Chattahoochee Nature Center » All About Nature Social Club

Have you been looking for an opportunity to learn more and meet others who want the same? Check out our monthly potluck meetings and our quarterly field trips.

Monthly Meetings

Come connect, learn, and get engaged with CNC during these monthly potluck meetings. Topics change each month and provide you a chance to enhance your knowledge of the natural world.

Dates: Meetings take place the 4th Thursday of each month. We do not meet in November or December.

Times: Potluck at 7:00pm and program begins at 7:30. We expect to be done between 9:00 - 9:30pm

Place: We will meet in the Plaza Conference Room at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Whenever possible our programs will include some indoor learning and some outdoor exploration.

Cost: $10 General Public; $5 CNC Members; FREE for CNC Docents, CNC Volunteers & Master Naturalist Students and Graduates

What to Bring: a vegetarian dish to share! Each month we will assign dishes categories based on name. Once you attend or request to be on our mailing list you will receive this information. In the mean time, bring anything you like.

Ages: All About Nature Social Club is for adults ages 16 and up.

Registration: Advance registration is not required

2012 Topics

January 26, 2012 – Native Americans, A Day in the Life with Mark Warren, founder of Medicine Bow

Mark will discuss how Native people lived day to day and how natural resources were utilized for daily life. Mark is a lifelong student of nature and primitive lore. Growing up in the piedmont of Georgia, he was in love with the forest. Mark has also written two books, his third is scheduled to be released spring 2012 called Two Winters in a Tipi.

February 23, 2012 – Dragonflies with Giff Beaton, author

Giff Beaton has been eagerly studying nature for over 35 years. For the past 15 years, he has led a variety of bird tours and given a diverse range of nature presentations. He is the author of Birding Georgia and The Birds of Kennesaw Mountain, the coauthor of Birds of Georgia, and the senior author and editor of the Annotated Checklist of Georgia Birds. Giff’s latest book, Dragonflies and Damselflies of Georgia and the Southeast, was published in 2007.

March 22, 2012 – Galls with Jerry Hightower, Environmental Education Park Ranger with the National Park Service

Jerry Hightower, Environmental Education Park Ranger with the National Park Service. After our potluck, join in a program talking about those curious finds in nature – galls. What makes these unusual elements and where can you find them.

April 26, 2012 – Bees, Beekeeping and Colony Collapse Disorder with Jay Parsons, Beekeeper
May 24, 2012 – Snakes: Dispelling Modern Myths with John Jensen, Georgia Department of Natural Resources
June 28, 2012 – Please check back for more information
July 26, 2012 – Nuisance Wildlife Management with Mike Mengak, University of Georgia
August 23: Bats and White Nose Syndrome with Rob Tawes, US Fish and Wildlife

Check back for information on programs topics for the rest of 2012! If you have suggestions we'd love to hear them - Email us at publicprograms@chattnaturecenter.org

Quarterly Field Trips

Explore Georgia with new friends! Four times a year we will venture outside of CNC to explore the places around North Georgia that make it so unique!

Dates: Field trips take place the 2nd Saturday of the following months – March, June, September, and December

Times: Trips usually last ½ or an entire day

Cost: $10 General Public; $5 CNC Members; FREE for CNC Docents, CNC Volunteers & Master Naturalist Students and Graduates PLUS any additional charges by the field trip location. Once a year we will offer one free field trip!

2012 Trip Information

March 10: West Palisades Harbinger of Spring Discovery Hike from 9AM – 4PM

Spend the morning exploring the Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area! National Park Service naturalist Jerry Hightower will help us celebrate the start of spring and take a look at the early spring forest, signs of wildlife, and great views from atop the West Palisades Ridge. This will be an excellent opportunity to better learn this area with the leaves not yet obstructing the views of the rugged topography.

Cost: This is a free field trip (parking fee for NPS is required)! Invite new friends to come explore.
Carpool Information: If you are carpooling, meet at the Nature Center at 8:45am. The caravan leaves at 9:00am sharp. If you are driving straight to the site, plan to arrive at 10:00am. Please call Carla (404) 721-7503 or Richard (404-604-9268) if you are running late.
Suggested Packing List: Backpack, water bottle, snacks, good shoes to walk in, rain gear (if weather indicates) Optional: hiking poles, binoculars, camera, sunglasses
Registration: Please check back for information.
Questions: Contact publicprograms@chattnaturecenter.org.

Check back for information on our future field trips