Free Outdoor Discovery programs, hosted by the Butler County Parks and Recreation Department, take place Thursday nights at Alameda Park. That Guy with the Birds will present a program at 7 p.m. today in the Carousel Shelter. Call 724-284-5383. “Let There Be Slime” is planned for July 18 in the Carousel Shelter.

Jennings Environmental Education Center, Route 528, Brady Township, will host Celebrate the Bloom! from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. July 20 with a full day of activities, including prairie walks, workshops and demonstrations plus food, vendors and entertainment to celebrate the only managed and protected prairie in Pennsylvania. Call 724-794-6011.

Moraine State Park will be the site of kayak programs including a Blue Heron and Kingfisher Paddle from 9 to 11:30 a.m. Saturday and 5 to 7:30 p.m. July 28. Historic Oil Well Operation on Park Road will take place from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday and Aug. 10, Sept. 14 and Oct. 12. Geocaching 101 is planned for 10 to 11:30 a.m. Sunday. Participants will meet the park naturalist at the Pleasant Valley picnic area on the South Shore to learn about and take part in some geocaching. The park has several GPS units that will be available to participants. Call 724-368-8811 to register for the kayak programs.

McConnells Mill State Park in Slippery Rock Township, just over the county line into Lawrence County off Route 422, has the historic gristmill open from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Fridays, Saturdays and Sundays through October. Interpretive tours of the historic mill, which last about 45 minutes, will be available at 1 and 3 p.m. Additional tours for groups may be scheduled by calling 724 368-3612. Admission and parking are free.A Star Party will start, weather permitting, at 8:50 p.m. Friday and Saturday at the Nicholas E. Wagman Observatory in Deer Lakes Regional Park, near the village of Russellton in Frazer township in northeastern Allegheny County. Admission is free, though donations are accepted to help cover the costs of operation. Call 724-224-2510.