Chattahoochee Nature Center: beyond the concrete jungle
Published: Mar 16, 2009
Way down yonder, the Chattahoochee Nature Center sits on a pristine 127 acres filled with native Georgian plants and wildlife. Oh, and it's also home to a pretty popular river, in case you hadn't heard.
The Chattahoochee River is one of the pride and joys of Georgia. Authors, musicians and poets have paid homage to its famous waters and tree-lined banks. The Chattahoochee Nature Center hopes to preserve that grandeur and glory for generations to come.
The center was founded during the mid-1970s by local environmentalists as a grassroots endeavor. Since then it has come to be the place to go for students and adults looking for a peek into the local flora and fauna — our environment beyond the concrete jungle.
The center has loads of thing to do. But regardless of what direction you wish to go, good walking shoes, sunscreen, binoculars and a camera are a must.
If you're in the mood to spend a little time walking outdoors, the CNC has six hiking trails. Five of the trails wind their way through the Georgia Piedmont Forest and one trail will get you up close and personal with the Chattahoochee River itself.
But if strolling through a garden is more your style, don't worry: They've got that, too. Nearly three acres of gardens play host to more than 600 varieties of native flowers and plants.
Hop into one of the canoes available for a day of paddling along the Chattahoochee to discover things you've never noticed before. And you won't have to venture far to visit with the non-releasable injured animals held at CNC: More than 50 animals call the center home. Or, if you're in the mood to hear a little storytelling, check the Calendar and stop by.
The center offers classes, camps and other programs for both adults and children, including Master Naturalist Certification, watercolors, vegetable gardening, animal encounters, pee-wee planters and animal babies, just to name a few.
Educators will find endless opportunities for their students: trail programs, water studies, adopt a classroom animal and more. The CNC counts allowing students hands-on encounters with nature as one of its prime missions.The CNC also uses its classroom space to put on popular festivals and fundraisers, like Earth Day and "A Night Out with Nature."
For a full list of events, visit the CNC's Calendar of Events.
- by Christine Foster, Atlanta Reporter for HelloMetro
(Click to leave a message)
