Night Hike- Friday, Oct 8

Night Hike Join us on Friday, October 8 from 7-9pm for a Night Hike followed by stargazing and s'mores. The hike will show how effective our night vision is so no flashlights allowed without red filters. Around the campfire, we will talk about the fall constellations and some of the ancient stories that are associated with them. Learn about some of the space exploration missions currently in progress. This hike is an outreach event for the Solar System Ambassador program. For more on the program, visit http://www2.jpl.nasa.gov/ambassador/ . Night hike donation requested is $5 per person. Please RSVP to campbayou@yahoo.com or call 813-363-5438. Hike limited to 20 participants. 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 or call 813-641-8545. ###

Super Harvest Moon

I like to pass on these interesting tidbits of info, this time from:

NASA Science News for Sept. 22, 2010


For the first time in almost 20 years, northern autumn is beginning on the night of a full Moon. The coincidence sets the stage for a "Super Harvest Moon" and a must-see sky show to mark the change of seasons.
FULL STORY at
https://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/22sep_harvestmoon/

(Blognote: Check out some of their archives while you are there. They post some pretty interesting stuff- or sign up for the mailing list)

Pinellas Autumn Harvest Festival

This sounds fun!

Autumn Harvest Festival

at the Pinellas Pioneer Settlement

Saturday, October 16

10:00 AM-4:00 PM

FREE!
Come enjoy an old fashioned Fall Celebration and Farmer's Market!
Purchase farm-fresh pumpkins, fruits & vegetables!
Hay Rides, Bobbing for Apples, Sack Races, Horseshoes, Pumpkin Carving Contest, & More!
2900 31st Street South, St. Petersburg

727-893-7326
 
(Camp Bayou note: Plus you can still have time to make it over to Ruskin for our 1st Annual Beef n' Bones at the Bayou Fundraising Event starting at 5pm on Saturday, October 16!)

The Fall 2010 issue of the Camp Bayou Buzzzzz! is now available online

The Fall 2010 issue of the Camp Bayou Buzzzzz! is now available online at http://campbayou.org/newsletters/2010fall.pdf . It can also be accessed from the ‘news’ link at the top of the page on http://www.campbayou.org/ .

Here are some highlights

-          One of the relocated Giant’s cabins is nearly complete- see the progress

-          Our 1^st Annual Fundraiser will be held in October- http://campbayou.eventbrite.com/

-          For all the grow-your-own foodies out there- a citizen science project for the vegetable gardener

-          Announcing our Citizen Science Symposium, a satellite event for USA Science and Engineering Festival

-          Holiday Open House schedule- this year we have composting and rainbarrel workshops!

Thanks for your support!

Dolly

Camp Bayou editor

www.campbayou.org

media release- Camp Bayou Oct 16 fundraiser

1st Annual Beef n' Bones at the Bayou Saturday  October 16, 2010 5 to 9 PM   Enjoy a night under the stars to support the Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center and the Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum. Delicious food by a team of "Bayou grillers", music, entertainment and a Silent Auction! A Special Event for the evening is the "sneak preview" of the #4 renovated fishing cabin. This cabin, moved from the original Giant's Fishing camp on the Alafia River, will serve as an educational exhibit showcasing the historical uses of the Little Manatee River- fishing, crabbing, recreation- all the way to Tampa Bay.   Frank Garcia of the Paleo Preserve will set the karaoke stage with Tedd Webb of WFLA Radio and some of the Famundah All-Stars of Tampa Bay.   The Silent Auction will feature drawings from local artists, nature photos and gifts from local merchants.     Tickets can be purchased online at http://campbayou.eventbrite.com .   Cost:       $20 per person or $35 per couple. (Children  under 12 Free)                Table Sponsors $300 (8 Tickets, VIP Parking & Seating)   Event Sponsorship or further information contact Jennifer McCafferty at  jentmail@hotmail.com . Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is a 160 acre nature preserve whose mission is to preserve a sample of Florida's original habitats, and to use this Center for the purpose of promoting appreciation and understanding of our natural resources and of our local culture and history.   The Center includes a nature center, native people's camp, local history exhibit, native plant nursery and demonstration gardens, butterfly garden/habitat, miles of trails and a variety of activities of interest to outdoor enthusiasts.   The Paleo Preserve is comprised of 2 small fossil museums, The Casey-Leisey Fossil Museum and Frank A. Garcia Library feature fossils and photos from the famous excavation in 1983 which revealed species new to science. The first fossil museum on site contains a touch table, cases of fossils from around the world and other wonders.   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 or call 813-641-8545. ### Photo: volunteers work through heat of summer to get cabins ready for "sneak peek" at Beef and Bones on the Bayou event. Finishing touches completed on roofs donated by All Steel Buildings and Components of Gibsonton.

Camp Bayou supporter passes

I heard some sad news from Helen Foster today. Four days ago in Indiana, Irene Abbott passed away. Some may remember Irene as the driving force that led the Eagle Audubon Society of Sun City Center to create and maintain a Butterfly Garden Habitat along the entry drive in Camp Bayou. For years, she was one of the dedicated Audubon members who came out to plant the garden, spruce up and talk to visitors during our semi-annual Open House. Even when it became more difficult for her to work in the garden, she still came out to see how things were progressing. There will be a Memorial Service for Irene Abbott at Sun City Center Funeral Home 1851 Rickenbacker Dr, Sun City Center, FL (813) 634-9900 on Thursday, September 9, 2010 from 9-11am She will be missed by all. Photo: Irene in the Spring of 2000 working in the garden.

Volunteer Workday- Sept 25

Volunteers at Camp Bayou will be working on a number of projects during National Public Lands Day. September 25 is also the day for the International Coastal Cleanup, coordinated in this area by Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful. Find YOUR favorite 'wild' place and be a responsible steward of your environment!