Special media release 6/2/08- Camp Bayou, Ruskin

Media contact: Dolly Cummings phone: 813-363-5438   Special Encore Family Naturalist Programs on Fridays through June   Camp Bayou is offering a special encore of the FREE Family Naturalist Program workshops that were held last month, this time on Friday mornings from 9am-11am through June. The Family Naturalist Program is free and pre-registration is not required. You can attend on just one, or all Friday and/ or Saturdays, until June 28.   FREE Friday Family Naturalist Workshops schedule:  June 13- net critters in the river (What is an indicator species?); count butterflies for University of Florida's Butterfly Network (What is citizen science?); June 20- hunt for 'aliens' along the river (What are non-native invasive species?); net critters in the river (What is biodiversity?) June 27- dig under the leaves and soil (What lives beneath our feet?), check out the critters living in a gopher tortoise burrow (What is a keystone species?).   ** PLUS **   Don't miss the rest of the FREE Saturday morning Family Naturalist workshops from 9-10am: June 7- What is a Florida Friendly Yard? (native plant walk then make your own terrarium) June 14- What does water quality mean? (do chemical tests on river water samples) June 21- What is a wetland? (explore the wetlands near the river, net critters) June 28- A Watershed Celebration!   On June 28, there will be a 3-hour Watershed Celebration with food, a ''Family Feud'- type game with prizes, plus awards based on attendance. To see a sampling of the types of awards and prizes offered, visit the Family Naturalist Network at http://familynaturalists.ning.com/. While you're there, consider joining to connect with like-minded families.  If you have any questions contact Dolly at 813-363-5438 or email at campbayou@yahoo.com.   Funding for the Family Naturalist Program workshops is provided by the Alafia River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.   Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR 674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin, on the Little Manatee River.   ### pictured: Kaitlyn Allen of Gibsonton gets the BIG picture through a magnifying glass of all the insects and other critters caught in a pitfall trap placed near the entrance to a gopher tortoise burrow.