Special Registration category announced!

Special Price Break for ANEW!

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center is having a fun and educational weekend event, Friday, Nov 11 through Sunday, Nov 13. In response to concerns of cost, there is now a special 'Current Economy' registration category. The cost is just $10 per person per day, still including one child under 12 free with paying adult. Registration for this option is available online at http://anew2011.eventbrite.com as an RSVP, with payment made upon arrival at event.

This reduced price does not include meals or session supplies but entitles the participant to access the day's sessions, displays and activities. Meals and/or session supplies can be purchased separately as needed. All meals are $5/person, and includes options for vegan/gluten-free diets.

The complete schedule for the weekend, Friday, November 11 through Sunday, November 13, and original registration form are available on the blog:http://anaturaleducation.blogspot.com. Registration forms are also available at Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center during regular hours of operation, Thursday- Saturday, 9am-2pm. The original Friday/Saturday all-inclusive price, includes meals, session supplies and a goody bag, for just $75 per person for both Friday and Saturday. Plus, one child under 12 is admitted free with each paying adult! Other price options are available on the registration form.

 

This event is part of a Be Out There!-NWF, Get Outdoors Florida!, "Let's GO"- C&N,  No Child Left Inside, and Let's Move Outside inspired initiative. Partners in this event include Hillsborough County Community College 's South Shore Campus, West- Central League of Environmental Educators in Florida , Firehouse Cultural Center , and  Hillsborough County Parks , Recreation and Conservation Services. Sponsors include Cargill and Publix. Sponsorship and exhibitor opportunities are still available. Contact Dolly at 813-363-5438 or campbayou@gmail.com for more information.

Camp Bayou is neither 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-2pmfor passive recreational pursuits such as wildlife watching, nature photography and trail walks.

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. 

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Local Halloween themed events

via  Hillsborough County:

Teen Monster Bash Costume Ball at the SouthShore Regional Library

Saturday, Oct. 22 at 6 p.m.
SouthShore Regional Library, 15816 Beth Shields Way in Ruskin

FREE
Teens are welcome to come dressed in character to celebrate a night of music, dancing, games and prizes. There will be a special contest for the best costume.
Advance tickets are available and ticketholders are entered into a special raffle.
Funded by the Friends of the SouthShore Regional Library. For more information about this and other FREE programs @ your library®, call (813) 273-3652 or visit http://www.hcplc.org/.
Media/Event Contact: Lorri Robinson, Branch Supervisor, call (813) 273-3652.

then....
Simmons Park After Dark at E.G. Simmons Regional Park
Friday, Oct. 28, from 5 p.m. - 10 p.m., and
Saturday, Oct. 29, from 5 p.m. - 11 p.m.
E.G. Simmons Regional Park, 2401 19th Ave. N.W. in Ruskin

$2 park entry fee per vehicle, and $5 per two ride tickets

Join us in the 2nd annual Simmons Park After Dark celebration. Enjoy a ½ mile haunted trail recommended for ages 10 and up, a kid’s hayride around the park, and many other family friendly activities. Food and beverages will be sold at the event.

There is a $2 park entry fee per vehicle - up to 8 people. The haunted trail and hayride will be one ticket each, and 2 tickets cost $5.

For more information, contact E.G. Simmons Regional Park at (813) 671-7655.

Beef N Bones on the Bayou

This Blog Action Day post ( #BAD11 ) starts with our annual fundraising event which was held yesterday,  October 15. The event was fairly successful, despite the low turnout. Over a hundred people attended throughout the day to help raise funds for the Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center and its environmental education programs. This year we added the option of purchasing beer or wine to satisfy guest's thirst while they listened to the Front Porch Pickers and later Jodell's Country Duo, or rested after a walk along one of the trails to check out the recently renovated fishing cabin exhibit along 'Waterfront Way'.
There were food and beverages throughout the day plus games, a fishing class and guided cart rides.

It was interesting to note the difference between last year, where guests paid one price and this year, where folks paid for each option separately. The beer was popular; the lower priced lunch of hot dogs or hamburgers sold well; the ribs and chicken were a hit for dinner. But this year, either we overestimated how much we needed or fewer people were purchasing meals because we had quite a bit of leftovers. Last year we ran out of food, but it was set up as an all you can eat buffet line. Do people eat more when they can have all they want? Sure, that's usually true. Perhaps it's the mind-set that you want to get the most for your money. Perhaps, since you can go back up for more, you may think you're still hungry but just haven't waited long enough for the food to settle in your stomach to register as 'full'. It's only in a country with an abundance of food that this question would even be posed.

Take a moment today to think about the folks who do not know where or when their next meal will be. Be sure to thank God, or if you are not religious, whatever powers that be, or just your good fortune that you have a choice of whether or not to go up for seconds.