The Darke County Park District is pleased to announce a new program, the Down to Earth Book Club. Each quarter the program will feature a different book, some by well-known nature writers, some about outdoor adventure, and even some about pioneers settling Ohio. Everyone is invited to read the book and join them at the Nature Center to discuss the work, enjoy some yummy treats, and suggest future books.

In its third season, the Down to Earth Book Club will read A Walk in the Woods by Bill Bryson. Now a major motion picture, this witty travelogue follows two middle age hikers as they attempt to walk the Appalachian Trail. Bryson describes the ecology and history of the trail as well as some of the more entertaining characters he encounters along the way while his companion, Katz, accompanies him at times as a help, as others a hindrance. As with the movie’s R rating, the book does include adult themes and language. Weather and mosquito permitting, the book club will meet outside, so please bring a lawn chair.  

This season’s book club will meet on Monday, August 1st at 6:30pm at the Shawnee Prairie Preserve Nature Center. Please call ahead to let them know you plan on participating in the book club discussion in August. The Darke County Parks Nature Center can be reached at (937) 548-0165.

“I can't think of anything that excites a greater sense of childlike wonder than to be in a country where you are ignorant of almost everything.” ― Bill Bryson

Want to learn more about the Treaty of Greenville, about the customs of the Native Americans here 200 years ago, or about the purpose of the council house? Join a local historian on June 18th from 1-3pm at the Anthony Wayne Peace Council House located at Prairie Ridge Meadow Park across from the Garst Museum to find out about these interests and more. Visitors can expect to see gifts from the twelve tribes who signed the treaty as well as many ceremonial items like a turtle shell representing the earth, a talking stick, and the ceremonial fire pits. Please remember, out of respect for the tribes who signed the treaty, enter the council house through the east door, with the rising sun, and exit though the west door, with the setting sun. The council house will also be open twice more this summer on July 16th and August 13th both from 1-3pm.

For questions about this program or any other program offered by the Darke County Parks, please stop by the nature center, call (937) 548-0165, or email info@darkecountyparks.org.