Blog
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 […]
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 upon our reopening: >> Mandatory advanced ticketing/reservations: All visitors must pre- purchase admission online. […]
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 […]
You’re invited to a wildlife baby shower Feb. 29
You’re invited to a wildlife baby shower! Did you know spring is the perfect time of year for baby animals? While they may be cute their first weeks, a lot goes into caring for them, as CNC’s wildlife rehabilitators can tell you. This Leap Day–February 29–come learn all about CNC’s efforts to help injured wildlife […]
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 […]
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