COUNTYButler County Parks and Recreation Department free Thursday evening programs at Alameda Park include “Alpaca Palace” today and “Mad Science of Pittsburgh Dry Ice” on Aug. 11, both at 6:30 p.m. in the Carousel Shelter. Call 724-284-5383.Bartramian Audubon Society has free birding field trips like one to the Shenango River Lake Aug. 13. Call 724-794-2434 to register.Succop Nature Park, 185 W. Airport Road, Penn Township, hosts free birding and nature hikes with a naturalist at 9 a.m. Thursdays. Trails are open from dawn to dusk. Call 412-963-6100 or visit www.aswp.org.Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission personnel will be at the Graham Park fishing pond from 1 to 5 p.m. Wednesday. Anglers can take their own barbless fishing gear or have equipment and bait provided. Family Fishing Fun is open to anyone 2 or older. In addition to basic fishing techniques, the class is designed to provide safety, outdoor etiquette and watershed education. No fishing license is necessary. Registration is required. The fee is $5, or $7 for nonresidents. Call 724-779-4386.

REGIONMcConnells Mill State Park, Slippery Rock Township, Lawrence County, off Route 422, has the mill open 10:30 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Wednesdays through Mondays. Tours are given at 1 and 2 p.m. daily. Call 724-368-8811.Star parties sponsored by the Amateur Astronomers Association of Pittsburgh are to begin during the Perseid Meteor Shower, weather permitting,at 8:20 p.m. Aug. 12 and 13at the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Regional Park near Russellton. Call 724-224-2510.