Reminder: Camp Bayou Holiday Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration

The Camp Bayou Holiday Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9am to 2pm.
More info

District asks homeowners to "Skip a Week" of irrigation this winter

Overwatering in winter can encourage pests and disease

The Southwest Florida Water Management District recently launched a new campaign to encourage residents who irrigate their lawns to "Skip a Week" of watering during the cooler months of December, January and February.

According to research by the University of Florida, grass doesn't need to be watered as often during the cooler months. In fact, one-half to three-quarters of an inch of water every 10–14 days is sufficient.

“Over-watering in the winter can encourage pests and disease in your lawn," said Sylvia Durell, Florida-friendly landscaping project manager. Skipping a week of watering is as easy as “off” for residents with irrigation timers. “Turn the timer to ‘off’ for the week that you want to skip, and ‘on’ for the week that you want to water,” said Durell.

Homeowners can determine when their grass needs water when:

· Grass blades are folded in half lengthwise on 30 percent of the lawn

· Grass blades are blue-gray

· Footprints remain on the lawn for several minutes after walking on it

Skipping a week of irrigation will help conserve drinking water supplies. Following the “Skip a Week” plan saves water that the public needs for other critical uses during the dry season.

In addition to entering the dry season, the region is experiencing the effects of a four-year drought. All 16 counties within the District are under one-day-per-week lawn watering restrictions through the end of February.

For more water conservation tips, information about the drought and the current water restrictions, please visit the District's web site at WaterMatters.org/skipaweek.

Panther at Camp Bayou

This track was found Thursday, Nov. 19, in the morning at Camp Bayou, on top of the sand apron of a gopher tortoise burrow right outside our classroom. According to a resource link at Defenders of Wildlife, this is the right size for a Florida Panther- 3.5 inches wide. A few people have said they've seen it but no photos for confirmation were taken. This is first documented evidence of our WILD visitor at the Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin, which is considerable farther north than its 'official' range.

NASA -The 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower

From Science@NASA:
November 10, 2009: This year's Leonid meteor shower peaks on Tuesday, Nov. 17th. If forecasters are correct, the shower should produce a mild but pretty sprinkling of meteors over North America followed by a more intense outburst over Asia. The phase of the Moon will be new, setting the stage for what could be one of the best Leonid showers in years.

No matter where you live, the best time to look is during the dark hours before sunrise on Tuesday morning.

NASA -The 2009 Leonid Meteor Shower

Holiday Open House, Sat., 12/5/09

Holiday Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration!

**Rain or Shine!**

The Camp Bayou Holiday Open House and 10th Anniversary Celebration will be held on Saturday, December 5, 2009 from 9am to 2pm. This year's new activities include:

Folktales from the Bayou- Join Jeri down by the cabins recently moved from the old Giant's Camp in Gibsonton. Hear some fun stories inspired by the area's long-time fishing tradition.

Photograhy contest/award- Photo entries have been taken at Camp Bayou over the past 10 years. Photo judges include Bruce Marsh, local artist and scholar. Winner will be announced at noon. There is still time to enter. Contact Dolly at campbayou@yahoo.com to find out how.

Geocache/Letterbox Treasure Hunt- Whether you are tech-savvy or love to solve written low-tech clues, this is a chance to be a treasure hunter and perhaps find a new hobby.

Most of the popular activities will be offered to give folks an idea of the kinds of fun things to do at Camp Bayou all year 'round. There are scheduled activities as well as ongoing activites from 9am-2pm. As always, admission to the Center is still free although some specific activities charge a small fee (noted in schedule).

Schedule of Family-friendly Activities:

9am: Guided walking Tour 1- Wetland Walk with Becki

9am– 1:30pm: Highlight Cart Tours– 20 min tours on 7 passenger cart on the half hour

10am: Aquatic Explorations – with George

11 am: Guided walking Tour 2- Tortoise Trail with Becki

11am: Folktales from the Bayou– with Jeri

Noon: Holiday BBQ– 10th Yr Appreciation. This year our Holiday BBQ is a ‘Members Only’ event. The main dish will be provided by Camp Bayou with side dishes supplied by members.*

12:30pm: Introducing NEW Speaker’s Bureau with Diane

1pm: Guided walking Tour 3: River Ramble with Becki

* Members have made a recorded donation, or volunteered at least 5 hours, in the last 6 months. Not a member yet? New members may sign up on the morning of the event for a nominal fee. Please RSVP to Dolly at campbayou@yahoo.com, and include if you will be bringing a side dish.

Ongoing throughout the day:

- Fossil Museum with Paleo Preserve volunteers

- Leisey-Casey Discovery Center and Frank Garcia Library open

- Fossil pit dig (for small fee)

- Nature Center with Sharon

- Photography contest display/award with Jeri

- Holiday nature crafts with Junior troop 358 from Cypress Creek

- Nature activity stations with Webelos pack 41 from Parrish

- Nature videos in the classroom

- Geo-cache/Letterbox Treasure Hunt with Jeri

- 3 trails through varied habitats

- Native plants for sale

- Native Peoples Camp tours with Herb

- Eagle Audubon Butterfly Habitat with Diane

Camp Bayou is nether a campground nor a summer camp. It was an RV park before the County's ELAPP program purchased the land but it is now open for day use only, open to the general public. Through volunteers, donations, membership and grants, the RCDF offers pre-scheduled programs to schools, youth groups, adult groups and families plus it's open from Thursday- Saturday from 9am-2pm for passive recreational pursuits such as wildlife watching, nature photography and trail walks. Admission is still FREE.

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a public- private partnership between the non-profit Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. (RCDF) and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. More information is on the web at http://www.campbayou.org .

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scout help for Dec 5 event

I am looking for scouts who are interested and available to help with our Open House on Saturday, Dec. 5. I am looking for young folks to cover the nature activities (ant lions, butterflies, frogs, etc) and/or nature crafts (pine cone ornaments, vine wreaths, etc.) tables from 9am-noon. I'll provide all necessary materials. All scout helpers will receive a 'Camp Bayou' badge. Please let me know how many will attend so I can be sure to have enough badges. Contact Dolly Cummings at campbayou@yahoo.com www.campbayou.org

Pet Amnesty Day at Busch Gardens

From TBEP listserv:

Exotic Pet Amnesty Day at Busch Gardens
This Saturday, Nov. 7

Get your non-native pet micro-chipped or turn in an exotic pet you can no longer care for at a special Amnesty Day this Saturday, from 10 a.m.-2 p.m. at Busch Gardens.

At this one-day only event, owners of exotic pets such as snakes, lizards, turtles, fish, big cats, monkeys or parrots can donate them free of charge, with no questions asked and with no penalties for unlicensed animals. State wildlife officials will place healthy pets with experienced and registered adopters that will provide lifelong care for the animals.

Owners who wish to keep their exotic pets may have the animals micro-chipped (required to keep certain non-native "reptiles of concern" in Florida) for $20 each during the event by Companion Animal Hospital of Thonotosassa. In addition, the first 15 exotic pets will be micro-chipped for free (one per person) courtesy of a fundraiser held by the City of Plant City's Water Resource Management Division. This offer applies to exotics only -- no cats, dogs or ferrets, please!

The event will also feature exhibits from organizations dedicated to providing care for and education about exotic animals and responsible pet ownership.

This Non-Native Pet Amnesty Day is sponsored by Busch Gardens, the City of Plant City and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.

For more information about the event and the impacts of non-native animals on Florida's environment, visit the FWC website.