media release- Ruskin, FL

Media contact: Dolly Cummings phone: 813-363-5438   Citizen Science at Camp Bayou   The Citizen Science Symposium will be held on March 20-21, 2009 from 9am-2pm at Camp Bayou in Ruskin. This event is open to the general public- homeschoolers, public and private schools, families and anyone who'd like to get a bit more familiar with the world around them.   Want more Science? An optional "Science of Lunch" meal will be offered for just $5 per person and includes interesting science tidbits about the lunch you will be eating. For instance, Does turkey really make you sleepy? What actually happens to make bread rise? Are all tomatoes equally equipped with cancer- fighting lycopene? In an nod to Dr. Suess, how can we get green eggs without using food dye? All this and more but pre-registration is required. Visit www.campbayou.org  and follow the link in the upper right hand side of the homepage.   During lunch, participants will also be able to hear about some of the science research going on in the area. The following experts will be on hand for an informal Science Cafe on one or both days: Dr. Akers Pence - Research Associate; University of Florida, Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network Dr. Pam Vergara - Associate Professor; Environmental Science Program at HCC representing Stream Waterwatch; Other representatives are Peggy Morgan and Erik Garwell Dr. Steve Johnson - Assistant Professor of Urban Wildlife Ecology, GCREC-Plant City, Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation. George Kish - USGS Hydrologist representing National Phenology Network Sherri Potter - Outreach Coordinator; Coalition for the Public Understanding of Science Suzanne Prach - Artist, Crawford Art Studio at the SouthShore Regional Library Dr. George Shambaugh - Florida Master Naturalist Graduate volunteer Diane Alvarez, PhD – Editor; www.beautyberrybooks.com   To find out about all the free activities and to pre-register, visit www.campbayou.org and follow the Citizen Science Symposium link.   This event is sponsored by a grant from the Alafia River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.   Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR 674 at the end of 24th St. S.E. in Ruskin. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation.   ###   Dolly Cummings www.campbayou.org "I do not understand how any one can live without some small place of enchantment to turn to." Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings (Cross Creek)