants for sale o Butterfly Habitat with the Eagle Audubon Society All activities are family-friendly so come out and enjoy a fun-filled day while learning about the world around us in the Little Manatee River Watershed! ### Pictured: George Shambaugh leds the Aquatic Explorations activity at 10am where the biodiversity of the river is revealed.