Signage refresh project completed Spring 2024 by Ansley Powell, Graduate Student, Unity University
(ADDITIONAL INFORMATION COMING SOON!)
Power to the Plants
Abundant Animals
What is a Wetland
Why are Wetlands Important
Wetlands in Peril
After a 2 year break, the Camp Kingfisher Travel Program is BACK!
The Travel Program is Camp Kingfisher’s premier adventure-based camp for rising 8th and 9th graders. Day trips are packed with fun, personal challenges, and learning to support a team of peers. Travel Program Campers will have fun exploring some of the natural wonders in Georgia and surrounding states, some sample trips include hiking in North Georgia, rafting, tubing, kayaking, and urban biking.
Each 2-week session will be packed full of both water and land adventures.
Hear from teens that participated in the Travel Program and are now part of the High School Leadership in Training Program.
As a teen you often get a voice in how you spend your summers, why did you choose the travel program?
“I had many friends way back when we were campers who had done Travel Program, and they all talked about how amazing it was. Also, just the idea of doing camp and traveling at the same time was very appealing.” – Addison
“I love the environment at Camp and meeting new people. Travel Program is so different and special because we go on a different adventure everyday.” – Kate
What was your most memorable experience at the Travel Program?
“The camping trip for sure. Everyone had become friends with each other by that point and it was so amazing experiencing MY first time camping with a bunch of people who had become my best friends. I still have pictures to this day from TP in general.” – Addison
“The most memorable thing I experienced during Travel Program was caving. I will always remember suiting up and going in for the first time and climbing along the cave.” – Kate
Tell us about your favorite trip- which could be different than your most memorable experience.
“I don’t remember exactly which trip it was but we went to this HUGE water hole, that had these waterfalls and ginormous rock walls going so so high up. It was one of the first trips we went on and it was my favorite because that’s when everyone started becoming friends, not just like a group of people traveling together.” – Addison
“My favorite trip was when we biked along the Belt Line. I loved that we had a picnic and the bus rides to and from were always so much fun.” – Kate
What new skills or knowledge did you gain during your time in this program?
“I learned A LOT of social skills that I didn’t have before, because you would be thrown into a group of people that you’d have to stick with whether you know them or not. It really gives you an opportunity to get out of your comfort zone and socialize with loads of different people.” – Addison
“I have learned and tried so many new things from Travel Program. It definitely pushed me out of my comfort zone but it was totally worth it!” – Kate
Why would you recommend this program to others?
“Well for starters it’s fun, but it also kind of gives you the feel for what your LIT years may be like, in the sense that you’re older and are with a bunch of people your age that you need to bond with. I feel that Travel Program was super beneficial in my maturing and skill sets that are SO IMPORTANT for being a LIT.” – Addison
“I recommend Travel for anybody interested because it made my summer ten times more fun and adventurous!” – Kate
Any advice for new teens coming into the travel program?
“Go out of your comfort zone, and make friends with EVERYONE. The experience is so so much better when you share it with everyone in the group opposed to just a few friends.” – Addison
“My best advice for upcoming teens into the Travel Program is to be yourself and don’t be afraid to try new things!” – Kate
Check out the Camp Kingfisher Travel Program dates and opportunities for this summer! Summers are best spent outside!
August 7, 2020 – Marietta Daily Journal, Neighbor Newspaper
By Everett Catts, @NeighborEverett
Ten metro Atlanta organizations are partnering with recreation retailer REI for a social media campaign encouraging residents to hike, walk or jog on 10 trails in their 10 greenspaces over the next 10 months.
The Hikes for Health Challenge, which is kicking off in August (National Wellness Month), runs through May.
Written by Tracy Begley, Website and Marketing Specialist
August 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 pound harvest!
The total amount harvested in July was 2,230 pounds and included squash, zucchini, cucumbers, eggplant, heirloom tomatoes, cherry tomatoes, hot and sweet peppers, okra, kale, green beans, turnips, basil, and garlic.
Christopher Horacek, Unity Garden and Schools Horticulturist, said, “In July, 7 varieties of tomatoes and 9 varieties of peppers were harvested.”
The Unity Garden is CNC’s quarter-acre outdoor classroom and urban farm and is in operation year round. Everything grown in the garden is donated to North Fulton Community Charities, making CNC one of the largest providers of fresh produce to a food pantry in the region.
Horacek shared, “July is a peak harvest month so we were fortunate to have 2-6 volunteers assist with harvesting weekly and some even helped harvest twice in a week. It is awesome to have volunteers helping in the garden again.”
The Chattahoochee Nature Center recently began to allow volunteers to return to the property in limited capacity. Volunteers must meet CNC COVID-19 protocols, based on CDC and State of Georgia guidelines, before returning to the campus, as well as adhere to operational changes while on the property. Social distancing protocols are in place for all programs and volunteers and staff are wearing masks on the property.
DeAnn Fordham, Senior Director of Development and Marketing, said, “Volunteers are critical to the operation and success of the Center. Each year, more than 500 volunteers contribute 27,000 hours helping the Center implement programs and events, handle administrative work and assist our operational team on the grounds. COVID-19 has greatly impacted our ability to work with volunteers, many who are like family, and there service is greatly missed by our team. We are glad to have volunteers slowly returning to the property.”
The Chattahoochee Nature Center is proud to continue to partner with North Fulton Community Charities and contribute to the health and well-being of the families they serve. If you would like to support the Unity Garden, you can make a donation here.
Want to learn more about the partnership between the Chattahoochee Nature Center and North Fulton Community Charities please visit the following:
The Unity Garden Continues to Provide Fresh Produce to Local Food Bank – May 22, 2020
CNC donates 340 lbs. to local food bank -April 15, 2020
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
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.
2. The Kraken and The Giant Squid
Another creature of nautical fame, the Kraken is a colossal monster from Nordic lore said to attack ships by crushing them with its giant tentacles or by creating strong whirlpools to submerge them. The myths of the Kraken are now attributed to the very real giant squid, identified and described for the first time in 1853 by Norwegian naturalist Japetus Steenstrup.
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
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.
There are many more fascinating tales about creatures from myth and lore, but our real-life animal neighbors are just as exciting! Visit CNC this fall to meet these animals, hear their stories, and explore a world of Wings, Scales, and Tails.
By Samantha Kennett, Wildlife Technician at CNC
July 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 rushed to the Chattahoochee Nature Center Wildlife Rehabilitation Clinic to remove the netting and assess the deep wounds created by the rubbing and constriction of the plastic netting. Upon further examination, it was determined that this snake was not only female, but gravid and full of eggs.
She was continuously monitored for any change in her condition while both CNC and the Urban Kings Team remained hopeful that she would survive laying her eggs. After 11 patient days, Kingsnake 20-0111 laid all 17 of her eggs successfully. Upon the writing of this article, her condition is continuing to improve at CNC’s wildlife clinic while her eggs are being carefully incubated by the Urban Kings team to ensure the best chance of hatch success.
For this Kingsnake, her story has a happy ending. However, this is not always the case. This year alone, the Urban Kings team has received no fewer than a dozen reports of Kingsnakes stuck in plastic landscape netting, and Kingsnakes aren’t alone. This material is a death sentence for any snake if undiscovered, especially in these intense Georgia summers. Small mammals, birds, and sometimes even deer can fall trap to this garden protecting material. Just this month, CNC’s wildlife clinic received a Red-bellied Woodpecker whose neck and feet were ensnared in the netting.
This material is often used for large-scale erosion control as well as small-scale application in protecting produce and plants in backyard gardens. As you make plans to protect your garden from birds and deer this summer, consider looking into alternative options. One alternative is an insect mesh which has significantly smaller holes so that snakes and birds are less likely to get stuck. There is ongoing research in erosion control blankets to find better and cost-effective solutions to this human-wildlife conflict.
If you’re out getting your nature on and you find an animal trapped in landscape netting, please contact the CNC Wildlife Clinic immediately at 770-992-2055 ext. 239. If your trapped animal happens to be a Kingsnake, please contact the Urban Kings Project at the contact information below.
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
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
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
This aloe plant look-alike fools many! It has an aloe-like basal rosette and tall flowering stalks that can reach 5 feet.
Butterfly Garden: Garden above Butterfly Encounter
Asclepias sp., Milkweed
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
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
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.
Jul 16, 2020 – Macaroni Kid Alpharetta-Roswell-Milton
By Karen Cohen, Publisher
The Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) in Roswell is an outdoor nature oasis. We recently went to the CNC and explored the 127-acres of woods, wetlands and river habitat. We packed a picnic, water, sunscreen and bug spray and experienced the serenity of nature.
July 14, 2020 – Fox 5 Atlanta, Good Day Atlanta
By Paul Milliken
ROSWELL, Ga. – Reservations are required and masks are abundant, but aside from the obvious changes due to the coronavirus pandemic, staffers at the Chattahoochee Nature Center say their popular Butterfly Encounter will provide the same magical experience for visitors this year.
This year’s Butterfly Encounter opened last month will will continue daily through August 2nd, welcoming visitors into a butterfly-filled tent and allowing them to see the delicate winged creatures closer than ever before.
Jane Thorpe, Meridian Herald Executive Director
July 14, 2020
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 by environmentalist and journalist Sally Sears and performed by brilliant singers Timothy Miller and Wanda Yang Temko of the award-winning Meridian Chorale under the direction of Steven Darsey. Tune into the 6:00 PM live-stream concert on the Meridian Chorale Facebook page.
Children who visit the CNC on Sunday afternoon, 12:00-3:00, July 26 will receive a packet (via QR code) of fun activities related to music, poetry, nature and science, play “Song of the Chattahoochee” hopscotch, and participate in a video recording of the poem “Song of the Chattahoochee” by renowned Georgia poet Sidney Lanier.
Timothy Miller, affectionately known as the “tenor lion” is famous for his rendition of “God Bless America” at Atlanta Braves games. Wanda Yang Temko is known for her thrilling soprano performances in opera and concert. The Meridian Chorale is sponsored by Meridian Herald, a choral arts non-profit that sings to make the world a better place. Combining music, literature, history and science into unique programs Meridian Herald aspires to build community and promote intellectual curiosity, empathy, understanding, and racial reconciliation.
SING! “Song of the Chattahoochee” is part of Meridian Herald’s newest program series Confluence. A confluence means the place where two rivers come together. It can also mean a place where ideas meet and grow.
Meridian Herald’s Confluence is the intersection of the environment and the arts. Produced by the Governor’s Award winning arts and humanities non-profit Meridian Herald and guided by a steering committee that includes 100 Miles, the Chattahoochee Nature Center, the Georgia Council for the Arts, the Georgia Humanities Council, the South Fork Conservancy, the Trust for Public Lands, and individual artists and community volunteers. Confluence will present a series of programs in 2020 and 2021 focused on art of all types—visual, musical and written—created by Georgia artists, amateur and professional, children and adults, who have been inspired by Georgia’s natural beauty and whose works inspire others to preserve and protect Georgia’s environment.
Check out Meridian Herald’s “Bound for the Promised Land,” produced by and recently listed for 2020 Grammy consideration by five-time Grammy Award winning producer Elaine Martone. See a video of the final work from Meridian Herald’s live gala concert, “Bound for the Promised Land,” here.
Tune in July 26, 2020 at 6:00 pm to the Meridian Chorale’s Facebook page and enjoy the “Song of the Chattahoochee”.
