American Indians often frequented the creek during hunting trips, while farmers and merchants used to share news while waiting for their grain to be ground at Shoaff’s Mill. Nearby, merchants, locals and travelers met at Blue Ball Tavern.

Today, thousands of hikers, campers and folks just wanting to spend the day outdoors meet at the state park to picnic, swim, fish, hike and experience nature and history.

The calendar for August at Little Buffalo is packed with events, most of which are free. They include:

• Dragons and Damsels — 10 a.m. Saturday on stage. Learn about the world of Odonata — predatory flying insects — as you are introduced to dragonflies and damselflies. Nets provided.

Photo courtesy of DCNR
Owls are commonplace at Little Buffalo State Park.

• Nature Journaling — 11 a.m. Saturday on stage. Explore the art of nature journaling and how to record observations.

• Tree ID Walk — 4 p.m. Saturday on stage then walk to Shoaff’s Mill day use area. Join a park naturalist on a hike and learn how to identify trees.

• Sunfish Sundays — 10 a.m. to noon Sunday at main boat launch. This family fishing program for sunfish, also known as panfish, is easy for all ages. Anglers can fish along the shore of the main boat launch, located on Boat Launch Road.

• Owl Outlaws — 6 p.m. on Aug. 8 at amphitheater, off Black Hill Road. Come solve a mystery of “Whoo” done it, and learn about owls to solve a

centuries old crime.

Photo courtesy of DCNR
A dragonfly lands on a branch.

• Moonlight Paddle — 8:15 to 10 p.m. on Aug. 8 at main boat launch. Bring a kayak to paddle under a full moon, watch the stars and experience the night life on the lake. Bug spray is recommended, as are headlamps or lights with red light. A regular white light is required when paddling.

• Intro to Fly Tying — 10 a.m. on Aug. 9 at park office classroom. Check out this fly-tying program designed especially for kids. Kick things off with an interactive talk about tiny aquatic creatures like mayflies, caddisflies and stoneflies that live in streams. The park educator will reveal how these bugs inspire the flies for fishing and teach tying a few common fly patterns. Then make your own. All materials provided. Recommended for ages 8 and up. Registration required.

• Intro to Kayaking — 9 a.m. on Aug. 10 at main boat launch. Join a park naturalist to learn the basics of kayaking. Registration required.

• Stream Study — 10 a.m. on Aug. 16 at playground near Pavilion 3. Discover what lives in the stream and why there are important to the ecosystem. Bring boots.

• Art in the Park — 11 a.m. on Aug. 16 at park office classroom. Learn basic techniques for plant pressing and how to make plant art at home.

• History of Little Buffalo Hike — 10 to 11:30 a.m. on Aug. 17. Walk through Little Buffalo’s historic district and explore the rich history of the valley, from its early settlement, tavern life, iron furnace and railway.

• Early Birding Hike — 9 a.m. on Aug. 23 at Pavilion 1 and 2 parking lot. Join the park naturalist for a morning bird walk along the Creek Trail to see what feathered friends live and are passing through the park.

• Attracting Pollinators — 5 p.m. on Aug. 23 at Butterfly Garden at Shoaff’s Mill day use area. Learn the basics about attracting pollinators, such as butterflies and hummingbirds.

• Bats — 8 p.m. on Aug. 23 at Shoaff’s Mill day use area. Use an acoustic monitor to take a bat survey to see what species are living in the park.

• Fossil Hunt — 10 a.m. on Aug. 24 at extra car parking lot near modern cabin on Black Hill Road. Travel back 400 million years to the Devonian geologic period to explore what life was like.

• Butterfly Craft — 4:30 p.m. on Aug. 29 at park office classroom. Enjoy a butterfly craft as the park naturalist share some fun facts.

• Monarch Movie — 7:30 p.m. on Aug. 30 at park office classroom. Check out a late-night movie to learn about the impressive migration Monarch butterflies make every year.

• Monarch Butterfly Tagging — 1 p.m. on Aug. 31 at Exercise Trail near park office. Learn how to catch, tag and release Monarch butterflies. Nets provided. Close-toe shoes recommended. Be prepared to walk through fields.

For more information, find Little Buffalo State Park on Facebook, visit https://events.dcnr.pa.gov or call (717) 567-9255.