More than 150 attendees of all ages were on hand Saturday evening for the New Canaan Nature Center's second Nature-Palooza, a night for campers and parents alike to enjoy live music and roasted marshmallows.

This year's crowd grew significantly from the first annual Nature-Palooza that only drew 50 people.

 Performers were also more abundant this year compared to last when former summer camp director Matt Black was the only act.

Second year camp counselor James Ford and his friend Ben Duffy were first on stage Saturday evening, playing original material in front of a crowd of people for their first time.

Black was up next, entertaining campers with their favorite camp songs. Third to the stage were Fairfield County's bluegrass brothers, John and Bill Moses, finishing out an evening filled with acoustic guitar duets and classic campfire tunes.

Families enjoyed a summer night of music surrounded by nature with picnic selections of their own. The night then concluded with an inaugural marshmallow roast and campfire.

Nature Center Executive Director Laura Heckman says the evening is a method to bring children out of the house.

"It's just an opportunity for kids to be outside and unplugged from the TV and computer," she said.

While all the acts were enjoyed, many families were on hand to watch former or current camp staff members strum guitars and sing. Teddy Hattenbach, a six-year camper, watched Matt Black perform with his sister Ariella and their parents Laime and Charles.

Laime Hattenbach is pleased with the events the nature center holds.

"They always have fun events for the kids," she said.

Patricia Oxman, watching with her daughter Katie, was a camper when Black was director.

"We're fans," Patricia said.

The New Canaan Nature Center is currently celebrating 50 years of existence.

Upcoming events include a 50^th Anniversary Gala on October 2titled "Under Nature's Spell." The center will also host a fall fair on October 16 with new activities to-be-determined, along with a Winter Wonderland in December.

Nature-Palooza served as an "extra-party" in commemoration of the center's 50th anniversary year along with bringing the community together as a whole according to current camp director Geoff McCann who described the second annual event as "a nice evening of summer song here at the nature center."

Children and Campers were also treated to the concert to highlight the mid-point of the Nature Center's Summer Camp 2010.

McCann is optimistic about the event's future.

"It's definitely going and growing in the direction we want it to," he said.