Chattahoochee Nature Center — Attraction in Roswell

Well, way down yonder on the Chattahoochee It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie We laid rubber on the Georgia asphalt We got a little crazy but we never got caught.

Down by the river on a Friday night Pyramid of cans in the pale moonlight Talkin' 'bout cars and dreamin' 'bout women Never had a plan, just a livin' for the minute.

Yeah, way down yonder on the Chattahoochee Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me But I learned how to swim and I learned who I was A lot about livin' and a little 'bout love.

Ya ha

Well, we fogged up the windows in my old Chevy I was willin' but she wasn't ready So I settled for a burger and a grape sno-cone I dropped her off early but I didn't go home.

Down by the river on a Friday night Pyramid of cans in the pale moonlight Talkin' 'bout cars and dreamin' 'bout women Never had a plan, just a livin' for the minute.

Yeah, way down yonder on the Chattahochee Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me But I learned how to swim and I learned who I was A lot about livin' and a little 'bout love.

Well, way down yonder on the Chattahochee

It gets hotter than a hoochie coochie

We laid rubber on the Georgia asphalt We got a little crazy but we never got caught.

Well, we fogged up the windows in my old Chevy I was willin' but she wasn't ready So I settled for a burger and a grape sno-cone I dropped her off early but I didn't go home.

Down by the river on a Friday night Pyramid of cans in the pale moonlight Talkin' 'bout cars and dreamin' 'bout women Never had a plan, just a livin' for the minute.

Yeah, way down yonder on the Chattahochee Never knew how much that muddy water meant to me But I learned how to swim and I learned who I was A lot about livin' and a little 'bout love.

A lot about livin' and a little 'bout love.

Ya he

That's...

What a fantastic Nature Center, and we only saw 20% of what they offer! When we got there, knowledgeable and friendly Cheryl Rooker printed out my membership card and gave me membership materials. She told us the movie started at 3PM - in 10 min. We enjoyed the well made 20 min. movie: The Chattahoochee: Reimagine our River. We learned that those who live in Atlanta and surrounding areas get 70% of their drinking water from this river. It also has the best trout fishing. Who knew?

Next was the butterfly encounter. We walked through the outdoor butterfly garden to the tented area of flowers and butterflies. Well versed and friendly employees were here, too! Joshua Hoyle gave us sticks dipped in nectar to attract the butterflies. He also told us about the proper behavior in this habitat. Inside, Tory Vornholt pointed out the different species flying about: White peacock, Malachite, Zebra longwing, Monarch, and American painted ladies. When we left the tented area, Joshua checked us for hitchhiking butterflies before we walked outside, to the beaver habitat.

A short walk from the butterflies is the home of a rescued beaver who lives in the Camille Creamer Beaver Habitat. We watched the beaver swimming and also pacing at a gated area. Was he waiting for food, or trying to escape?

After 2 hours, we had to be on the road again. We are looking forward to our next visit, to see the eagles, raptors, bats, and hike the trails. We might even have time to rent a canoe or try...

Our last (and final) visit left my nine year-old daughter in tears. She absolutely loved the trading desk, allowing for trade of rocks, butterfly wings, seashells, etc. The employee who worked there was 30 minutes late to return from her break.

"Sorry, I was helping out in the butterfly enclosure," she told us, even though we had just been there and saw her sitting on her phone. We told her our daughter had worked hard completing a reading log, but was still a few points shy of getting the rock she really wanted. She encouraged us to do the scavenger hunt to get a few extra points, so we took ten minutes and went outside. In those few minutes, this employee sold (gave away) the rock to another employee.

Upon returning, she told us it was no longer available and belonged to the greeter at the front desk. This sent our little girl spiraling, dashing to the corner and bawling her eyes out. What the heck kind of adult does that? (Hurry up -- some kid is about to take the piece you want.) When we told her how upset we were, the employee became passive aggressive and confrontational. ("Yeah, I don't know how many times I have to tell you I'm sorry.") Exactly the type of interaction you'd expect from... the Chattahoochee Nature Center?

In short, while the grounds themselves are well-maintained, with cool displays and lovely animals -- it simply isn't worth going when some of the people on the clock have zero desire to work well with children or make it a...