Camp Bayou event- March 20

Landscaping for Wildlife Workshop

Wondering what you should plant to replace the plants lost during the recent freezes? Come to the Landscaping for Wildlife Workshop at the Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center on Saturday, March 20 from 9:30-11am. A variety of native plants will be discussed, focusing on drought and frost tolerant species, with information on their wildlife attracting qualities. The program is free but reservations are required. Contact Dolly at campbayou@yahoo.com or call 813-363-5438. A complementary activity will be offered geared for children so this will truly be a family-friendly workshop.

Since March 20 is also SunEarth Day- http://sunearthday.nasa.gov/2010/index.php, Camp Bayou will be offering a variety of hands-on programs focused on the sun. Look for solar hot dogs, solar tea, and demonstrations of solar energy, as well as information on this year's SunEarth topic, Magnetic Storms.

This event is part of National Wildlife Week- http://www.nwf.org, as well as an opportunity to 'Get Outdoors Florida'- http://getoutdoorsflorida.org and is Camp Bayou's first Solar System Ambassador outreach event- http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/index.html.

Camp Bayou is nether a campground nor a summer camp. It was an RV park before the County's ELAP 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. General 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 .