Butterfly encounters and much more at Chattahoochee Nature Center in July

Archived photo of Chattahoochee Nature Center’s  Annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival, we can see a closeup of one of the many butterflies released today.  (ANDY SHARP/AJC staff)

Butterfly Encounter   July 1 – July 31

Mondays – Saturdays: 10am – 4:30pm and Sundays: 12pm – 4:30pm

Presented by Auto Trader and sponsored by Duke Realty

Enter the encounter and be amazed at the hundreds of butterflies that float above your head and fly below your nose. It’s easy to get up close to the butterflies, and you even have a chance to feed them using a nectar stick. Each of the species in the encounter is native to Georgia, so you are sure to walk away more familiar with our local species and butterfly biology! Be sure to bring your camera, the Butterfly Encounter is an exhibit where memories are made. $10 General Admission/CNC Members/Free for children Ages 2 and under

Breakfast with Butterflies

A butterfly sits on a flower inside the live butterfly exhibit tent at the Chattahoochee Nature Center in Roswell during the annual Flying Colors Butterfly Festival. JONATHAN PHILLIPS / SPECIAL

Sunday, July 12; 10am – 12pm; Ages 4 – Adult; $20 General Public/$15 CNC Members; Registration Required by July 7th (limited spaces)

Join us for a family friendly morning with exclusive access to the butterfly encounter. Enjoy breakfast treats and one-on-one time with butterflies.

For information contact programs@chattnaturecenter.org or 770-992-2055 ext. 236.

 Sunset Sips Thursday, July 9; 6 – 9pm; All Ages Sip, Socialize, Chill Outdoors

Happy Hour with the Butterflies! Stop by the nature center to grab a beverage (beer and wine available for purchase), hear live acoustic music from local musicians, and enjoy our Butterfly Encounter, included with General admission: $6 for Child/$10 Adult/$7 Seniors 65+/$7 Students 13-18/Free CNC Members & Kids 2 and under. Chattahoochee Nature Center, 9135 Willeo Road, Roswell, GA. 770-992-2055

Sunday, July 19 at 6pm: “Capital City Xpress: Music of the Swing & Big Band Era. Rhythms on the River Concert Series is a partnership with Atlanta Plays It Forward and the Chattahoochee Nature Center.

This swinging show benefits the Auditory Verbal Center (avchears.org). Tickets for reserved tables must be purchased online in advance through Event Brite: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/atlanta-plays-it-forward-7103493805

General Information for all shows:  Dine during the show at your own table (you provide the picnic, linen and candles).  Please remember,*adult libations are on sale from a cash bar, no brown bagging.  Pavilion Level seating choices include: Tables for 2- $40, Table for 4- $75.00, Table for 6- $110.00, Table for 8, $145.00, & additional single seat add ons.  General admission lawn seating with your own low chair is $15.00. Corporate Sponsorships available and shows benefit a local charity. Further information at http://www.AtlantaPlaysItForward.org   Tickets on sale now: Event Brite: http://www.eventbrite.com/o/atlanta-plays-it-forward-7103493805.    Call 770-316-8855 or 678-591-2610.

 River Canoe Trips

July Feature – River Adventures

Saturdays and Sundays, July and August, 6pm – Dusk; The Chattahoochee River is calling!  Take an urban adventure and experience wildlife through a 2 ½ hour paddle down the ‘Hooch.  Our experienced and knowledgeable river guides take you down river to see the sights and sounds of this river in the summer.  Discover the plants and animals that call this area home and explore the river’s backwaters as you re-imagine the river through a canoeing experience.  CNC provides all equipment for participants. Ages 6 –Adult; $30 General Public/$25 Members, Advance Registration Required by the Thursday Prior

 Beginning Canoeing

Saturday, July 11 and Sunday, July 19, 10 – 11:30am; Get your feet wet with our canoe guides on Beaver Pond! This 1 ½ hour introduction to canoeing is great for first time paddlers, families with young kids, or adults coming back to the sport. We’ll spend extra time going over paddling techniques and equipment, but will also provide races, games, and water squirters for those hot summer mornings.  CNC provides all equipment for participants. Ages 5 – Adult, $15 General Public/$10 Members, Registration Required the Thursday before each class.

Paddle and Hike at Gold Branch Park

Saturday, July 12, 9am – 1pm

The Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area is made up of over a dozen parks along the river from Buford Dam to I-75. On this adults-only trip, we’ll explore the wetland marsh around the Gold Branch Unit by boat and by foot. Bring a sack lunch and drinks (no alcohol or glass containers) for a picnic along the river. We’ll provide the ice chest! Ages 18+; $40 General Public/$30 Members, Registration Required by July 10

Date Night on the River

Friday, July 31, 5pm – 9pm

Get a babysitter and come relax with us on this adult-only evening paddle. We’ll open up the grounds early so you can bring a picnic dinner, and then our canoe guides will lead you on a 2 ½ hour sunset trip. Ages 18+; $40 General Public/$30 Members, Registration Required by July 29

Family Evening with Camp Kingfisher Offered Twice

Tuesday, July 7, 5:30-7:30pm – (MUST Register by July 5)

Tuesday, July 21, 5:30 – 7:30pm- (MUST Register by July 19)

Call the camp office to register @ 770-992-2055×222.  Enjoy a peaceful evening with your family in nature with Camp Kingfisher. Cool off in the pool, go canoeing on Beaver Pond, bring a picnic dinner, and see a non-releasable hawk or owl. $40 for CNC Members/$50 for General Public (price per family).

 Test Your Senses Family Night Hike

Saturday, July 18; 8 – 10pm; Did you know that some moths have superhero-like skills? Did you know that some moths can predict an attack by a bat – one of its largest predators? Well…it can! Some tiger moths can actually hear sonar signals sent out by the bat. How are your senses? Want to test them out at one of our CNC’s family night hikes? Come explore the sights and sounds around the Chattahoochee River as we hike the woodland or river boardwalk trails. All Ages; $10 General Public/$7 CNC Members (advance); Day of $15 General Public/$10 CNC Members.

Woodland Restoration Project

Sunday, July 26, 9am – 12pm; Ages 5 – Adult; Register by July 20th @ l.lintel@chattnaturecenter.org

Come help us restore the woodlands!  We will be working to remove invasive English ivy and privet in and around our woodlands in order to encourage native plant restoration.  These events have a 20 person maximum and fill up early!  Please contact us to reserve a spot for your family or group.

Adult Programs

The Nature Club Dine and Discover – Frogs and Toads Workshop

Thursday, July 24, 7 – 9PM

Join this potluck @ 7pm with speaker – Michael Kahle.  Mike is the Environmental Program Specialist with the Cobb County Watershed Stewardship Program and will lead the workshop.   Learning to identify frog vocalizations is a great way to determine the presence or absence of local populations.  This workshop is intended to raise awareness of the rich biodiversity found where we live by highlighting our local frog species, & how to identify them by their calls. Ages 16 – Adult, $10 General Public, $5 CNC Members

Artists in the Wild Tuesdays in July, 10am -1pm

Roswell Fine Arts Alliance is partnering with CNC to present Artists in the Wild, painters, sketchers, and pastelists spread out over CNC’s most picturesque locations, happening weekly. Mingle amongst the artists while they create scenes en plein air (in the fresh air.) Visitors are welcomed to observe their work, ask questions, and enjoy the final product.

In Nature Exchange

Keystone Superheroes throughout July

Keystone species are animals that set the scene for many other plants and animals. You could even think of them as the lead actors in nature, or even the directors of ecology. Learn about these nature superheroes and how influential they are in their habitats. Included with General Admission.

Read Summer News Here: http://chattnaturecenter.org/includes/newsletters/2015/King-ALL-Summer.pdf