Camp Bayou Celebrates 20 Years in Nature

Did you know that Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center has been around for 20 years? A  special anniversary event on
Saturday, March 23, 2019 from 9am-1pm
will celebrate this milestone! There are a few scheduled activities plus other ongoing fun throughout the morning.

Schedule:
9:00- Activities, displays, photo slideshow and raffle station open.
9:30- Start of the "Camp Bayou Stroll"- every 10 minutes the stroll will move to another great component of Camp Bayou. Learn about the history of the Nature Center, Native Camp, Butterfly Habitat, Paleo Preserve and more. Join in any time!
10:00- Cart tours of trail begin
11:00 Presentation- "Celebrating 20 years" in the screened pavilion.
11:30 Lunch- "A Taste of Ruskin" offers samples of classic Ruskin eateries for just $5 per person. Businesses that are participating include Marion's Subs, The Fish House, The Dog House, and HydroHarvest Farms.
1:00- The main celebration ends but the anniversary activities will continue through the year.

There will be local environmental organizations joining the celebration, with activities and displays, including the Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum, Florida Aquarium, Little Manatee River State Park, Hillsborough County Conservation and Environmental Lands Management, Girl Scout Troop 30349 and Keep Tampa Bay Beautiful, just to name a few. Camp Bayou volunteers will be showcasing the many youth program options at the Center. A 'Photo Trail', consisting of 4 posters depicting 5-year press and photos, will lead visitors to the pavilion where the photo slideshow is running. A raffle will be ongoing through the morning with fun prizes such as books, t-shirts, cookies, and more. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Winners will be announced before lunch. All event attendees will receive a young Everglades tomato plant to take home in appreciation of your spending your morning celebrating with Camp Bayou. Check out the updates on social media. #CampBayou20th #natureinyourneighborhood #EEinFlorida 

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 Conservation and 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, follow @campbayou on Twitter, camp_bayou on Instagram, and for more information visit the website at http://www.campbayou.org or call 813-641-8545.