One big butterfly release and bird songs — 3 beautiful events happening near Dayton this weekend

It’s been a heavy week in Dayton.

Following the Oregon District mass shooting on Sunday, this weekend will be some Daytonians’ first opportunity to get out of the office or house and take some time to enjoy themselves.

These three out-of-the-ordinary events offer you a chance to be out in nature and enjoy the beautiful parts of life this weekend.

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🌞Monarch Release at Miller Park 

It’s too late to pre-order your own Monarch to release, but the event at Miller Ecological Park will be a wondrous sight to see this weekend. All butterflies will be released at once into a 5,600-square-foot pollinator garden.

The release is set to take place shortly after 11 a.m., so be sure to leave yourself enough time to park and get to the location. Organizers suggest to bring a chair and a camera.

The event is rain or shine. There will be overflow parking at the New Freedom Church across the street.

Credit: Lebanon Garden Club

Credit: Lebanon Garden Club

WHEN: 11 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 10

WHERE: Miller Park, 755 Miller Road, Lebanon

INFO: Facebook 

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🌞Bird Language Meeting

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Once a month, bird lovers meet to practice the art of listening to communication patterns of birds and wildlife at Glen Helen Nature Preserve in Yellow Springs. This free event is a chance to sit outdoors and really listen to “birds broadcasting the story of the land.”

Credit: Glen Helen

Credit: Glen Helen

WHEN: 10 a.m. to noon, Saturday, Aug. 10

WHERE: Glen Helen, 405 Corry St., Yellow Springs

INFO: Facebook 

🌞Walk Fort Ancient with an Archaeologist

Saturday is a unique opportunity to get a deeper understanding of one of the great treasures of the Dayton area. For $20 per person and $10 per student (6-17 years old), visitors will get a guided tour of more than two miles of Fort Ancient and the people who came to the land to worship and live.

“Guests will learn of the archaeological history and American Indian ingenuity that went into constructing the largest and best preserved hilltop enclosure in the United States 2,000 years ago. Participants will walk areas of the 125-acre enclosure and see things the average visitor may not see without a tour guide,” according to the event page.

Credit: Fort Ancient

Credit: Fort Ancient

WHEN: 1 p.m. to  3:30 p.m. Saturday, Aug. 10

WHERE: Fort Ancient Earthworks & Nature Preserve, 6123 State Route 350, Oregonia

INFO: Website

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