Park programs look at wildlife, Christmas

PORTERSVILLE, Pa. -- An early taste of the holidays is coming to McConnell's Mill State Park on U.S. Route 422.
"Christmas in July" begins at 2 p.m. Sunday in the Kildoo picnic area. A naturalist will discuss Christmas decorations and other holiday ideas that can be made from nature, as well as environmentally friendly ways to select a tree, wrapping paper and other items.
"Waterways, Highways and Wildlife," a program for 4- and 5-year-olds, begins at 1:30 p.m. Tuesday in the Kildoo picnic area. The program will explore how litter affects fish and other wildlife, and will include a hike to the Old Mill and along Alpha Pass Trail.
"Reduce and Reuse," a program about ways to reduce garbage, starts at 1:30 p.m. Wednesday at the Old Mill. Product packaging will be a topic. The program is for children 6 to 8.
"Landfills vs. Dumps" will begin at 1 p.m. Thursday in the Kildoo picnic area. The event, for ages 9 to 13, will deal with how landfills and dumps work and the roles they play in land use.
The Old Mill is open at 11 a.m. and 4 p.m. Friday through Sunday throughout July for tours. Half-hour corn grinding demonstrations will be at 1, 3 and 5 p.m. each weekend at the mill.