Back to School- Back to Nature

On August 5 from 9am to noon, Back to School-Back to Nature is a free summer event that gets kids outdoors to learn a bit about nature then receive a free school supply item. Registration online at www.campbayou.org. In addition to the Camp Bayou volunteers, there will be visiting organizations to provide lots of opportunities to experience nature, including Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation, Little Manatee River State Park, Suncoast Youth Conservation Center, Florida Forest Service and more!

From noon to 4pm, the back to school theme continues with a free Schoolyard Wildlife Teacher Workshop for the adults. For more information and to register, go to http://bit.ly/schoolyard8517.

Third Saturday canoe day tours continue this summer. Paddlers should arrive at Camp Bayou by 8:45am. Canoes are available for rental for just $25 each or bring your own canoe or kayak for a small donation of $5 each. Register for all paddle trips by calling the office at 813-641-8545.

For those who are interested in helping at the Center, Camp Bayou is looking for enthusiastic volunteers who love the outdoors and want to pass along that passion to others through hands-on activities, walks and canoe tours. Contact Jeri at 813-641-8545 or email campbayou@gmail.com. We are mainly looking for folks to help teach school groups K-6 but there are other opportunities as well.

Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center 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, supporters and grants, the managing non-profit- B.O.L.D. - offers pre-registered programs to schools, youth groups, adult groups and families. Monthly canoe tours are now available by reservation only. Check the online calendar for trip dates. The Center is 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 Bayou Outdoor Learning and Discovery, Inc. (B.O.L.D.), 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. Check out the Camp Bayou Facebook page and for more information visit the webpage at http://www.campbayou.org/ or call 813-641-8545.​​