media release- photo contest

Camp Bayou Photo Contest 2011 Winning photos from a previous contest Camp Bayou is again sponsoring a photo contest this year. The following rules apply to all entries: Open to all ages. All photos must have been taken at Camp Bayou . Previous Camp Bayou winning photos are ineligible. There is no fee to enter; photos are not returnable and become the property of Camp Bayou. Entries are due by November 5, 2011. Winners will be announced at our end of year event, "A Natural Education Weekend". The photos need to be matted, unframed, 8" x 10" black & white or color photo, either glossy or matte. Information must be securely affixed to the back and must include: - name - address - phone number and/or email address - approximate location where taken - date taken Entries may be brought to Camp Bayou during regular operating hours, Thursday- Saturday, 9am- 2pm or mailed to: Camp Bayou Photo Contest, P.O. Box 549 Ruskin, FL 33575-0549. Questions? Contact Jeri at campbayou@gmail.com   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.  ###

media release- Camp Bayou

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin has some exciting events lined up for the fall!  Upcoming events through the end of the year: - First Saturday each month; Family Naturalist Hour; 9:30am-10:30am. FREE. A different nature topic each month. No reservations required. - Sat., Sept 17; International Coastal Cleanup; 8am-noon; Land and water cleanup. FREE. Register with Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, http://www.keeptampabaybeautiful.org/coastal-cleanup.shtml - Sat., Sept 24; National Public Lands Day; 8am-noon; Fixup/maintenance for various projects. FREE. Projects include mulching, planting, tree trimming and more. Call 813-641-8545 for more information and to register. - Sat., Oct 8; Observe the Moon Night; 7:30pm-9pm; Night hike ending at fire circle for moon viewing (possibly meteor shower spotting too!) and s'mores. $5/person. Limit 20 participants. Email us at campbayou@gmail.com or call 813-641-8545 with your name, number of people and phone number you can reached at for confirmation. - Sat., Oct 15; Beef 'n Bones Fundraiser; 3pm-8pm; An evening of food and entertainment with 'unveiling' of second restored fishing cabin. Tickets can be purchased online at  http://campbayoubeefnbones.eventbrite.com . - Fri-Sun, Nov 11-13: A Natural Education Weekend; Fri,1pm- Sat, 8pm, plus Sunday morning field trips. Enjoying the outdoors responsibly in Florida. Visit http://anaturaleducation.blogspot.com for registration costs and more information. These events are part of a Be Out There!, Get Outdoors Florida!, "Let's GO"- Children and Nature, No Child Left Inside, and Let's Move Outside inspired initiative. In addition, Camp Bayou is now a member of the Florida Youth Conservation Centers Network- www.fyccn.org . The Nature Center is taking reservations for field trips for the current school year. Popular programs include River Study, Native People, Rotation Stations (students visit up to 6 nature topic stations during their 2-3 hour trip) plus many more options. Cost is just $5 per child, adults are free. Contact Dolly at campbayou@gmail.com.  The Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum is taking reservations for fossil programs for school groups. It is open to the general public on Saturdays only from 9am-2pm. Leave a message for Fred Hendershot at 813-641-8545. Specify that you are calling about the fossil program. 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: At last year's Beef N' Bones, after dinner and entertainment, visitors enjoyed a tour of the first restored fishing cabin. This year, the second cabin will be 'unveiled'.

Frolic with Frogs

Come Frolic With Frogs at
Little Manatee River State Park
August 19 -7:00-9:00 pm
Free Event. There is a $3.00 evening entrance fee per car (up to 8 people.)


Tampa Audubon Society presents Frolicking with Frogs.
Come learn simple, effective methods to identify local frogs and
toads by their calls.  In addition, this seminar provides visual
identification tips, and most importantly, discusses the
importance  of  frogs  and  toads  as  biological  indicators  of
environmental health. You will learn how to recognize their calls
before a walk to see and hear them in their natural habitat.

7:00 - 7:30PM Introductions and Wildlife Raffle
7:30PM Frog identification.
8:15PM Frog and nature walk.

Bring flashlights and bug spray.
Appropriate for children of all ages.

Little Manatee River State Park is located
At 215 Lightfoot Road, Wimauma, FL 33598.
(813-671-5005)

Call 813-205-1851 or email webmaster (at) tampaaudubon.org program
leader Nancy Murrah  to reserve a spot.                                    
Event will take place rain or shine.

Camp Bayou Back to School event

Jonathan wins the first
Bucs backpack of the day.

The 4th annual 'Back to School- Back to Nature' event, held last Saturday, August 6, was great fun for all ages, plus provided participants with a few school supply items to help with this year's back to school needs. Approximately 80 school age children and their families came out for a wonderful morning of games, face painting, fossils, ant lions and more! The Teacher Resource table offered information for teachers such as regional info through the League of Environmental Educators in Florida (LEEF) and free items for teachers to use in their classrooms this year. The membership table provided a glimpse of future events including our 'A Natural Education Weekend" to be held Friday- Sunday, November 11-13. A big "Thank You" goes to our sponsors, participating organizations and volunteers, without whom, this event would not be possible. In addition to our regulars, including: Hillsborough County Solid Waste Recycling Program Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful Florida Division of Forestry Florida Master Naturalists Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum and dedicated Camp Bayou volunteers and members; We were joined this year by Hillsborough County's Adopt-a-Pond Program West Central Girl Scouts with local troop from Bayou Pass in Ruskin Wandering Whimsy/Conserve it Forward and Face Painters from a south county church group. We also had several families volunteer from the Brandon Homeschool Fellowship who helped with various event tasks such as registration, parking and grilling hot dogs plus they  donated many of the school supply items that were distributed. A Special Thank You goes to the Glazer Family Foundation, Inc. for providing Buc-Packs from their Back to School Program which were given out as raffle prizes. This event is a Summer Learning Day, Be Out There!, Get Outdoors Florida!, "Let's GO"- Children and Nature, No Child Left Inside, and Let's Move Outside 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 http://www.campbayou.org or call 813-641-8545.