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 July 16th 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 once more this summer on August 13th 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.

Photo Caption:  The council house has two rings of benches, an inner ring for tribal leaders and speakers and an outer ring for public and onlookers.

Darke County Parks would like to send a huge thank you to all of their volunteers. Whether they regularly help with school groups, maintenance, animal care, historical interpretation, special events, habitat healing, or anything in between, the park district board and staff truly appreciate all their hard work and dedication! The staff hopes all the volunteers have enjoyed the past year at the park and will continue to volunteer with for many more years to come!

To show all this appreciation, Darke County Parks invites all volunteers, those who help weekly and those who only help every once in a while, to join them for a Volunteer Ice Cream Social and Bingo on July 15th at 5pm. These frozen treats will have all sorts of toppings available, and there will be some great bingo prizes waiting to be won. Come spend time with all those who value the park district’s mission and enjoy a reward for everything accomplished. Please RSVP with Volunteer Coordinator, Kathi McQueen by calling (937) 548-0165 or emailing kmcqueen@darkecountyparks.org.

Photo Caption- Neal Schmidt and Dudley Hansbarger help with last year’s summer camps.