Camp Bayou Welcomes Fall

There are cleanups, night hikes plus some day and night paddles coming up this Fall. Enjoy some fun activities at Camp Bayou this season.

Experience the trails at Camp Bayou while helping cleanup, fixup and monitor the environment during National Public Lands Day on Saturday, September 28 from 9am-noon. A special BioBlitz will document plants and wildlife through iNaturalist.org while we pick up trash. No registration needed, just come out, check in and enjoy the morning at Camp Bayou.

Our Fright Fest will be held on Saturday, October 5 starting with some spooky crafts and activity tables at 5pm. Joining the activities are Hillsborough County Environmental Protection Commission, Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management, Little Manatee River State Park, and Girl Scout Troop 30349.  First walks will start at 6:30 pm for the young ones, learning about our native nocturnal wildlife. The 7pm and later walks after dark will be stories about past misadventures at Camp Bayou and the spirits who can't rest. Then join us by the campfire for s'mores! Registration is not required but we'd appreciate an email to Dolly at campbayou@gmail.com so we can be sure we have enough supplies for s'mores. Pay just $5 to get your ticket when you check in on-site.

Saturday, October 19- 7pm-  Special Night Paddle (postponed from September). Explore the Little Manatee River after dark- without flashlights!  The tour is $25 if you need to use one of our canoes or kayaks and $5 if you bring your own. Registration required- call 813-641-8545.

Camp Bayou continues to offer day paddle trips on the first and third Saturdays each month at 9am. The tour is $25 if you need to use one of our canoes or kayaks and $5 if you bring your own. Registration required- call 813-641-8545..

For those who are interested in helping with registered groups, 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, as well as help with maintenance and exhibits. Contact Becki at 813-641-8545 or fill out the form at campbayou.org. 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. The Center is open from Thursday- Sunday 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 Conservation & Environmental Lands Management. 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 website at http://www.campbayou.org/ or call 813-641-8545.