Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA 30075
770-992-2055
Habitat Hunt in the Nature Exchange
WHEN: May 1st – May 31st
From knot holes in trees to nut caches in the ground, different animals use a habitat in a variety of ways. Can you spot signs of habitats used by winter forest animals? Complete this challenging scavenger hunt and receive 50 Nature Exchange points!
Inherited Traits in Nature Exchange
WHEN: May 1st – 31st
Throughout May in the Nature Exchange
Approximately 65% of Americans can roll their tongues. Can you? Discover your inherited traits as we delve into 10 common genetic traits and learn how to predict how you got them. Bring family and friends to compare thumbs, earlobes, and eye color.
Chattahoochee: Re-Imagine Our River Film
WHEN: May 1st – 31st
Come join us for a viewing of our featured film: Chattahoochee: Re-Imagine Our River
The viewing schedule is: Monday – Friday at 1pm; Saturday at 11:30 and 3:30; Sunday at 12:30 and 3:30 in Cowie Weiss Theater, lower level of the Discover Center. See Nature Exchange Naturalists with questions.
Creature Feature
WHEN: Thursdays & Fridays at 4:00 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM
All Ages. Join us every Thursday and Friday at 4 pm for Creature Feature! Meet one of our native, resident animals with a CNC Naturalist. Each month will be a different theme so Creature Feature is always exciting! Location will vary so check with admissions desk when you arrive!
Trail Hikes
WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00PM
A CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your “natural” curiosity.
Feeding Time
WHEN: Tuesdays and Saturdays at 4:00PM
Join a naturalist for an in-depth look at one of our resident animals as our Wildlife Department feeds them!
Animal Encounter
WHEN: Sundays at 4:00 PM
Learn about the native wildlife living at CNC through a 30-minute live animal presentation with one of our naturalists or docents.
James Casto Singer-Songwriter Concert Series
WHEN: April 1st
Our 2013 Concert Series with Home by Dark Productions kicks off in the Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion at the Chattahoochee Nature Center on Friday, May 3rd and we are excited!! James Casto and his crew from Chukkar Farms will be bringing the best songwriters in America to Roswell, GA for songwriter-in-the-round shows. So, mark your 2013 calendars for the First Friday of every month, May thru October and consider Season Tickets! Bring your picnic, invite friends and enjoy an incredible night of music in a unforgettable setting. www.homebydark.com
First Friday 2013 dates include:
Fri. May 3 @ 8pm
Fri. June 7 @ 8pm
Fri. July 5 @ 8pm
Fri. August 2 @ 8pm
Fri. September 6 @ 8pm
Fri. October 4 @ 8pm
Tickets on sale soon! If you’re interested in season tickets, send an e-mail to karen@homebydark.com We have reserved tables seating 2, 4, 6, or 8 or general admission on the lawn .
Storytime by the River
WHEN: May 1st
First Wednesday of the month. Ages 3 – 5. Stories tell us a lot about nature! Join our volunteer librarian as she uses books, puppets and songs to share stories about nature with a new theme each month!
Canoe Merit Badge
WHEN: May 4th 10:00 AM – 3:00 PM
$30 per scout; Advance Registration Required (space is limited and fills quickly)
Discover all about canoes, the safety involved, different paddling strokes and more! Learn how to canoe and practice your new skills while paddling on one of CNC’s ponds!
Carnivorous Plant Conservation in GA
WHEN: May 4th 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM
Ages 16 – Adult
The Georgia Plant Conservation Alliance and Georgia Department of Natural Resources will present on the status of these insectivorous plants using modern day restoration activities throughout the state. Much work has been done in the very rare mountain bogs and several state owned properties in South Georgia. Join us for this informative program on the recovery of rare plants and habitats.
Southeastern Bogs and Carnivorous Plants
WHEN: May 4th 2:30 PM – 4:00 PM
Ages 10 – Adult. Join us for an informative program on the bogs of the Southeast and the interesting carnivorous plants that make these habitats their home. After a short indoor presentation we will visit the CNC greenhouse where we will show how artificial bogs are created, what soil to use and which plants to select for your personal bog. From 4 – 5:30pm the nursery will open to the general public to purchase carnivorous plants that have been propagated here at the center. Many other plants will be available (in case you missed our spring plant sale.)
River Canoe Trips
When: Saturdays and Sundays in May, 6:00 PM – Dusk;
Ages 6 to adult. Special May Member Pricing: $30 Non-Members/$20 Members ($5 off regular price)
Calling all River Rats – it’s time to get out on the River! Join us for a paddling adventure as you discover the animals and plants that call the Chattahoochee home. CNC naturalists will lead you on a journey down river as you see it in new ways and discover why this resource is so important. (Also offered June through October; check the next two CNC newsletters for additional trips.) Whether it’s your first time on the water or your fifth – you won’t want to miss this! Registration begins April 1st! Email scheduling@chattnaturecenter.org or call 770-992-2055 x237!
Stand Up Paddle Boarding 101
WHEN: May 5th 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM
Three times to choose from (12:30 – 1:30pm; 2 – 3pm; or 4 – 5pm; We will begin filling spaces in the first time slot and when it fills we will move to the next one.) Ages 12 – Adult; $20 General Public/$15 CNC Members; Advance registration required by May 1st.
CNC is now offering Stand up Paddle Boarding through Walk on Water Adventures LLC. This exciting new class is perfect for those curious about trying paddle boarding for the first time and for those that have paddled before. Class will teach entering and exiting the water safely and correct paddling techniques. Come out and try this fun and exciting way to enjoy our beautiful water ways. Paddle board, paddle and PFD will be provided.
Birding Canoe Trip
WHEN: May 11th 8:00 AM – 11:00 AM
$40 General Public/$30 Members; Ages 16 – Adult; Advance Registration Required.
Have you been looking for an extended canoe trip with CNC? Well, here it is! Join CNC naturalist Alicia Evans on a canoe trip along the Chattahoochee. Our trip will focus specifically on birds in the area and exploring the hidden backwaters along the river – a treat for birders of any skill-level! CNC provides all equipment needed for the trip.
International Migratory Bird Day
WHEN: May 11th 10:00 AM – 5:00 PM
All Ages.The Nature Exchange is throwing a party to celebrate migratory birds. Grab your binoculars and enjoy the fun as we cheer on the birds heading north with bird watching activities, crafts and hikes.
Rockin’ on the River
WHEN: May 11th 6:30 PM
“Rockin’ on the River” BENEFITS THE CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER
The Board of Trustees of the Chattahoochee Nature Center invites you to their annual “Rockin’ at the River Gala” on Saturday, May 11, 2013. This beautiful natural setting along the river in Roswell sets the stage for this year’s benefit gala for the nature center. The party kicks off at 7:30 pm, but Patrons and Sponsors will come an hour earlier to enjoy an exclusive VIP Reception, including a live musical performance on the Plaza at 6:30 pm, complete with passed hors d’oeuvres and signature cocktails.
The main event kicks off in Kingfisher Hall with signature cocktails served to each guest as they arrive at 7:30 pm, dressed for the season in spring chic attire. Guests can mix and mingle while enjoying the fabulous food, great music and cocktails from the open bar. An extensive Silent and short Live Auction and other surprises provide additional treasures and fun. This party is perfect for nature or music lovers as well as all those ‘movers and shakers’; our talented musicians create a rockin’ good time for all of our guests who dance to the light of the moon. Live music continues throughout the evening as guests migrate through the beautifully landscaped and lighted gardens to the Ben Brady Lakeside Pavilion for delectable desserts and more dancing to a rockin’ band on the water front. In the pavilion, the glam décor is enhanced by the addition of hundreds of twinkling lights reflecting the natural starlight on the water.
Proceeds from the gala provide crucially important operating funds for the Center’s environmental learning programs, horticulture and wildlife services. The gala also helps promote the mission of the Chattahoochee Nature Center to an ever expanding audience of local and corporate leaders. CNC is the Southeast’s oldest and largest, private, non-profit natural science learning center, located at 9135 Willeo Road along the Chattahoochee River in Roswell. With its unique Gold level LEED Certified Discovery Center, it serves as the interpretive center for the entire Chattahoochee River; connecting visitors by helping them understand their role in protecting this critical resource thereby empowering them to positively impact their local environments. Patron Tickets are $250 per person and general admission tickets are $125 per person, contact DeAnn Fordham, Development Director, at 770-992-2055, extension 226.
Home School Science Monday
WHEN: May 13th 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM
All Ages – Last Home School Science Monday of the school year! Learn over lunch about the web of life. Afterwards, head to the Nature Exchange for the nature activity of the month!
Bee Day
WHEN: May 18th 11:00 AM – 3:00 PM
It’s going to be a BEE-utiful day at CNC as we celebrate those unsung heros – BEES! You can find so many different types of these insects living in the Chattahoochee River watershed and we want to tip our hats to them.
· Bees and Bee Keepers: 11am – 3pm
See live bees (safely enclosed in an observation hive) and learn about how beekeepers harvest honey and care for these important insects. Beekeepers will be ready to answer all of your beekeeping questions.
· Bee Hunt: 11am – 3pm
Go on a Bee Hunt and do REAL SCIENCE! Bee Hunt is a citizen science project from UGA where anyone can collect data on bees. Even 15 minutes of your time is valuable to bee researchers. Stop by the Nature Exchange to start on your own scientific bee hunt.
· Make a Bee Hat: 11am – 1pm
Make your own bee hat to celebrate bees everywhere. It’s the perfect headwear for storytime and the Bee Ball.
· Miss Julia’s Storytime: 12 – 1pm
Miss Julia is at it again! Join in a telling of The Honey Bee and the Robber complete with music, dancing and lots of laughs.
· The BEE BALL: 1 – 2pm
Dress in your best black and yellow and join us on the dance floor for a buzzing insect dance party. We will learn our own special version of the waggle dance!
· Insect Bio-Buggy: 1 – 3pm
Discover the fascinating world of insects with hands-on experiments and tools.
Night Hike
WHEN: May 25th from 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
Ages 5 – adult; $10 General Public/$7 CNC Members
Nature at night is the best time to explore. Join a naturalist to see what happens as the sun goes down and the night comes to life! Hike the CNC trails, visit with a nocturnal animal, and enjoy a campfire complete with marshmallow roasting.
Stand up Paddle Board River Cruising
WHEN: May 18th 11:00 AM – 4:30 PM
Two times to choose from (11am – 1pm or 2:30 – 4:30pm); $40 General Public/$35 CNC Members; Ages 12 – Adult; Advance Registration required by May 15.
Come out and join us for a completely new way to enjoy the Chattahoochee River through Walk on Water Adventures LLC. Our paddle guides will teach you all the paddle board basics to get you standing and cruising the river. Paddle board, paddle and PFD will be provided. Participation in Stand up Paddle Boarding 101 is recommended.
Canoe 101
When: May 19th and 26th 12:30 PM – 2:00 PM
Ages 5 – adult; $15 General Public/$10 CNC Members (price is per person; book a third seat in a canoe and get half off.); Advance Registration is Required (space is limited.)
Want to plan on spending the summer on the River but unsure of where to start? Well then join us to discover the basics of canoeing including boat basics and paddling techniques. Spend some time on one of CNC’s ponds to practice your newly-acquired skills. Perfect for new paddlers from age 5 to adult!
Drum Circle
WHEN: May 24th 8:00 PM – 10:00 PM
$5 Donation requested. Come and join the drum circle at the nature center the 4th Friday of the month thru September. Professional drum leader Chuck Cogliandro leads the rhythm as you take part in one of the most basic celebrations of music. All experience levels and spectators welcome- please bring your own drum or rhythm instrument.
