media release-Ruskin 12/6/08

Media contact: Dolly Cummings phone: 813-363-5438 6th Annual Holiday Open House at Camp Bayou Ruskin- Camp Bayou's Holiday Open House will be held Saturday, December 6 from 9am-2pm. Our semi-annual Open Houses are a great way to see a sample of all the exhibits and activities- new and established. Admission to the Open House is free but some activities charge a small fee as noted in the schedule below. Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR 674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. Visit on the web at www.campbayou.org, email campbayou@yahoo.com or call 813-641-8545. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. 6th Annual Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 6, 9am-2pm Schedule of Activities at Camp Bayou:    9- 11:30am: Wildlife Celebration presented by the Crawford Art Studio from the SS Regional Library. Learn about some of our common birds and create a clay sculpture of your favorite! Workshop held in Pavilion.   9am: Guided walking Tour 1- Wetland Walk. Begins at Nature Center .   9:30am– 1:30pm: Highlight Cart Tours– 20 min tours on 7 passenger cart on the half hour. Meet at Visitor's Center   10am:  Aquatic Explorations – Join our naturalist to net critters in the river. Meet at Pavilion.   11 am: Guided walking Tour 2- Tortoise Trail.  Begins at Nature Center .   Noon: * Holiday BBQ- Annual fundraiser, Vegetarian items available. $10/person. In Pavilion. (* Reservations are not required but the BBQ fundraiser is 'first come- first served', while supplies last, so come early for a tasty selection!)   1pm: Guided walking Tour 3: River Ramble. Begins at Nature Center .   Plus- On-going throughout the day:   o        Paleo Preserve Fossil Museum open   o        Leisey-Casey Discovery Center and Frank A. Garcia Research Library open   o        Fossil pit dig (for small fee)   o        Nature Center open- with docents from Girl Scout troop 508 of Ruskin   o        Nature Crafts for Kids– ongoing with   Girl Scout Gold Awardee Janet Zicht from troop 966   o        3 trails through varied habitats   o        Native plants for sale   o       Native Peoples Camp tours on the hour w/ Ruskin History Project docents   o        Archaeology dig (for small fee)   o        Butterfly Habitat with Eagle Audubon Society   All activities are family-friendly so come out and enjoy a fun-filled day while learning about the world around us in the Little Manatee River Watershed!   ### photo by Dolly Cummings Pictured: Highlights from previous Open Houses. More photos available for download at http://picasaweb.google.com/campbayou/Events# Dolly Cummings www.campbayou.org Just living is not enough... One must have sunshine, freedom, and a little flower. - Hans Christian Anderson