media release- Camp Bayou Open House 4/19, 8am-2pm

Media contact: Dolly Cummings

phone: 813-363-5438

Camp Bayou Open House Highlights Activities

The Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin will host their semi-annual Open House on Saturday, April 19 from 8am -2pm. A variety of family-friendly activities will be offered throughout the day.

8 am: Great American Cleanup begins. Volunteers help cleanup the preserve. Contact Keep Hillsborough County Beautiful to register: 813-960-5121.

9 am: Family Naturalist Program with Dolly Cummings. Today's theme: What is a Watershed? (Part of ongoing Family Naturalist Program which is a weekly watershed education and stewardship series for ages 4 through adult. conducted each Saturday from 9a.m.–10a.m., April 5–June 28, and funded by a Community Education Grant from the Alafia River Basin Board of the Southwest Florida Water Management District.)

10 am: Native Plants with Florida Master Naturalist Becki Stafford. Learn about native plants for the home landscape, visit the plant nursery and learn how to grow your own.

11 am: Butterfly Bing-OH with Armin Furrer. Visit the members of the Eagle Audubon Society of Sun City Center in their "Butterfly Habitat" gazebo to learn about the local butterflies and the plants they love.

11 am: Nature Writers Workshop with Diane Alvarez, PhD. Bring a poem, reflection, or story you have written about nature plus copies of your work to share or plan to read aloud. For info, contact beautyberry@tampabay.rr.com .

Noon: Spring BBQ with Pit master Frank Cummings. BBQ fundraiser- $10/person., Vegetarian items available.

1 pm: Wetland Walk-n-Wade with Camp Bayou volunteer. Take a walk through the wetlands to the river to see what critters we can net. Your feet WILL get wet!

Ongoing activities throughout the day include:

- Fossil Museum and fossil pit (dig for small fee) with Paleo volunteers.

- Nature Center open- check out the exhibits and free resources.

- Nature Arts in Classroom with Jeri Hundertmark.

- 3 trails through varied habitats, guided walks every hour on the half hour.

- Friends of Ucita- Learn about Florida's Native People with Florida Master Naturalist Fred Jacobson.

- Native People's Camp- created by Eagle Scouts from Troop #11.

- Archaeologist for a Day with Mark Dunn (simulated dig, small fee).

- Native plants for sale.

Camp Bayou is located 3 miles south of SR674 at the end of 24th St SE in Ruskin. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation. For general information and directions visit http://www.campbayou.org/ or call 813-641-8545.

Don't forget, you can find out what's new at Camp Bayou by going to www.campbayou.blogspot.com - "Camp Bayou Nature Notes". You can also access this blog and others from Camp Bayou's home page: www.campbayou.org .

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Pictured: George Shambaugh hunts critters in the river with a group during last year's Open House.

Upcoming Tampa Bay Watch Event

Tampa Bay Watch Open House

What: Free Open House Event at Tampa Bay Watch

When: Saturday, April 12 from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Where: 3000 Pinellas Bayway South Tierra Verde, FL 33715

727-867-8166 * tampabaywatch.org

Why: Games for the whole family

Activities around the bay

Educational exhibits

Complimentary refreshments

Florida Archaeology Month Event ~ St. Petersburg

Florida Archaeology Month Event ~ St. Petersburg
Sat., Mar. 8th, 10 am to 4 pm
Weedon Island Cultural and Natural History Center

Learn about the latest archaeological research at Weedon Island Preserve and the Tampa Bay area. Enjoy Native American craft demonstrations and the new exhibit gallery depicting prehistoric life on Tampa Bay. Atlatl spear-throwing and hands-on craft activities for youngsters of all ages will be held throughout the day. Central Gulf Coast Archaeological Society will host an artifact identification table. This event is free and open to the public. Recommended for all ages.

For a complete schedule of March 2008 events at Weedon Island, CLICK HERE

volunteer staff for offsite events

I am looking for folks who would be interested in helping staff some offsite events during the weekend of March 8-9 (another event in Apollo Beach that weekend is already covered):

At MOSI in Tampa, the Florida Yard Fandango is an environmental landscaping event that encourages the 9 principles of Florida- Friendly Yards. I could use some extra hands since we have the opportunity to sell some of the native plants in our nursery so we can't leave the space unattended for any length of time.

At Boyd Hill in St. Pete, the Annual Wildlife Weekend will be showcasing Florida ecosystems and encouraging appreciation and stewardship. Our display will focus on how Native peoples used the natural resources that were available to survive. It will also promote this program at Camp Bayou.

If you are interested and available on the weekend of March 8-9, please let me know what time you would consider volunteering to staff the spaces. It is preferred that each person commit to at least 3 hrs to ensure adequate coverage through the weekend. Contact Dolly at campbayou@yahoo.com or call 813-363-5438. Our calendar is located at http://my.calendars.net/campbayou/ .

Gainesville Water Symposium

Sustainable Water Resources Symposium Feb 27-28, 2008, Gainesville

http://www.waterinstitute.ufl.edu/symposium/

Symposium Purpose
The symposium will bring together scientists, engineers, academics, policy makers, water managers, industry representatives, lawyers, students and the public to:

Understand the relationships among challenges to water resources sustainability...

Explore solutions for pressing issues using science, technology, policy & education...

Provide broad based recommendations to ensure water resources sustainability for Florida and beyond through...

This symposium format is designed to encourage collaboration and ensure participants' involvement through dynamic and interactive panel sessions, seminars and town meetings.

Fiind out more at http://www.waterinstitute.ufl.edu/symposium/

reminder: 2/9 FMNP Regional Workshop--Central West

Hello!

Our first 2008 FMNP Central West Regional Workshop is Saturday, February 9 at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg. It will be hosted by the Pinellas County FMNP Chapter and we hope that you can join us.

We have an exciting day planned for all of our regional graduates and their guests at this beautiful coastal preserve that is chuck-full of Florida history. http://www.weedonislandcenter.org/

Saturday, February 9

10:00 -10:30 Welcome and Introduction to Weedon Island Preserve

10:30 -11:00 Lost Tribes Film

11:00 -11:30 Break & Fun Mixer Activity

11:30 -12:30 Bird ID, Behaviors & Adaptations Program

by FMNP Pinellas Graduates Tom & Lindsay Bell

12:30 -1:30 Potluck Lunch with Another Mixer Activity

—bring your favorite covered dish to share

Discussion of Regional Topics & Field Trip Ideas

1:30-3:30 Weedon Exploration Guided Hike

3:30-3:31 Wrap-up & Thank You

We will be having a potluck lunch, so bring your favorite dish to share. There are electrical outlets if you need to keep your food warm. To be more environmentally sustainable, please bring a non-disposable cup, plate and eating utensils. We will supply drinks and napkins.

We will be hiking on pretty smooth surfaces, but this is a natural preserve, so be sure to wear close-toed shoes. Bring sunscreen, layered clothes in case it is cool, sunglasses, a hat, binoculars, field guides, etc.

Please RSVP to me by Wednesday, February 6. Also, forward this to all of your FMNP graduate friends in our region to make sure they received this. And instructors, please be sure to send this invitation to your graduates.

Directions:

Weedon Island is on the south eastern side of the county just south of the Gandy Bridge.

1800 Weedon Drive NE., St. Petersburg, FL 33702

· Take Gandy Blvd (US92/SR600 and also called Park Blvd or SR694 in western Pinellas County) to San Martin Blvd

· Go south on San Martin Blvd to Weedon Drive NE

· Turn east (left) on Weedon Drive NE and follow road into preserve

· Continue through preserve to the education center (on the east or left side of road)

· There is a very large parking lot with a building on the far side—park here and go towards the back of the building to the entrance

· If you miss it and drive to the end of the preserve road, there is a fishing pier—turn around and head back about .3 to .5 mile to the large education building

For additional directions to Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center, call (727) 453-6500

We look forward to seeing you at Weedon next month—remember to RSVP by 2/6!

Jeanne & The Pinellas Chapter FMNP

Jeanne Murphy

Pinellas County Extension

Wildlife Biologist/Extension Education Coordinator

Florida Master Naturalist Instructor

12520 Ulmerton Road

Largo, FL 33774

jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us

Activities of interest to FMNP grads

Florida Forestry Teachers Tour: June 19-22
Join teachers from around the state in this behind the scenes tour of forestry in
Florida. This is an exclusive opportunity for educators to visit paper, engineered
wood and solid wood mills, as well as private, public and industrial forests, including logging operations. For additional information and an application visit
http://www.fl-dof.com/calendar/forestry_teachers_tour.html

League of Environmental Educators in Florida Conference: March 27-30
Join fellow park naturalists, outdoor educators, homeschoolers, and K-12 teachers at Camp Crystal Lake in north central Florida!
http://www.leef-florida.org

Nature Art and Earth Day Event at Nature’s Classroom: April 19-20
Interested in spending time among wildlife in Hillsborough County? Nature’s Classroom is hosting an Earth Day Event April 19-20 from 9 am to 5 pm. Volunteers are needed for a variety of positions. Contact Karen Johnson-Folsom at karen.johnson@sdhc.k12.fl.us for more information.

Fwd: "Give A Day For The Bay" Spring Workdays -- Sign Up Now

Greetings Volunteers:

I have two definite workdays set for the next couple of months. They are:

Saturday, Feb. 23

Camp Bayou Outdoor Learning Center in Ruskin

9 am-1 p.m.

We were last at Camp Bayou in 2005. This time, we'll be picking up trash and debris (some of it heavy) from a pine flatwood and scrub area that was the site of a recent controlled burn. The fire opened up the area so we can see the trash. It also has exposed the gopher tortoise burrows. So, we also need volunteers to locate and measure burrow entrances and record information about them on survey sheets for a Camp Bayou gopher tortoise census. We will train you on the spot. We especially need volunteers who have handheld GPS units! This workday is suitable for ages 10 and up. Lunch and t-shirt provided (let me know if you are a vegetarian). Driving directions available at http://campbayou.org/map1.html

Saturday, March 15

Rivercrest Park in Tampa

9 am-1 pm

Another litter cleanup, this time in a large urban park and adjacent greenway just north of downtown Tampa on the Hillsborough River. There is a LOT Of litter here. We may also be doing some cleaning up of mulched plant beds, trimming, invasive removal and other chores as needed by the Tampa Parks Department. Suitable for ages 5 and up. Lunch and t-shirt provided. A map to the park is available at http://www.tampagov.net/dept_parks_and_recreation/park_search/parkdetail.asp?nbr=122

Pinellas County volunteers, we haven't forgotten you. Coming soon:

April: Taylor Park in Largo (aquatic plant installation in freshwater pond)

May: War Veterans Memorial Park (Coastal shoreline planting)

It's time to get out, enjoy the weather and do some good in 2008! Let the sign-up begin!

Sent by:

Nanette Holland O'Hara

Public Outreach Coordinator

Tampa Bay Estuary Program

100 8th Ave. S.E.

St. Petersburg, FL 33701

(727) 893-2765 phone

(727) 893-2767 fax

e-mail: Nanette@tbep.org

http://www.tbep.org/

http://www.tampabay.wateratlas.org/

FMNP Regional Workshop 2/9 10 AM-3:31 PM

Hello and Happy New Year!

Our first 2008 FMNP Central West Regional Workshop is Saturday, February 9 at Weedon Island Preserve in St. Petersburg . It will be hosted by the Pinellas County FMNP Chapter and we hope that you can join us.

We have an exciting day planned for all of our regional graduates and their guests at this beautiful coastal preserve that is chuck-full of Florida history. http://www.weedonislandcenter.org/

Saturday, February 9
10:00 -10:30 Welcome and Introduction to Weedon Island Preserve
10:30 -11:00 Lost Tribes Film
11:00 -11:30 Break & Fun Mixer Activity
11:30 -12:30 Bird ID, Behaviors & Adaptations Program
by FMNP Pinellas Graduates Tom & Lindsay Bell
12:30 -1:30 Potluck Lunch with Another Mixer Activity
—bring your favorite covered dish to share
Discussion of Regional Topics & Field Trip Ideas
1:30-3:30 Weedon Exploration Guided Hike
3:30-3:31 Wrap-up & Thank You

We will be having a potluck lunch, so bring your favorite dish to share. There are electrical outlets if you need to keep your food warm. To be more environmentally sustainable, please bring a non-disposable cup, plate and eating utensils. We will supply drinks and napkins.

We will be hiking on pretty smooth surfaces, but this is a natural preserve, so be sure to wear close-toed shoes. Bring sunscreen, layered clothes in case it is cool, sunglasses, a hat, binoculars, field guides, etc.

Please RSVP to me by Wednesday, February 6. Also, forward this to all of your FMNP graduate friends in our region to make sure they received this. And instructors, please be sure to send this invitation to your graduates.

Directions:
Weedon Island is on the south eastern side of the county just south of the Gandy Bridge .
1800 Weedon Drive NE., St. Petersburg , FL 33702
· Take Gandy Blvd (US92/SR600 and also called Park Blvd or SR694 in western Pinellas County ) to San Martin Blvd
· Go south on San Martin Blvd to Weedon Drive NE
· Turn east (left) on Weedon Drive NE and follow road into preserve
· Continue through preserve to the education center (on the east or left side of road)
· There is a very large parking lot with a building on the far side—park here and go towards the back of the building to the entrance
· If you miss it and drive to the end of the preserve road, there is a fishing pier—turn around and head back about .3 to .5 mile to the large education building

For additional directions to Weedon Island Preserve Cultural and Natural History Center , call (727) 453-6500

Our next Regional Workshops will be:
Saturday, May 10
Location and host needed—Contact Jeanne Murphy at 582-2461 or jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us if interested.

Saturday, August 9
Location and host needed—Contact Jeanne Murphy at 582-2461 or jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us if interested.

Saturday, December 13
Location and host needed—Contact Jeanne Murphy at 582-2461 or jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us if interested.


We look forward to seeing you at Weedon next month—remember to RSVP by 2/6!
Jeanne & The Pinellas Chapter FMNP

Jeanne Murphy
Pinellas County Extension
Wildlife Biologist/Extension Education Coordinator
Florida Master Naturalist Instructor
12520 Ulmerton Road
Largo, FL 33774
jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us

Camp Bayou volunteer update January 2008

There are a few volunteer opportunities at Camp Bayou coming up that may be of interest. Please contact Dolly at citsci@campbayou.org if you are interested in helping with any of these events. If you are not already registered as a volunteer with Hillsborough County, you will be asked to fill out a short volunteer form before participating in any event.

There will be a butterfly monitoring training class on Friday, January.11, 2008 (for more on the Florida Butterfly Monitoring Network, visit http://www.flbutterflies.net/locations.jsp?County=Hillsborough ). It is a 6 hr class conducted by a researcher from UF, Dr. Akers Pence, but you must commit to doing a monthly monitoring at either Camp Bayou or Lowry Park (possibly a coastal site such as Cockroach Bay). Let me know ASAP if you are interested in taking the training class.

The recent prescribed burn at Camp Bayou has exposed a number of gopher tortoise burrows. We are looking for some folks who are interested in helping monitor them on Saturday, January 19 from 10:30-ish to 1pm (?). If you own a handheld GPS unit to use that's great but we will have some extras for those who don't. We'll walk the north end of the preserve, through the recently charred palmettos, to GPS each burrow and document if active or not. If you would like to help, let me know by Jan 12.

We have begun a pilot citizen science program named 'Wildlife in My Yard'. Participants observe the activity in their yards for 30 minutes. They then go online, sign in and enter background information, and proceed to the survey where they record whether certain groups of wildlife are present or absent in their yard. Recording what is absent is just as important as recording what is present. In an effort to draw valid conclusions, observations should be made at about the same time of day for each session reported. Mornings or late afternoon/evening are probably the best times to observe the greatest number of critters.
If you live in the Tampa Bay area and would like to participate in this Citizen Science project, go online to http://www.surveymonkey.com/s.aspx?sm=8r4OMCTtdbpeZRje_2bQ45Hg_3d_3d , or email citsci@campbayou.org for more information.

Volunteers are also needed to help with the expanded version of the Family Naturalist program, Saturdays 9:30-10:30am from March- June, part of a community education grant from SWFWMD. We've done a pilot program for a year and half that will be the template. Each week is a different environmental theme and activity.

Thanks for all you do,
Dolly

New Year's Day Birding Open

St. Petersburg Audubon Society to Host New Year's Day Birding Open at Ft. DeSoto County Park.
Proceeds to benefit Audubon of Florida's Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Program
Contact: Ann Hodgson or Ann Paul, Audubon of Florida, 813/623-6826
Mauri Peterson, St. Petersburg Audubon Society, 727/398-4124 or maurip@aol.com).

December 18, 2007. Tampa, FL - Bird-watchers and nature appreciators are invited to participate in the Rich Paul New Year's Day Birding Open, hosted by St. Petersburg Audubon Society at Ft. DeSoto County Park, on Tuesday January 1, 2008. The Birding Open is a species-counting competition, with each person and team participating on the honor code. Bird species located from the toll bridges of Tierra Verde on the Pinellas Bayway, Highway 682 south (including the shores, woods, and habitats of Ft. DeSoto County Park) on Tuesday, January 1 2008, 6 am to noon, will count towards winning trophies for most species seen, as team and individual participants, and other categories, some of them "mystery" categories. Bird species counters will have the period from 6 am until noon to record their sightings. Then, the tally and awards ceremony will occur at East Beach Picnic Pavilion #13, where contestants will have lunch and share stories of their morning adventures. Participants are asked to make a $20 donation to Audubon of Florida's Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Program and bring their own picnic lunch.

The New Year's Day Birding Open, sponsored by St. Petersburg Audubon Society for 15 years, has raised over $10,000 for Audubon of Florida's Coastal Islands Sanctuaries Program. Audubon's Sanctuaries Program works to protect the colonial waterbirds of Florida and the habitats that support them. For the last two years and this New Year's Day, the Birding Open has been dedicated in memory of Richard T. Paul, former Sanctuary Manager, who died in 2005 of cancer.

Participants can expect to see at least 50 species of birds in this part of southern Pinellas County in the time frame of the Birding Open contest. More experienced bird watchers may spot over 75 species, including herons, ducks, sandpipers, warblers and hawks.

To participate, or for more information, please contact Mauri Peterson, president of St. Petersburg Audubon Society at 727/398-4124 or http://us.f502.mail.yahoo.com/ym/Compose?To=maurip@aol.com.

Sponsored by the Pinellas Chapter FMNP

December 13, Thursday
Holiday Lights at Florida Botanical Gardens
Sponsored by Pinellas Chapter FMNP

· 7:00PM to 8:30PM
· Meet in Extension’s Gardenia Room
· All FMNP Graduates, Their Families and Friends Welcome
· Contact Jeanne to RSVP by 12/11 at jmurphy@co.pinellas.fl.us
· Emma Mason, Cathy Leonard and Pat Edmond are our festivity, food and fun coordinators!


Get into the holiday spirit while enjoying an evening stroll through the beautifully festive, illuminated gardens. Bring your family and friends to share a cup of coffee or cocoa and some holiday treats with other Master Naturalists and their guests before our leisurely walk. Hope you can join us to celebrate a wonderful year’s past!

media release- Camp Bayou Open House, Saturday Dec 1.

Media contact: Dolly Cummings
phone: 813-363-5438

Open House at Camp Bayou

Camp Bayou's semi-annual Open House will be held Saturday, December 1 from 9am-2pm. There have been lots of changes this year and the Open House is a great way to see a sample of all the activities- new and established.

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 events@campbayou.org or call 813-641-8545. Camp Bayou is a partnership between the Ruskin Community Development Foundation, Inc. and Hillsborough County Parks, Recreation and Conservation.

Holiday Open House, Saturday, Dec. 1, 9am-2pm

Schedule of Activities:

9 am: Birding Walk – with Naturalist Charles Cunningham

9:30 am: * Wildlife in my Yard– an introduction to a new Citizen Science program with Director Dolly Cummings

10 am: Native Plants – with Master Naturalist Becki Stafford.

10:30 am: * Native American Camp- with Master Naturalist Fred Jacobsen

11 am: En Plein Aire- Artist Suzanne Prach introduces painting in the outdoors.

11 am: * Butterfly walk- with Master Naturalist Becki Stafford.

11:30am: Camp Bayou Nature Writers Group- Introduced by Master Naturalist Diane Alvarez PhD, Beautyberry Books

Noon: Holiday BBQ- Annual fundraiser, Vegetarian items available. $10/person

12:30 pm: Highlight Cart Tours– 20 min tours on 7 passenger cart continuous from 12:30—1:30pm

1 pm: * Aquatic Explorations – Net critters in the river with Master Naturalist George Shambaugh.

On-going throughout the day:

- * Canoe rentals- Opening Day!!! (must be 18 or older to rent canoes or accompanied by an adult- fee charged)

- * Friends of Ucita simulated archaeological 'dig' for kids (donations requested)

- * Fossil Museum open

- * Fossil pit dig (fee charged- you keep fossils found!)

- * Nature Center open

- 3 trails through varied habitats

- Native plants for sale in Nursery

- Butterfly Habitat hosted by Eagle Audubon Society

* Family- friendly, hands on activities

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Picture 1: Pictured are members of the Eagle Audubon Society's recent canoe trip. The Opening Day for public canoe rentals at Camp Bayou is at the Open House, Dec 1.
Picture 2: Students from Cypress Creek Elementary do an aquatic netting activity, part of 'No Child Left Inside Days'. A similar netting activity is scheduled at 1pm on Dec 1.
Picture 3: Pictured is Chase and parents at Ruskin Seafood Festival doing simulated archaeological dig similar to new activity offered at Camp Bayou's Open House, Dec 1.