Camp Bayou rings in the New Year

Camp Bayou's Happy New Year! Start the year off right- grab the family and head to the great outdoors! Camp Bayou will continue its first Saturday morning of the month, Family Naturalist Hour, this year, starting on January 1, 2011 from 9:30-10:30am! (Yes, we will be open New Year's Day.) Stop in for a short walk on the trail, looking for wildlife and signs of promised plant growth along the trail. A craft activity will be offered to either take home or complete after the walk. Program is free but donations of cash, snacks, drinks or materials are always appreciated. Contact Dolly to reserve your space- limited to 10 families- http://us.mc394.mail.yahoo.com/mc/compose?to=campbayou@gmail.com or 813-363-5438. Can't make this session? A different program is offered each month on the first Saturday from 9:30-10:30am- always free. This series is a Be Out There!, Get Outdoors Florida, Children and Nature and No Child Left Inside inspired initiative. 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 www.campbayou.org or call 813-641-8545. ### Pictured: A Palamedes Swallowtail is a common sight along Camp Bayou's trails.

Lunar Eclipse on Solstice

For the first time in many years, northern winter is beginning with a total lunar eclipse. On Dec. 21, 2010, the date of the northern winter solstice, the full Moon will pass through Earth's shadow, turning the lunar orb a delightful shade of coppery-red. Sky watchers in North America are favored with an overhead view as the eclipse unfolds on Tuesday morning between 02:41 am and 03:53 am EST. Visit http://spaceweather.com/ for full coverage of the event including live webcasts, observing tips, and a look at the surprising connection between lunar eclipses and Earth's climate.

More info at Solstice Lunar Eclipse: http://science.nasa.gov/science-news/science-at-nasa/2010/17dec_solsticeeclipse/

Wake up and get out that cup of hot cocoa. Be aware that if you want to watch it from beginning to end, it will take hours- a fact I learned the hard way when I planned a night hike to coincide with a lunar eclipse that happened a few years ago that started at 9pm. The eclipse still wasn't complete by 11pm when I was ready to call it a night. The weather should be cooperating with us though- the forecast is clear with temps in the 40s.

Preview- Canoe Dock at Camp Bayou

The new floating canoe dock is being installed at Camp Bayou this week, thanks to Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation.

It's not ready to use just yet- stay tuned!

Camp Bayou Holiday Open House

Trail rides on the half hour on our 7-passenger cart

Reminder that our Annual Holiday Open House is this Saturday, December 4 from 9am-2pm. In addition to our always yummy Member BBQ, and this year's Compost and Rainbarrel workshops conducted by Hillsborough County Coop Ext, there will be a variety of natural and eco-crafts vendors with offerings to suit that 'green-minded' person on your gift list. Be sure to stop in to see all the friendly craftspeople and be entered into a free drawing for a bag of items that can be used on your next outdoor adventure! Vendors will include:

- Wandering Whimsy by Avalon

- Basketry by Alma Rushnell

- Morning Glory Heirloom Seeds and more

- Worm's Way gardening products

- Green Gulf Gems offering jewlery made from recycled materials

- Beautyberry Books with watercolor notecards

- Camp Bayou Native Plants

and don't forget our White Elephant Sale with a number of gently used items that may be just exactly what you are looking for, whether you knew it or not!

For a complete schedule of events click here.

This event is also a Be Out There!, Get Outdoors Florida, Children and Nature and No Child Left Inside inspired initiative.

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 www.campbayou.org or call 813-641-8545.

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