We invite you to challenge yourself to experience Chattahoochee Nature Center throughout the seasons! Pick up your brochure at the Discovery Center and complete 45 of the 50 items listed below. When you are done, click the button below to submit the form and a photo and be entered to win a prize. Winners will be drawn monthly starting July 1 following our 50th Anniversary celebration on June 24.
Founded by local citizen activists in 1976, CNC has been nurtured by hundreds of people who have worked to build a strong grassroots environmental learning center, touching the lives of more than 144,000 children and adults each year.
Our Founders
Citizen activists and government leaders willing to form public-private partnerships were rare in the early 1970’s. Concerned citizens in North Fulton County began working with some extraordinary visionaries. John Ripley Forbes, a natural “Johnny Appleseed”, was one such visionary.
Green spaces in Atlanta were rapidly being developed as companies expanded into the southeast. The conservation field was wide open here. Forbes started the SE Land Preservation Trust, to conserve green space and respond to the need for these facilities. He solicited movers, shakers, developers and philanthropists to support his land trust movement. Frank McCamey was recruited from Michigan, to help him establish nature centers in the Atlanta/Roswell area.
Searching for local sites, Forbes and McCamey considered Bulloch Hall and the Roswell Mill areas until Roy Wood, an official with the Bureau of Outdoor Recreation and father of Roswell’s Mayor Jere Wood, redirected them to a large privately-owned tract in Roswell on the Chattahoochee River. The entire tract of land previously known as the American Adventures Club was for sale and, after several months of negotiations, the Foundation purchased the initial 6.7 acres, including a building for offices and exhibits, a pond and woodland areas for trails. The first land purchase in 1976 was the beginning of what is now the 127 acres of the Chattahoochee Nature Center.
Our Logo Through the Years
1982
1990
2000
2007
2009
2016
Our Logo Through the Years
1982
1990
2000
2007
2009
2016
Five Decades of Connecting People with Nature
1970s
1976Chattahoochee Nature Center, Georgia’s first non-profit nature center, opens
1977CNC begins taking native animals in for rehabilitation
1979First marsh boardwalk is built
1980s
1983Grand Opening of the $15,000 renovation to the animal rehabilitation center and the store/reception areas
19859.255 acres are acquired from Horace Holden including Beaver Pond
1987Marsh boardwalk loop completed
1990s
1992Final 27 acres are acquired (Camp Chattahoochee property)
1993Camp Kingfisher's inaugural summer
1998Greenhouse opened on former tennis courts; Nature Store & Admissions office open next to the A&E building
2010Unity Garden founded with grant from Kaiser Permanente, with all produce donated to North Fulton Community Charities
2012Butterfly Encounter opens for the first time
2018Sunset Sips debuts: after-hours music on the lawn, with a side of sunset
2019The Wildlife Walk welcomes its current female beaver resident at the age of 2
2020s
2022New River Boardwalk Trail opens with first-ever bridge across Willeo Rd., evening lighting, Hirsekorn Family Pavilion, and Abreu A-frame
2023Thomas Turner’s stairway mural “The Flow” unveiled and adds art to the stairs from the Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion to the Discovery Center
2024Growing Tomorrow’s Nature Enthusiasts — 9.7 million campaign launches. An initiative to elevate CNC’s status as the nature destination for the region.
2025The Parker House (volunteer and operations center) is completed on the upper campus near the greenhouses and is the first phase of the Growing Tomorrow’s Nature Enthusiasts Capital Campaign
Summer is a season for adventure — and there’s no better place to enjoy it than Chattahoochee Nature Center! Whether you’re hiking wooded trails, exploring exhibits, or watching wildlife with the kids, CNC offers unforgettable ways to connect with nature right here in Roswell, GA.
General admission: $20 Adults | $16 Seniors (Ages 65+) & Students (Ages 13-18) | $14 Children (Ages 3-12) | Children 2 & under are free
Member reservations are required for special events, Family Fun Days, and Sunset Sips. Group Rates are available for groups of 15 or more with advance reservations.
Pets are not permitted on the property, with the exception of service animals. CNC is open rain or shine. CNC is a smoke-free facility. Bike parking is available, but bikes are not allowed on the property.
Seasonal Hours through August 11 Monday-Saturday: 9AM-5PM Sunday: Noon-5PM
If you arrive after 4:30PM, you are welcome to browse the upper level of the Discovery Center, but return another day to experience the exhibits, Wildlife Walk, and grounds.
Visit the CNC Calendar for days CNC may be closed. For inclement weather, please check our Facebook page or call 770.992.2022 x238.
Kick off your 4th of July weekend with a refreshing escape into nature at Chattahoochee Nature Center. From scenic trails to hands-on exhibits, CNC is a peaceful and family-friendly way to honor Independence Day while exploring Georgia’s natural beauty.
General admission: $20 Adults | $16 Seniors (Ages 65+) & Students (Ages 13-18) | $14 Children (Ages 3-12) | Children 2 & under are free
Member reservations are required for special events, Family Fun Days, and Sunset Sips. Group Rates are available for groups of 15 or more with advance reservations.
Pets are not permitted on the property, with the exception of service animals. CNC is open rain or shine. CNC is a smoke-free facility. Bike parking is available, but bikes are not allowed on the property.
Seasonal Hours through August 11 Monday-Saturday: 9AM-5PM Sunday: Noon-5PM
If you arrive after 4:30PM, you are welcome to browse the upper level of the Discovery Center, but return another day to experience the exhibits, Wildlife Walk, and grounds.
Visit the CNC Calendar for days CNC may be closed. For inclement weather, please check our Facebook page or call 770.992.2022 x238.
Outdoor Adventures & Family Fun at Chattahoochee Nature Center
Looking for the perfect way to celebrate Father’s Day? Treat dad to a day of outdoor fun, exploration, and connection with nature at Chattahoochee Nature Center. Whether it’s hiking the trails, wildlife spotting, or hands-on activities, CNC offers memorable experiences for the whole family — right here in Roswell, GA.
General admission: $20 Adults | $16 Seniors (Ages 65+) & Students (Ages 13-18) | $14 Children (Ages 3-12) | Children 2 & under are free
Member reservations are required for special events, Family Fun Days, and Sunset Sips. Group Rates are available for groups of 15 or more with advance reservations.
Pets are not permitted on the property, with the exception of service animals. CNC is open rain or shine. CNC is a smoke-free facility. Bike parking is available, but bikes are not allowed on the property.
Seasonal Hours through August 11 Monday-Saturday: 9AM-5PM Sunday: Noon-5PM
If you arrive after 4:30PM, you are welcome to browse the upper level of the Discovery Center, but return another day to experience the exhibits, Wildlife Walk, and grounds.
Visit the CNC Calendar for days CNC may be closed. For inclement weather, please check our Facebook page or call 770.992.2022 x238.
Sunday: June 15, 22, July 13, 20, 27 & August 3 | 10AM-12PM
Have you ever wanted some one-on-one time with butterflies? Join CNC for a family-friendly morning with exclusive access to CNC’s Butterfly Encounter where you can enjoy a light breakfast, experience several species of butterflies, and explore the grounds prior to opening.
Ages 4+; $30 general public/$20 CNC Members (price per person). Advanced Registration Required by the Thursday before each session.
Friday, August 22 | 10 – 11:30 AM & 12:30 – 2:30 PM Saturday, August 23 | 10:30 AM – 12 PM & 1:30 – 3:30 PM
Come count pollinators with us in the Butterfly Garden! CNC is participating in the Great Southeast Pollinator Census in an effort to learn more about the beneficial insects in our gardens and to help with pollinator conservation. Put on your sunhat and your sunscreen and join us outdoors to sit, observe and count for just 15 minutes. A wonderful experience and learning opportunity for all ages to watch pollination in action on the wildflowers growing here at CNC. Click here to learn more about the Great Southeast Pollinator Census which happens across Georgia, North Carolina, South Carolina, Florida, and Alabama. You can be part of this important census!
(Included with General Admission and Free to CNC Members)
Experience an unforgettable evening of nature, music, cocktails, and fun! Enjoy a guided tour along the scenic river boardwalk, meet our animal ambassadors, and savor delicious food by Kingfisher Pond. Snap a selfie by the mural, and dance under the stars, all while supporting our mission to connect people with nature.
Come for the fun, stay for the cause!
THE DETAILS
>> Contribute to vital operational funding that fuels our mission to unite people with the wonders of nature
>> Meet resident animal ambassadors and discover the unique wildlife found in Georgia
>> Special fund the need opportunity, plus live auction
>> Support CNC’s mission to connect people with nature
Alyse & Rick Hirsekorn Ben Haislip BIS Benefits Bob Hagan Caravita Home Care CERN Gary & Maria Ludi Harriette Hoyt & Brian McCormack HGOR Integrated Construction & Nobility, Inc. KPMG LLP Mark P. Miller McGriff MVO Marketing Newcomb – Boyd Smith + Howard
Highlighting Tales around our Favorite Animals with wings, scales, and tails
By Emma Schell, Scheduling Coordinator August 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 and mythology are full of stories about all manner of remarkable and magical creatures. Though many of these tales are fictitious, we can turn to nature to discover the very real animals that inspired their stories.
Here are five mythical tales and their real-life counterparts:
1. Mermaids and Manatees
Photo Credit: PixelBay
Stories of mermaids, sirens, and other humanoid water-dwellers are found in much of seafaring lore. In many myths, these creatures appear as women, sometimes with tails and sometimes without, who cause all sorts of ill luck for ships and their crews.
Today, many historical mermaid sightings are attributed to manatees and their close relative the dugong. These animals are capable of performing “tail stands” which allow them to emerge vertically from the surface of the water, and they are also able to turn their heads side-to-side like a human. From far off, these behaviors may have been enough to convince sailors that they had seen a mermaid.
Though we may have debunked the myth of the Kraken, the giant squid is a legendary creature in its own right. It is one of the largest invertebrates on earth, and the first video of one swimming in the ocean wasn’t captured until 2013. Though we know much more than we did in 1853, the giant squid’s elusiveness means we still have much more to learn.
3. Ghosts and Barn Owls
What better combination could we find than ghosts and barn owls? Ghosts star in of dozens of tales and stories, and barn owls can be found at the Chattahoochee Nature Center. In fact, if you’ve visited the barn owl enclosure and read the signs there, you already know about this relationship.
Barn owls can be found nesting in barns, attics, and even bell towers, and they emit a distinctive screeching call which can be quite jarring. Combine this call with the reflection of moonlight off a barn owl’s white feathers, and you’ve got the perfect recipe for a ghost sighting.
4. Will-o’-the-Wisps and Methane
Photo Credit: Anthony Roberts
Will-o’-the-Wisp is one of the names given to lights that are sometimes seen floating in swampy areas. In some folklore these lights are attributed to spirits or fairies and are often ascribed the menacing motive of luring travelers away from safe paths.
One potential explanation for these lights is the combustion of natural gases. Swamps play host to lots of decaying matter, and this decomposition leads to the release of many gases, including methane. It’s thought that methane, in combination with the perfect amount of other gases, may ignite in the air, causing these small floating lights to appear for short periods of time. So there are likely no goblins in the swamp, just some really cool chemistry.
5. Butterflies and Witches
This last one doesn’t fit as neatly into the list, as tales about witches don’t originate from butterflies. In fact, the relationship might go the other way.
If you’ve stopped to think about it, you may have realized that “butterfly” is an interesting name choice. What do these insects have to do with butter? The origin of the word is not known for certain, but one explanation turns to witches. It is said that people once believed witches could turn themselves into butterflies and would steal milk and butter in this new flying form.
By Taylor Lamb, Horticulturist at CNC July 26, 2020
There 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 a friendly scavenger hunt!
Georgia is renowned for its vastly differing landscapes. From the sandy, dry terrain of The Coastal Plains to the cool, moist climate of The Blue Ridge Mountains, plant species across Georgia have adapted over time to fill every niche.
This variety produces absolutely stunning and unique specimens that cannot be seen anywhere else in the world. Each of our gardens across the CNC strives to emanate these unique habitats, and we would love it if you join us on this virtual tour throughout our property.
Plan your visit to CNC to explore the gardens and try to find as many species as you can! Some of the plants are not in top bloom so it will be even more of a challenge!
Cowboy Pants: Garden on your left as you exit the top of the Discovery Center
Rudbeckia maxima, Large Coneflower
Photo by Julie Hollingsworth
Extremely tall flowers that can reach 8 feet in height! In the Fall these tall stalks need to be stabilized so they don’t fall in the way of the path.
Schizachyrium scoparium, Little Bluestem Grass
Photo by Henning Von Schmeling
Little Blue-Stem is aptly named as its foliage has blue tints to it. This becomes more apparent as Autumn approaches.
Craft’s Memorial Garden: Garden on your right as you exit the top of the Discovery Center
Manfreda virginica, False Aloe
Photo by Julie Hollingsworth
This aloe plant look-alike fools many! It has an aloe-like basal rosette and tall flowering stalks that can reach 5 feet.
This garden is home to many different species of milkweed – the host plant of the monarch butterfly. Monarch’s require these tall slender plants to reproduce.
Longleaf Pine Gardens: Gardens across the Brady Pavillion
Pinus palustris, Long-leaf Pine
Photo by Tracy Begley
These pines differ from the typical Loblolly Pine that we find around Atlanta with their long leaves and their distinctive growing habits. Immature adults will have one major shoot will stay in this form until they reach adulthood. Then they will branch off to look like a more standard pine.
Barbara’s Button Garden: Garden just below the Great Horned Owl Exhibit
Marshallia caespitosa, Barbara’s Button
Photo by Julie Hollingsworth
Eccentric, low-growing perennial that forms white fluff ball blooms in early Summer.
Georgia’s Living Wetland: Garden past the Brady Pavilion as you walk the unpaved paths near the exit to the boardwalk.
Sarracenia sp, Pitcher Plant
This carnivorous plant is a perfect example of a species that has adapted to fill niches where most organisms would have trouble surviving. Pitcher plants thrive in highly acidic, nutrient-poor environments. When they feel an insect inside of their opening, they shut their hood trapping insects inside digesting/dissolving the prey slowly over time. We have many species in this garden including Purple Pitcher Plant, Yellow Pitcher Plant, and more.
We hope that you have enjoyed a virtual tour of the gardens found at the CNC. There are many other plants to explore in the gardens and we hope that you will plan your visit and take the time to experience the native gardens and all that they have to offer.
