Blog
Insects, Worms, and Minnows – Oh My!
December 22, 2020 When you visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center most likely you will take a walk along the wildlife walk and see the Bald Eagles, hawks, owls, and the resident beaver. All resident wildlife along the wildlife walk are injured and/or non-releasable and taken care of permanently by the Wildlife Department at the nature […]
Making fairy houses and gnome homes a family affair
December 15, 2020The Enchanted Woodland Trail, open through the end of February, has been a favorite winter activity for visitors at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. It provides an opportunity to slow down, get outside, and explore the winter woods. Finding each fairy house or gnome home keeps everyone moving along the trail and excited about […]
What to do in the winter
December 10, 2020 Even in the winter we love to be outside at the Chattahoochee Nature Center! Atlanta winter weather is fairly mild, but even the chilliest days in the winter are enjoyable and there is always something fun to discover when you visit. The grounds will be closed December 24, 25, and January 1, […]
Animals Don’t Necessarily “Hibernate” in Winter
November 23, 2020By Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director When we think of winter in Georgia, shorter days, sleet, light snow, cold rain, and a drop in temperature all usually come to mind. But it’s not just the humans who prepare for the upcoming months; many animals change their behaviors, too. You are probably familiar with hibernation, […]
Fairy Folk and Fungi
November 20, 2020Emma Schell, Scheduling Coordinator Every winter, CNC invites the local fairies and gnomes to build their tiny houses, bungalows, cabins, and more along the forest trails. You can see their amazing creations in the Enchanted Woodland Trail exhibit along the wood trails throughout the winter.When you come to visit these fairy homes, make sure […]
Back to Nature Holiday Market Vendor Spotlight
November 20, 2020 The Back to Nature Holiday Market has become a well known market in the Roswell area each holiday season. Typically there are over 40 vendors that feature handmade, natural, and/or eco-friendly products. Some vendors have been at the market every year and each year we have new vendors that bring new, unique […]
Camp Kingfisher Summer 2020 Wrap Up
November 11, 2020By Debby Head, Camp Director I hope you all are finding time to enjoy the cooler weather and beauty that this season brings. After a roller coaster of a spring and summer it has been nice to slow down a bit and reflect on the 2020 camp season. Summer 2020 was a wild […]
Mark Your Calendar: Enchanted Woodland Wonders
Registration will be open to CNC Members November 9-15 for Enchanted Woodland Wonders. We heard you!We look forward to Enchanted Woodland Wonders all year, and we know our members do too. Limited, timed spots for this family favorite are bound to fill up fast, and this year we’re offering pre-registration for our members.If your membership has […]
Seeing Double
October 26, 2020By Sherry Hardage, Roswell Fine Arts Alliance member Photo by Toni Anderson; Frost and Fire Art by Leslee Sorensen; Falling into Winter One morning I was plein air painting on a deck by one of the ponds when a photographer came up with a […]
Camp Kingfisher Releases the 2020-21 Camp Calendar
October 27, 2020 Camp Kingfisher is a north Atlanta tradition, offering summers of fun in nature for over 25 years. Part traditional outdoor camp and part hands-on nature education, Camp Kingfisher offers something for everyone. Our goal is to provide a welcoming environment where campers connect to nature and each other. Camp Kingfisher is happy to […]
Member Reservations and Visitation
December 22, 2020 All of us at the CNC want to thank you for helping keep our admissions process safe by making a reservation prior to your visit. We appreciate your patience as we have worked to learn the reservation system, and your feedback has helped us to make improvements over time. If you have […]
Do you know the Box Turtles favorite thing to eat?
To catch up with the Box Turtle we took a trip to the woodland forest to track him down. He is so well camouflaged that it took a bit to find him, and he was answering our questions soooo slow that we asked him to email them to us. We knew that he needed to […]
The Kingfisher Can’t Wait to see you at Halloween Hikes
Why hello everyone! Did you miss me? I was just fishing over at the pond at the Chattahoochee Nature Center and it made me remember how much fun I had last year seeing you all at the Halloween Hikes! Can you believe it’s been a full year since we got to hike together and you […]
A Visit to the Chattahoochee River to catch up with the River Otter
Halloween Hikes is a time to catch up with lots of woodland and watershed creatures and learn about their natural lives. Trail guides lead groups along the well-lit trails for a close encounter with some creatures that can be hard to spot in their natural habitat.We caught up with the River Otter down by the […]
Hanging out with Howie Pollute
Howie Pollute has a lot to say about what is hanging around these days. They have been part of Halloween Hikes for a long time! Read on to learn more behind the scenes information on Howie Pollute and of course their favorite joke! It is a really “crusher”! First of all, what do the […]
Interview with the Red-tailed Hawk of Halloween Hikes
Along the well-lit trails of Halloween Hikes you will meet many woodland characters. They love to greet each group and share information about their natural lives in an entertaining way. But have you ever wondered what they are doing when not at Halloween Hikes? Or what they do to get ready for the big night? […]
Come Out for Halloween Hikes
September 30, 2020 Can you believe Halloween is just around the corner? For many families Halloween is a fun family event where everyone can dress up and spend time together, and maybe even watch a few Halloween movies. But many children, especially young children, don’t feel comfortable with the idea of scary haunted houses or […]
The Benefits of Doing Yoga Outdoors
And the Benefits of Taking your Practice Outside As the weather is about to cool down with the arrival of fall, everyone will be ready to spend more time outdoors. Having the opportunity to exercise outdoors is one of the best things you can do for yourself. A favorite among many yogis is taking your […]
Deepti and Namar’s Baraat and Ceremony
By Fabiola Clermont, Venue Sales Assistant July 31,2020 Photo by: Fabiola Clermont The Baraat began with the groom being carried by the beautiful white horse named Firecracker from our meadow through the luscious greenery on the paths and to the lakeside pavilion. Photo by: Fabiola Clermont
Good Neighbors
By Christie Hill, Naturalist and Docent CoordinatorAugust 27, 2020 Black Rat Snake You may have recently seen a snake somewhere near your home. You are lucky to live near a snake. There’s a good chance you moved into their neighborhood, instead of the other way around. But no worries. Snakes are […]
Finding a Connection to Nature through feeding birds
By Rebekah Goldman, Visitor Service AssociateAugust 24, 2020 I think my first experience of feeding birds was when I was a child growing up in New York City and my mother would take my siblings and I to the park on Saturdays to feed the seagulls. I remember being fascinated by how the gulls would […]
Get to know the CNC Unity Garden and Schools Horticulturist
Christopher Horacek shares information on gardening and his teaching experiences We asked Christopher Horacek, our Unity Garden and Schools Horticulturist, a few questions about the vegetable garden, teaching and his experiences with that. Read on to hear his interesting answers! What pleasant surprise have you discovered in your work at the Unity Garden? The best […]
A virtual run to help CNC
Changing Perspective to keep an Atlanta Tradition Alive By Rebecca Gilbert, CNC MemberAugust 17, 2020 I wouldn’t call myself a runner. But I am of that age, where I have to do stuff purposefully in order to stay healthy. My usual had been to run a 10K a year (yeah, it’s the Peachtree) and just […]
Over 2,000 pounds of Fresh Produce Delivered to North Fulton Community Charities
Written by Tracy Begley, Website and Marketing SpecialistAugust 5, 2020 Despite the challenges of limited volunteers due to COVID-19, the Unity Garden at the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) continues to provide fresh produce to North Fulton Community Charities (NFCC) on a weekly basis. The largest weekly donation in 2020 occurred in July with a 707.5 […]
Tall Tales of the Natural World
Highlighting Tales around our Favorite Animals with wings, scales, and tails By Emma Schell, Scheduling CoordinatorAugust 1, 2020 This fall at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, we are highlighting some of our favorite animals with wings, scales, and tails, but we also want to take a look at some of the TALES surrounding these critters. Folklore […]
Urban Kings: Project Update
By Samantha Kennett, Wildlife Technician at CNCJuly 28, 2020 On June 26, 2020, technicians for the Urban Kings Project received a call from a concerned community member. They were excited to report the Kingsnake they’d found in their yard, but troubled by the fact that it was trapped in plastic landscape netting. This individual was […]
Explore the Native Gardens at the CNC
By Taylor Lamb, Horticulturist at CNCJuly 26, 2020There is no better time than now to get outside and stretch your legs and your brain! In the horticulture department at the CNC, we pride ourselves on our knowledge of native plant species, and we thought it would be fun to challenge visitors of all ages to […]
SING! “Song of the Chattahoochee”
Jane Thorpe, Meridian Herald Executive DirectorJuly 14, 2020 Timothy Miller End your day right with a live-streamed concert of songs about the beauty of nature and water on July 26, 2020. Taking place at the Chattahoochee Nature Center at 6:00 PM, after the gates close, the virtual concert will be hosted […]
Operational Changes due to Covid-19
Chattahoochee Nature Center is actively monitoring COVID-19. Below are the steps we are taking to comply with federal, state, and local guidelines in order to protect visitors, staff, and our community. Here is what you can expect to see at CNC: >> Advanced ticketing/reservations: CNC is currently implementing timed and limited admissions. While we may […]
Urban Kings: A Citizen Science Project
Written by Samantha Kennett, Wildlife TechnicianJune 16, 2020 Citizen Science. It comes in a multitude of forms. You can participate in bird counts with the Audubon Christmas Bird Count, survey for frogs with the Metro Atlanta Amphibian Monitoring Program, even help classify galaxies for Zooniverse. If you haven’t heard yet, there is another local project […]
Connecting with the Chattahoochee River
Written by Larry Strott, Canoe Coordinator at the CNCJune 15, 2020 The Chattahoochee River starts as a small spring trickling out of an Appalachian Mountain hillside called Jack’s Knob, located about 10 miles north of Helen in Chattahoochee Gap. The tiny pool formed as water flows out of the ground is inhabited by tiny fish. […]
How to Invite Butterflies to Your Garden & Help Pollination
Edited by Henning von Schmeling, Senior Director of OperationsJune 12, 2020 We have all heard the stories of bees and other insects dying out in large numbers. It’s a mysterious phenomenon, however our buzzing friends are not the only ones facing difficulties in populations. Pollinators of all kinds – including bees and butterflies – are relied […]
Tips for Starting a Successful Butterfly Garden
By Taylor Lamb, CNC HorticulturistJune 12, 2020 Giant Swallowtail There are two parts to any successful butterfly garden: nectar sources and host plants. Nectar is an important source of food for many pollinators, and luckily there are many different types of annuals and perennials that provide this resource. To attract native pollinators […]
Moving turtles safely across roads
Written by Christie Hill, Naturalist Coordinator and Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife DirectorJune 9, 2020 Turtles are amazing animal ambassadors at the Chattahoochee Nature Center and in their honor we wanted to share what to do if you see a turtle trying to cross a road. The Wildlife Department at the Chattahoochee Nature Center saw 250 rehabilitation […]
The Unity Garden continues to provide fresh produce for local food bank
By Tracy Begley, Website and Marketing Specialist, and Julie Hollingsworth-Hogg, Horticulture Manager As CNC begins the process of reopening to the public, we are happy to have visitors back on the property. There were too many quiet days, and we have enjoyed hearing kids laughing and enjoying the grounds the past week. The ticketing and […]
The Chattahoochee Nature Center Goes Digital
Using digital media and the online world to connect people to nature By Emma Schell, Scheduling Coordinator With the onset of COVID-19 and a variety of shelter-in-place orders throughout the country, many educational and nonprofit organizations have turned to digital media and the online world to continue connecting with their customers and audiences. The Chattahoochee […]
Partnering to Support the Communities of Atlanta to Thrive Outside
By Kim Hakimian, Partnership Coordinator For more than a year, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, The Trust for Public Land, Atlanta Audubon, West Atlanta Watershed Alliance, Trees Atlanta, Chattahoochee Riverkeeper, and Greening Youth Foundation have been working together to get kids outdoors through The Outdoor Foundation’s Thrive Outside Community initiative. The Thrive Outside initiative is a […]
Visit the Butterfly Encounter and experience the charm of butterflies throughout the summer
By Jana Pearce, Visitor Experience Manager Butterflies have captured the minds and hearts of human beings across time and space. Myths and lore surrounding these creatures date back to ancient times and span across many cultures, from the Japanese to Romans and Aztecs to the Creek and Cherokee. They often symbolize the human spirit, and […]
Operational Changes due to Covid-19
Operational changes have been updated and the most recent information can be found on an new blog post. Click here to read updated operational changes. Chattahoochee Nature Center is actively monitoring COVID-19. Below are the steps we are taking to comply with federal, state, and local guidelines in order to protect visitors, staff, and our […]
Giving Tuesday Now – May 5
These are unprecedented times.All around the world, there is uncertainty and need. Be a part of providing some comfort in all the madness on May 5, 2020, by taking part in Giving Tuesday Now.This may sound familiar. Each year, Giving Tuesday is the Tuesday following Thanksgiving and the single largest day of giving in the […]
Get started with birding
Backyard birding makes it easy to connect with nature Written by Jana Pearce, Visitor Experience Manager With the onset of social distancing and working from home has come a hidden opportunity for us to reengage with old hobbies and discover new ones. I began birding as a way to spend time with my dad, who’s […]
CNC: Connecting You with Nature at Home
As an outdoor venue dedicated to healthy activity and overall wellness, the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) is taking the Coronavirus/COVID-19 pandemic very seriously. The well-being of our guests and staff are of the utmost importance. CNC is temporarily closed to the public. Essential staff will be on site as needed to maintain the property, continue […]
Support Atlanta’s Nature Destination Today
Fact: spending time outside makes you happier.We at the Chattahoochee Nature Center don’t just know this, we live it. We love our jobs and the role we play in educating Atlanta about the natural world around us. From learning about the bugs in the air to the health of the Chattahoochee River and so much […]
Get outside and be healthy
It’s been a rough couple of weeks. Everyone is cooped up indoors and getting on each other’s nerves. Your favorite Nature Center is closed to the public. What can be done? A good alternative is to get outside! The mental and physical benefits of spending time outside are numerous. Whether it’s playing, running, breathing in […]
Three ways to stay active outside this March
The weather is getting nicer. You can go outside some days without wearing a coat or jacket. It’s time to shake that cabin fever and get moving! CNC always offers fun activities in nature. Whether its hikes though the forest, walks along the boardwalk, zipping through the treetops, or learning about animals in the Discovery […]
Enchanted winners named for CNC’s fairy trail contest
The judging was tough, but finally a winner has emerged in the contest for best fairy house at the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Enchanted Woodland Trail. The winner is “Tower Town” by Mary Jo Wood and her grandchildren, Malkolm, 10, and Touie, 8. This unique design had three separate buildings each with a different purpose, including […]
The Diana Chronicles: Kingsnake, king snack
The victim, Diana the Kingsnake, May 2019 When working with wildlife, things don’t always go exactly how you’d expect them. One of the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s Wildlife Technicians, Samantha Kennett, stumbled upon a surprising act of nature through her work with the Urban Kings Project. This project is a […]
A turtle’s shell is more than its home
By Samantha Kennett CNC Wildlife Technician A common myth regarding turtles is that they can leave their shell for another. However, this is not the case. Did you know that a turtle’s shell is a made of bone and is a part of the turtle’s spine? A turtle’s shell is as much a part […]
Christmas Owl Surprises Family
A Newnan home received a unique Christmas gift last week, when a live owl turned up in their tree. “No joke, we just found a LIVE owl roosting in our Christmas tree. What?!?!?” said Katie Newman, Dec. 12 on Facebook. Newman said her daughter spotted the Eastern Screech Owl squatting in the tree among other […]
Take A Seat – Boy Scout Builds New Outdoor Classroom
Have you seen some changes on our grounds lately? Local Boy Scout Nick Dunson installed a series of benches to create a classroom near the ruined farmhouse on the property as part of his Eagle Scout certification. He said he was familiar with CNC since he was a child, attending summer camp with Camp Kingfisher. […]
New Year, New You: Resolve to Get Active, Get Outside
The holidays are nearly over, and with them go the craziness of family, obligations, work crunch, gatherings, and so on. It’s almost time to take a breather before tackling those 2020 resolutions. Reset your mind and body by connecting to nature. Forget the hustle and bustle of the holidays and relax while surrounded by trees […]
A Girl and Her Mole
By Emily Belinfante, Camp Kingfisher Registrar A few weeks ago, while driving into the Chattahoochee Nature Center, I spotted something in the road. I often play a game called “Is it a turtle?” along Willeo Road, typically resulting in “no, it’s a pinecone.” This, however, was not a pinecone. Or a turtle. I stopped, curiosity […]
Give And Your Gifts Are Doubled This Giving Tuesday
After the chaos of the Thanksgiving holidays, Black Friday, and Cyber Monday, be sure to keep Giving Tuesday in your mind to reap some karmic calm. Giving Tuesday (or Georgia Gives Day here in Georgia) is December 3 this year, and a date that you – yes you – can help CNC in its efforts […]
Galapagos Gecko Visits CNC
Tiny traveler found in resident’s backpack ROSWELL, Ga. – What flies halfway around the world in a backpack just to visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center? If you answered a leaf-footed gecko from the Galapagos Islands, you are correct! One such tiny traveler came to CNC’s Wildlife Department October 23. According to Kathryn Dudeck, Wildlife Director […]
Five ways nature can inspire you
Nature is a perfect place to get away from our lives and relax. But it can be so much more than that. Did you know getting out in nature can help you be more creative? You can take this creative journey anywhere in nature, but in Atlanta, the Chattahoochee Nature Center has you covered. […]
Bats in your backyard
It’s the perfect time of year to gather together on the back deck and watch for…bats! Often portrayed by media as blood-sucking and disease ridden pests, sometimes bats don’t always have the best reputation. What most people don’t realize though, is that bats are a great asset to any backyard. But why? There are sixteen […]
Fun Fall Activities in Nature
With cooler weather comes cool events throughout the autumn season. What would fall be without brilliant colors, crisp air, food festivals and Halloween fun? Celebrate the changing colors of the natural world with CNC during this exciting time of year. Beyond just enjoying nature, CNC has plenty of fun coming up. Read on […]
Growing Anything in your Backyard?
Urban farming taking root There’s a new trend emerging for metropolitan areas—urban farming. The new movement of going green is having an impact, even for major cities like Atlanta. With a city full of major highways and skyscrapers, residents are having to find unique and creative ways to obtain fresh produce without the hefty price […]
When the tap stops working
Have you ever gone a single day where you carefully planned out your use of water? What would you do if you went to turn the nozzle on in your shower and nothing came out? Many are facing this issue right now. If pre-emptive measures aren’t taken, this could become our reality. From brushing your […]
Nature and the Mind, Body, and Spirit
Disconnect from distractions to reconnect with nature By Jon Copsey, marketing manager When was the last time you were out in nature and simply just listened to the sounds around you? No phones, no distractions. Maybe you picked up a pile of leaves and let them blow away in the wind. Or maybe you just […]
Kings of the Urban Jungle
The Eastern Kingsnake can often be distinguished by their black scales patterned with white or yellow chain-like bands By Samantha Kennett, Wildlife Technician When it comes to snakes, the National Wildlife Federation estimates at least 20% of the Georgia population carries a fear of snakes in some degree. If there […]
Creating Community between animals and humans
Creating Community Between Animals and Humans By Jana Pearce, CNC Visitor Experience Manager All too often we hear about another species that is facing habitat loss and heading for trouble. News reels and online articles bombard us with image after image of downed forests and desolate construction sites. For so many of us, learning and […]
International tree frog returns to Georgia after trip to Canada
ROSWELL, GA. – An international traveler recently came to the Chattahoochee Nature Center, in Roswell, Ga.. A Cope’s Gray Treefrog from Georgia went on a trip to Toronto, Canada, and back. The treefrog was found by a truck driver from Sandersville, Georgia, near Milledgeville, who had crossed the border into Canada, arriving at Mississauga. The […]
“Be the change you want to see in the world” – Changes to our Newsletter
When you go out and they ask if you would like a straw, do you say yes or no? Paper or plastic? Bottled water or a reusable mug? Every little decision we make on a daily basis adds up when each one of us does it. That plastic straw, used by millions of us once […]
Studying Art and Nature at CNC
This fall at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, visitors are invited to meditate on the relationships between art and nature. Through a collection of special exhibits and activities we ask, “How can we use art to strengthen our connection with nature, and in what ways can the natural world influence our creativity?” Nature encourages us to […]
Explore mystery this Halloween with these 5 creatures
What’s not to love about Halloween? It’s the time of the year when mischief, mystery, and creativity combine to produce an exciting night for people of all ages. We collect candy, attend parties, and often dress up as our favorite fictional characters or mythical creatures. Many of these creatures, at one point or another, were […]
Four Things to do at the Back to your Roots Farm Fair
September 22 marks the first day of fall, one of the best harvesting seasons of the year. To celebrate, CNC is going wild with the fall favorite, Back to Your Roots Farm Fair, presented by Northside Hospital, on September 16. With farm animals to pet and plenty of crafts to keep you occupied, this family […]
To kill a weed: Chattahoochee Nature Center privet experiment yields results
Thank you to Grants from Southern Company and Georgia Power for help supporting these efforts Do you know invasive, non-native plants like Chinese privet can be educational? Well, the removal of them can be. As part of a scientific experiment, the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC), in Roswell, Ga., is removing the privet that chokes our river […]
A Good Bye to Barbara Reeves
For Barbara: “ I have one power. I never give up.” By Debby Head, Camp Kingfisher Director This winter the Chattahoochee Nature Center said goodbye to a longtime volunteer and friend, Barbara Reeves. Barbara started volunteering at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in 1989. She dabbled in a bit of everything here at CNC; teaching, fixing bio-facts, face […]
“Well Being in the Woods” Proves Benefits of Nature
“Well Being in the Woods” at the Chattahoochee Nature Center Her heart was pounding and there was pain when she woke up, but after spending time quietly in the woods, this participant shared that it was gone. You could see the relaxation on her face and as you looked around, you could see it on […]
Celebrate Georgia STEM Day at CNC
This Friday, May 4, is Georgia STEM Day, a day to celebrate science, technology, engineering, and math across the state. Here at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, we are committed to bringing educational programs and events that encourage all ages to engage in new activities that broaden the way they view the world around them. […]
5 Picnic Recipe Ideas
Spring has arrived and summer will be right around the corner, which means it is time to get outside and enjoy the changing seasons. Our beautiful 127-acre property is the perfect place to have a picnic, whether you are visiting us during the day, or attending one of our concerts. We rounded up some […]
What to Do if You Find a Baby Animal Part 2
Baby Birds and Baby Squirrels Written by Wildlife Director, Kathryn Dudeck Spring brings buds, blooms, rains, and lots of calls to the Wildlife Department at CNC about baby animals. While we are licensed and trained only for raptors, reptiles, and amphibians, we respond to over 150 requests each month in spring regarding wildlife babies. Here’s […]
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What to Do if You Find a Baby Animal Part 1
What to Do if You Find a Baby Animal Part 1Baby Rabbits and Baby Turtles Written by Wildlife Director, Kathryn Dudeck Spring brings buds, blooms, rains, and lots of calls to the Wildlife Department at CNC about baby animals. While we are licensed and trained only for raptors, reptiles, and amphibians, we respond to over […]
The Flower Power of Pollinators
By Liz Platner, Outreach and Partnerships CoordinatorOriginally Posted on March 23, 2018Updated on June 12, 2020 You may think that roses are red and violets are blue, but that’s because your eyes are human eyes. If you were a pollinator, you would see there’s a secret message in the colors of flowers. To understand why […]
Introducing Tasty Tuesdays with Pan-Seared Scallops with Spring Onion Cream Sauce
Spring is in the air and it’s time to get outside and think about our gardens. We are proud to announce a new series called “Tasty Tuesdays”, where our Gardens and Horticulture Manager, Julie, will be sharing recipes perfect for family dinners and get-togethers. Our first recipe in the series is for the seafood […]
How To Invite Butterflies To Your Garden & Help Pollination
We’ve all heard the stories of bees dying out in large numbers. It’s a mysterious phenomenon, however our buzzing friends are not the only ones facing difficulties in populations. Pollinators of all kinds – including bees and butterflies – are relied upon heavily in the plant world to, well, pollinate. The relationship between pollinators and […]
International Women’s Day at CNC!
Here at the Chattahoochee Nature Center, we are proud to have a staff dedicated to our mission of connecting people to nature. In honor of International Women’s Day, we wanted to highlight the work and voices of some of the women who work at CNC. We have asked some of our staff to share how […]
The Sum of the Parts Makes Trees Strong
By Mark Gialanella, Community Programs Coordinator Trees are just like every other organism on earth. They have multiple complex systems, each doing a specific job to ensure their survival. In terms of age, trees are the longest-living things on the planet. The oldest documented tree is a Bristlecone Pine found in the White Mountains […]
Roots Run Deep at Camp Kingfisher
By Debby Head, Camp Kingfisher Director How much do you know about a tree? There is so much more to a tree than what we see above ground. A tree’s root system keeps the tree fed as well as anchored to the ground. Did you know the roots of a tree spread one and […]
Winter Pruning – What is Horticulture doing?
The Horticulture team, with the help of the Cobb Master Gardeners and other volunteers, has been busy with cut-backs in our Native Plant Gardens. Mid to late winter is an excellent time to prune out dead limbs and work on shaping up our shrubs and trees. For example, we recently worked on Viburnum and Vitex […]
Pee-Wee-friendly CNC
Photo by Christy Cox CNC is known to be a great place for toddlers, but what are some of the activities we have to offer? Nature Exchange If the weather is steering you indoors, the Nature Exchange is a great place to start. Filled with kid-friendly storybooks, field guides, and activities, parent and child […]
Winter Homes & Hideaways
Leaves! Man they are great, they provide campers shade during those hot summer days, and they also keep animals hidden from our peering eyes. As autumn leaves, the barren winter approaches, which may not seem like the best time to search for animal homes, but the now leafless trees show their hidden treasures. This […]
It’s COLD! How do animals survive frigid temperatures?
It’s COLD outside! We have all bundled up in our coats these past few days, but what about the wildlife out there? What do they do? Thankfully, the Chattahoochee Nature Center’s resident wildlife expert, Kathryn Dudeck, has the answers. How do raptors stay warm in cold weather? “Because the vast majority of our permanent […]
5 Nature Friendly New Year’s Resolutions
With the start of 2018 just around the corner, many of us are looking ahead and thinking about our goals and what we would like to accomplish in the new year. While you are working on some of your personal goals, why not include the environment? You may be thinking about some common goals people […]
‘CollidEscape’ installed at CNC
With hundreds of little dots adorning the Chattahoochee Nature Center, in Roswell, birds will no longer run into the windows and kill themselves. The project is thanks to a partnership between the CNC and the Atlanta Audubon Society, with a grant from the Disney Conservation Fund. The dots are a special “CollidEscape” film that reduces […]
Wilderness Inquiry returns to CNC
Have you ever been out on a river, in a canoe? Have you ever paddled along, bobbing along with the current, the only sounds you hear the water around you and leaves rustling on the shore? For many people in today’s urban areas, this is just something they see on TV – they have never […]
End of Summer Camp Wrap Up
By Wes Hatch We want to thank all the families that choose Camp Kingfisher at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. While we had an unusually wet summer we still got out and did some pretty cool stuff! It’s always hard to figure out what were the top 5 favorite times of the summer, but here is […]
Solar Eclipse Provides Unique Science Learning
Aug. 21 hosts one very rare event – the solar eclipse. A total solar eclipse happens when the moon aligns just right between the Earth and the sun, blocking most of the sun from view. For Stephen Ramsden, this is significant event. “To our knowledge this is the only place in the entire universe where […]
Cooling off with the Chattahoochee
By Maureen Aikin, Naturalist and Visitor Services Associate Have you ever wondered why the Chattahoochee River is so cold, even in the summertime? While it’s true that the Chattahoochee’s headwaters are in the Blue Ridge Mountains, that isn’t the reason for the chilly temperatures we see in its North Atlanta section. Strangely enough, the reason […]
Green and Blue Trails – heart of the community
Did you know that green trails and blue trails can improve your outlook, benefit your health, give you access to recreational opportunities, all while increasing the real estate value of your home? Imagine, all of these things can be done through your donations, as well as through tax dollars, by supporting park acquisition to improve […]
Make Memories at Camp Kingfisher
Summer is almost here, and of course that means that kids will be out of school and looking for summer fun. Come experience Camp Kingfisher at CNC this summer, and see what a “True Outdoor Nature-Camp” looks like. Adventuring and learning in nature is what summer is all about. Campers get to enjoy CNC’s 127 incredible acres and activities […]
On Fire for Interpretation
CNC Naturalist Christie shares insights from her trip to the Regional NAI conference in March, 2017 What happens when you bring together naturalists, park rangers and folks from cultural and history centers all over the Southeast for a conference about Interpretation? You get a lot of good stuff — that’s what! I was fortunate […]
Re-Discovering The Chattahoochee Nature Center
This post was submitted by Sophia, a local resident of the Roswell, GA area About 10 years ago as a 7th grader, I visited the Chattahoochee Nature Center on a field trip. At the time, the nature center was much different than it is today. For example, the Discovery Center wasn’t even built yet. At […]
The Earth Has Music for Those Who Listen
Twitter is a popular way to communicate using social media, but birds do it naturally by “tweeting” songs and talking with each other with specific sounds that can be used to identify them. The Earth has music for those who listen, with sounds surrounding us. For instance, the deathwatch beetle (Xestobium rufovillosum) has had a […]
Listen for the Songs of Nature
by Christie Hill, Naturalist Coordinator April showers bring May flowers, but also they bring out amphibians. The Southeast is home to more than 140 species of frogs, toads and salamanders, and is the center of amphibian biodiversity in our nation. As we all know in Georgia, insects provide the white noise of life by day, but […]
Summer Fun at the Nature Center with Camp Kingfisher
Give your child a chance to learn, grow, and make memories this summer at Camp Kingfisher at the Chattahoochee Nature Center! Camp Kingfisher runs May 30 through August 4, 9 am -4 pm (with longer and shorter days available.) Campers experience fun, hands-on, and educational activities at the nature center including animal encounters, hiking and […]