It’s going to be a busy first weekend to kick off a busy month for Dallas County Conservation, and the first event is this afternoon.

The Healing of the Mounds Ceremony will be held from 2-5 p.m. at the Kuehn Conservation Area. The program is a collaboration between Dallas County Conservation, the State Office of Archaeology, and Iowa’s First Nations Peoples. Participants will learn the history of the Woodland Culture and mound builders that resided along the Raccoon River in ancient times. Following the presentations, attendees will be invited to carry soil to the scarred mounds and take part in a ceremony to heal the wounds on the sacred sites. Pre-registration is requested and can be done by contacting Forest Park Museum at 515-465-3577.

The activities continue tomorrow, with two separate events. First is the annual High Trestle Hawk Watch, which will run from 10 a.m. – 4 p.m. at the trail overlook near Woodward. Naturalists will be on hand to help people identify the variety of birds passing along the Des Moines River. Conservation then invites people of all ages to Forest Park at 1:30 p.m. for a program called “Current Cases and Historical Perspectives on UFOs.” Noted UFO researcher Bev Trout will present a lecture and lead a discussion on the history of her field. Trout will host a second event later in the month as well, discussing UFO and paranormal experiences on October 21st at Forest Park.

There is no registration required for either of tomorrow’s events, and every program offered by Dallas County Conservation is free of charge.