Georgia Magazine - November 2010 - (Page 30)

How green the meadow Georgia’s diverse nature centers BY PAMELA A. KEENE G acre center opened its newest attraction: The Interpretive Center for the Chattahoochee River. The 10,000-square-foot building houses a number of hands-on exhibits, including ways for visitors to assess their own Several native, nonvenomous snakes are on exhibit at the water and energy con- Chattahoochee Nature Center. sumption, manipulate continue to grow,” McIntyre explains. river flow through a water trough and Chattahoochee Nature Center, traverse a wetland maze. Roswell. chattnaturecenter.org. (770) “The exhibits encourage interac992-2055. tive learning for both youngsters and adults,” says Lynn McIntyre, commuElachee Nature Science nity relations manager for the ChattaCenter hoochee Nature Center. “The facility Located in a 1,500-acre nature is only part of our recent $10 million preserve in Gainesville, Elachee is a expansion that also includes a new learning laboratory for all ages. lakeside pavilion and gardens with Approximately 25 school systems native plants.” bring more than 35,000 students a Chattahoochee Nature Center With the addition, the center has year to the two-building campus, For nearly 30 years, the Chatta- enhanced its mission with more which also includes 12 miles of trails hoochee Nature Center on the north adult-oriented programs: photograand an aquatic study center on side of metro Atlanta in Roswell has phy, gardening, advance science Chicopee Lake. In addition, more attracted visitors, school groups and study of ponds and habitats, as well than 50,000 people visit Elachee each members of the community to learn as bird-watching. year to participate in wildlife and about the Chattahoochee River and “We also plan to add more festinature programs, including summer surrounding area. Last year, the 127- vals and community events as we camps, Snake Day in September, and a variety of astronomy and conservation workshops. “Our primary mission is to provide interactive experiences to help students understand that the Earth and all its inhabitants are part of a complex and interdependent system,” says Lavon Callahan, director of development and communications for Elachee. “We’re also the only Southern Association of Colleges and Schools-accredited program of our kind in metro Atlanta.” Visitors can expect interaction both indoors and out in teaching Summer fun at the Elachee Nature Science Center includes the annual raft race. 30 More online at www.georgiamagazine.org GEORGIA MAGAZINE eorgia’s gone green, naturally. With dozens of nature centers across the state, visitors have the opportunity to experience wildlife up close in settings as varied as newly built environmental homes to decades-old canals. Getting in touch with nature is one of the fastest-growing hobby categories in America, with gardening topping the list and bird-watching second, says Heidi Hughes, director of the Environmental Learning Center at Oxbow Meadows Environmental Park in Columbus. In Georgia, which is ranked fourth in the nation for birding, 2 million people spent more than $2 billion in wildlife viewing. The state’s many nature centers are as diverse as our geography. Here’s a sampling: ELACHEE NATURE SCIENCE CENTER CHATTAHOOCHEE NATURE CENTER http://www.chattnaturecenter.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org http://www.georgiamagazine.org

Table of Contents for the Digital Edition of Georgia Magazine - November 2010

Georgia Magazine - November 2010
Contents
Viewpoint
Mailbox
Picture This?
Georgia News
Calendar
Currents
A Tour of Honor
Making it Pay in Georgia
Around Georgia
My Georgia
Georgia Cooks
Snapshot

Georgia Magazine - November 2010