Are you brave enough to venture into the woods (or waterways) after dark?
Join Camp Bayou guides at a rare night event- Creatures of the Night/Haunted Hike on Saturday, Oct 14th 2023.
Two options are available:
The hike at 6pm is for the little ones to explore the woods while looking for signs of native nocturnal critters.
The hikes starting at 7pm will include some interesting tales of the crypto creatures and restless spirits that lurk in the woods that might be a bit too scary for the young'uns. There will be a limit of 20 participants per hike, with tours running every 30 minutes or so.
Each hike is $5 per person (cash only please) and includes s'mores around the campfire at the end of the walk.
Space is limited, reservations are required by completing this form: https://forms.gle/jvspZCAaPGCmXFLh8
On Saturday, October 21, Camp Bayou will have our Annual International Observe the Moon night paddle. Explore the Little Manatee River after dark- without flashlights! We'll watch for nocturnal animals such as owls, bats and fireflies while we enjoy a view of the moon and stars. The tour is $25 if you need to use one of our canoes or kayaks and $5 if you bring your own.
Camp Bayou continues to offer day paddle trips on the first and third Saturdays each month at 9am.
Reservations required for all paddle tours. Call the office to reserve your space- 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.
