Atlanta Moms Club members showed how sweet they are at our first meetup, February 11th at the Chick-fil-A Dwarf House in Woodstock. Moms, dads, and kids spent part of their afternoon enjoying Chick-fil-A’s chicken nuggets and applesauce while creating Valentine’s Day masterpeices.

It was so nice to spend some time with moms in a relaxed environment while the kids had a blast making crafts.

Read the full article about Atlanta Moms Club’s first meetup on AtlantaMomsClub.com here.

Atlanta Chef Ford Fry Joins the Makers of Hidden Valley® Original Ranch® and the American Culinary Federation in Their Support
Of the Chefs Move to Schools Initiative

Instead of Sloppy Joes, fries and canned pears, imagine kids eating a school lunch of barbeque pulled chicken and black bean quesadilla, colorful bell peppers served with low-fat ranch dip and fresh cantaloupe slices.

That sort of transformation is the goal of the Chefs Move to Schools program – and the Lunch Break for Schools fundraiser, sponsored by the makers of Hidden Valley® Salad Dressings, is aiming to make that dream a reality.

Chef Ford Fry from JCT. Kitchen & Bar will be hosting a Lunch Break for Schools fundraiser during lunch on Wednesday, February 29 to raise money to support the American Culinary Federation’s efforts toward the Chefs Move to Schools program’s goal of encouraging healthier eating by kids – including eating more vegetables. Whether dining in or taking lunch to-go, the public is invited to visit JCT. Kitchen during lunchtime on February, 29 to purchase Chef Fry’s specialty lunch item to do their part to support nutrition education. Fry will be serving a special menu featuring a crudité of fresh vegetable served with Hidden Valley Ranch Lite, Maine Lobster chopped salad with Meyer lemon “ranch” vinaigrette and a brown bag “afternoon snack” of Hidden Valley Ranch oyster crackers. The cost is $26 per person.

“I’m really excited about participating in the Lunch Break for Schools fundraiser,” says Chef Fry. “This is a great cause to support, and as a father, I know how important it is for kids to eat a healthy lunch. I also think this is a chance to educate adults about healthy eating options.”

The Lunch Break for Schools national fundraiser is organized by the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings and the ACF to support the ACF’s Chef & Child Foundation (CCF) and its chefs’ efforts toward the Chefs Move to Schools program. With support from celebrity chef Cat Cora as the national spokesperson, chefs across the country will create and sell delicious, healthy lunches one day during the week of Feb. 27 – March 2, 2012. All net proceeds from lunch items sold will be donated to CCF and funds will be used to create nutrition-based educational resources for chefs involved in the Chefs Move to Schools program.

The chefs’ lunches will follow the framework of a recommended one-week school lunch menu released by First Lady Michelle Obama and the White House to show the changes that could be made after the passing of the Healthy, Hungry-Free Kids Act 2010. The menu includes vegetables and low-fat ranch dressing on four of five days.

Champions for Nutrition Education
The makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings donated $150,000 to ACF’s Chef & Child Foundation to underwrite the fundraiser and help create curriculum, tools and other resources needed to help chefs working in schools.
The commitment is part of the brand’s Love Your Veggies™ nutrition education campaign. Since launching the campaign in 2006, the makers of Hidden Valley Salad Dressings have donated more than $1 million to nutrition education programs.

For more information on the Lunch Break for Schools program, including details about the chefs involved and recipes featured in the lunches, visit www.acfchefs.org/lunchbreakforschools.

Join the Lunch Break for Schools discussion on Twitter at #LunchBreakForSchools.

Valentine’s Day is coming up and if you’re like me you are hustling to come up with something creative and unique for your child to give his/her teacher.  Kleenex is making it easy for kids to share an especially useful gift with their teacher, with the Share Pack program.  Of all people, teachers need Kleenex, right? Help spread cheer, not germs by sharing a Kleenex Share Pack with a teacher.

Softness Worth Sharing – Send a free Share Pack and get free Kleenex Cool Touch tissues for yourself!

Kleenex brand is giving consumers a chance to try new Kleenex Cool Touch tissues, the only tissue that actively releases a cool sensation to soothe a sore nose on contact, for free when they sign up to send a Share Pack to a friend or family member on Kleenex.com/SoftnessWorthSharing.

I participated in the “Softness Worth Sharing” campaign last year.  I sent a friend a Share Pack and I got free

Kleenex just for sharing!  In fact, a million people jumped at the opportunity to send a free Kleenex Share Pack to a friend or loved one.  Now you can enjoy the opportunity to share and try out Kleenex Cool Touch tissues while supplies last!

Kleenex brand is giving consumers a chance to try new Kleenex Cool Touch tissues, the only tissue that actively releases a cool sensation to soothe a sore nose on contact, for free when they sign up to send a Share Pack to a friend or family member on the Kleenex website.  What are you waiting for? Click on over to Kleenex.com/SoftnessWorthSharing and send a Share Pack today!

Kleenex Events at Kroger Feb. 10th – 20th

Kleenex brand is hosting several events at Kroger locations (listed below) in Atlanta February 10th – 20th during which you can check out the Kleenex® Brand Sharing Station.

We are giving a lucky reader a $50 gift card!

Contest rules and how to enter:

• Tell us who you would share a “Share Pack” with in the comments below.   A teacher, parent, friend, your spouse?

Earn Extra Entries:

• Be sure to have completed the mandatory entry first!
• 1 extra entry – Follow @atlantamoms on Twitter
• 1 extra entry – Like Atlanta Moms Facebook page
• 1 extra entry – Subscribe to Atlanta Moms
• 1 extra entry – Like Kleenex’s Facebook page
• 1 extra entry – Like Kleenex’s ‘Softness Worth Sharing’ Twitter page
• 1 extra entry (each time) – Tweet this up to once every 8 hours:
  “I’m entered to win a $50 gift card from AtlantaMoms.com!  You can enter to win too here: http://wp.me/pt5U2-2Aw  via @atlantamoms”.
• 3 extra entries per giveaway you enter – Enter any of The Divine Miss Mommy’s giveaways and leave a comment below telling us which giveaways you entered.
• Be sure to tell us what you’ve done in the comments below!

Contest Rules

• Entries accepted through 11:59pm February 22nd 2012.  Open to U.S. residents, 18+.  No P.O. Boxes.
• The gift card will be good at any of these participating retailers: Wakefern, Shop Rite, Giant of Landover, Stop and Shop, Giant of Carlisle, Kroger, Ralphs, Food 4 Less

Participating Kroger Stores

Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA 30075 | 770-992-2055
Website

All February Long
Save 10% off all puzzles and games in the Nature Store. CNC Members receive an additional 10% discount!

In the Nature Exchange:
Get ready for the Great Backyard Bird Count by learning about our local birds. Match up bird calls, practice bird identification and play a few bird brained games!

Winter Bird Seed Sale

WHEN: Pre Purchase February 1- February 12.  Pick Up at CNC February 17-19

Feed your feathered friends premium Coles birdseed and benefit the Chattahoochee Nature Center. Pre-sale orders can be placed on-line or at the Nature Store.

Story Time by the River

WHEN: February 1st at 10:30AM

Join volunteers for a fun story time at CNC. Using books, puppets, and other props, they tell stories all about nature. Ages 3 – 5.

Creature Feature – Forest Friends

WHEN: Thursdays and Fridays at 4 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 2 PM

All Ages. Forests are such an important part of our watershed – their protection helps keep our water healthy, us healthy and helps keep lots of animals healthy!  Head out to CNC to visit with one of our non-releasable animals and find out why they need a healthy forest!

Trail Hikes

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00PM

A CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your “natural” curiosity.

Feeding Time

WHEN: Tuesdays and Saturdays at 4:00PM

Join a naturalist for an in-depth look at one of our resident animals as our Wildlife Department feeds them!

Brownie Overnight

WHEN: February 4th at 7PM – February 5th 10AM

$35 per scout; $25 per adult; Pre-registration Required
Brownie Scouts will earn their Space Explorer Try-It (or comparable new badge)while discovering the CNC after dark!

Animal Encounter

WHEN: Sundays at 4:00 PM

Learn about the native wildlife living at CNC through a 30-minute live animal presentation with one of our naturalists or docents.

Pee-Wee Naturalist Winter Series – Ages 3 – 4

WHEN: Tuesdays: December 13, January 10, and February 7

$50 Non-Members/$35 Members (price for 3-part series per child, adult helper required and admitted free), Pre-Registration Required. Looking for something different to do this winter and not be cooped up at home?  Then head out to CNC!  This winter we will have fun learning about Giving Back – Gifts for Nature, Animal Stories with Mother Nature, and Growing Tall!  You and your budding naturalist will have fun playing games, singing songs, making fun nature art and visit with CNC’s wildlife up close!

11th Annual Chattahoochee Challenge 10K Race

WHEN: February 11th

10K race at 8:00 AM and 1 Mile Fun Run at 7:30 AM
This official qualifier for the 2012 Peachtree Road Race along the Chattahoochee River is a fast paced benefit for the nature center. Register Online at www.active.com or download a registration form here or at any Big Peach Running Company Store. Call 770-992-2055 x 226 for additional information. Register in advance ($27) for a discounted rate or on site race day for $32 for 10K and $15 for Fun Run.  All participants receive a t-shirt and swag bag. For more information, go to: http://chattnaturecenter.org/chattahoochee-challenge.html

Night Hike

WHEN: February 11th from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

$10 General Public, $7 Members. All Ages. Nothing helps get you out of the winter blues then a crisp hike outside underneath a clear sky filled with stars!  Winter is a wonderful time to explore the sky above.  Join a naturalist on a night hike, check out the stars above, visit with a CNC animal and finish off the night with a warm campfire and marshmallows!

STARLAB

WHEN: February12th from 1:00 PM – 2:00 PM

Ages 5 – adult. Come see the best and brightest!  Take a naturalist-lead journey through the night sky in STARLAB, our portable planetarium.  Find out what constellations, planets and stars can be seen this winter.

Home School Science Monday

WHEN: February 13th from 12:30 PM – 3:00 PM

All Ages. Learn over lunch about being a biologist in your own backyard. Afterwards, head to the Nature Exchange for trading, project help and to solve the science experiment of the month!

Great Backyard Bird Count

WHEN: February 17th from February 20th

All Ages. Participate in Nationwide Citizen Science! Stop by the Nature Exchange to learn how you can participate in a program that counts all the birds in North America.  While you are here, be sure to make a bird feeder to take home.

Super Seuss Exhibit

WHEN: February 17th – March 11th

Become a Super Seuss! Just in time for the new Lorax feature length film, visit larger than life Dr. Seuss characters and learn about the role wildlife played beloved Seuss stories. Exhibit made possible by the Ann Jackson Gallery.

Dave Holland- Drumming up the Stories

WHEN: February 18th at 11:00AM

All Ages. Take part in this fun-filled, percussion-loaded learning extravaganza as Dave sings, drums and narrates his way through an array of world folktales. Its definitely a program that will get you on your feet.

Preparing your Landscape for Spring

WHEN: February 18th from 1:00 PM – 2:30 PM

Ages 16 – adult. $10 General Public/FREE CNC Members (includes admission to CNC)
Pre-Registration Required by February 10.
Late winter is the ideal time to spruce up your yard for the arrival of Spring.  Join CNC Horticulturalist Lisa Cole in a hands-on presentation of late-winter projects in the garden.  Topics include what to prune and when, how and why to add mulch to the garden, and planting basics.  By taking these small steps, you will ensure a beautiful garden with the coming of Spring. To pre-register, call 770-992-2055 ext 237 or email scheduling@chattnaturecenter.org

Bio Buggy/Bat Trunk

WHEN: February 20th from 1:30 PM – 3:00 PM

Ages 4 –12. Explore a Bio Buggy or the Bat Trunk!  Discover the fascinating world of insects, birds or bats with hand-on experiments and tools.

All About Nature Social Club

WHEN: February 23rd from 7:00 PM – 9:00 PM

Ages 16 – Adult. $10 General Public, $5 CNC Members. Free for CNC Volunteers and Master Naturalist Graduates. Join our monthly Dine and Discover potluck!  Spend your evening socializing with like-minded folks and learning from an expert in the field.  Bring a dish to share!

YH20 Film Festival

WHEN: February 25th – 26th

All Ages. Enjoy the winning films from CNC’s annual student film competition.

Junior Overnight

WHEN: February 25th – February 26th

7PM Saturday evening – 10 AM Sunday morning. $35 per scout; $25 per adult. Pre-registration Required. Junior Scouts will earn their Sky Search Badge (or comparable new badge) while discovering the CNC after dark!

Docent Orientation

WHEN: February 26th from 12:30 PM – 5:00 PM

Ages 10 – Adult. Pre-Registration Required. In this introduction class, we will explore the various areas of education volunteering, including leading guided hikes on the weekends, interpreting exhibits around the grounds, and doing live animal presentations for visitors.

Special day for Roswell residents

WHEN: February 29th

FREE admission to Roswell Residents – made possible by the City of Roswell.

I love Girl Scout Cookies. In fact, I ordered 8 boxes from Stacie Connerty‘s daughter just last week.  My husband prefers Tagalongs while I prefer Thin Mints.  Did you know that there is a Girl Scout Cookie Locator?  How great is that? Scroll down for the link.

Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta has once again teamed up with Simon Malls  throughout the metro area this cookie season to offer customers an even easier way to purchase Girl Scout Cookies. Beginning Friday, February 17 – Sunday, March 11, Girl Scout troops will be hosting Girl Scout Cookie Booths between the hours of 4 – 7 p.m. Monday-Friday; 10 a.m. – 9 p.m. on Saturdays and 12 – 6 p.m. on Sundays at the following six Simon properties in Georgia: Gwinnett Place, Lenox Square, Mall of Georgia, Northlake Mall, Phipps Plaza and Town Center at Cobb.

“We are thrilled to welcome Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta back to our malls for the fourth year,” said Carol Cox, director of marketing and business development at Mall of Georgia. “The on-mall Cookie Program has been incredibly successful the last three years – we received tremendous positive feedback from our shoppers who appreciated the accessibility of Girl Scout Cookies in the malls. We are excited to work with local Girl Scouts again this year to provide convenient and highly trafficked areas for their sales.”

WHEN:        

Friday, February 17 – Sunday, March 11

Monday-Friday, 4 p.m. – 7 p.m.

Saturday, 10 a.m. – 9 p.m.

Sunday, 12 p.m. – 6 p.m.

WHERE:

Gwinnett Place
(Upper Level Center Court adjacent to escalator)
2100 Pleasant Hill Rd., Duluth
770.813.6840

Lenox Square
(Market Level Food Court near Chick-fil-A)
3393 Peachtree Road NE, Atlanta
404.233.6767

Mall of Georgia
(Pelican Fountain in front of Macy’s)
3333 Buford Dr., Buford
678.482.8788

Northlake Mall
(Food Court, Lower Level)
4800 Briarcliff Rd., Atlanta
770.938.3564

Phipps Plaza
(Monarch Court, behind Guest Services)
3500 Peachtree Rd., Atlanta
404.262.0992

Town Center at Cobb
(Food Court, Lower Level adjacent to Game Stop)
400 Barrett Pkwy., Kennesaw
770.424.9486

Girl Scout Cookies include: Thin Mints, Samoas, Trefoils, Do-si-dos, Tagalongs and Savannah Smiles. Each cookie variety sells for $3.50. For a list of other cookie booth locations in your area, visit the COOKIE LOCATOR at www.gsgatl.org to search by your city or county. New locations are posted daily. Also, check out the free mobile app that can be downloaded to your iPhone, iTouch or android device by calling **gscookies! Many Girl Scout troops will have mobile credit card readers this year, making it easier for the cashless customer.

About Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc.  – Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta, Inc. serves approximately 42,000 girls and over 18,000 adult members in 34 counties in the greater metropolitan Atlanta area, northwest Georgia and Polk County, TN. Girl Scouting’s mission is to build girls of courage, confidence and character, who make the world a better place. For more information on how to join, volunteer or donate to Girl Scouts of Greater Atlanta call 1-800-771-4046, or visit www.gsgatl.org. For information on the national organization visit Girl Scouts of the USA’s Web site at www.girlscouts.org.

Congratulations to our winner, Lori V.!

Georgia Aquarium and family-favorite musical group, Atlanta’s own Laughing Pizza, invite families to the grand Oceans Ballroom for a one-time, VIP family film premiere Saturday, Feb. 4 at 11:00 a.m. The award-winning band and world’s largest aquarium are teaming up for the world premiere of “Laughing Pizza: The Concert Movie” as well as a live performance by Laughing Pizza after the screening.

Beginning at 11:00 a.m., guests will get the “red carpet treatment” with photographs, a VIP screening of Laughing Pizza: The Concert Movie, spectacular views into the world’s largest aquatic habitat, Ocean Voyager, as well as views into the charismatic beluga whale habitat from within the grand Oceans Ballroom. After the VIP screening, Laughing Pizza will perform a few of their hits and give guests the opportunity to meet Billy, Lisa and Emily, up close and in person!

About Laughing Pizza

Laughing Pizza is a real family band that writes and performs all original pop-music for families. Their music videos can be seen every day in more than 18 million homes on PBS stations and TV On-Demand channels around the country. This mom, dad and daughter trio travel across the nation performing at theatres, museums, music  festivals, nightclubs, schools, and other venues – including the White House (with Miley Cyrus and the Jonas Brothers).

Tickets

There are two ticket options for families to purchase. VIP Red Carpet Premiere tickets include admission to the film, live performance by Laughing Pizza, meet and greet with the band, and red carpet festivities. VIP Red Carpet Premiere tickets are $15 (Children under 1 years old are free).
For an even more spectacular experience, guests can upgrade their tickets to the VIP Red Carpet Premiere Plus ticket, which includes admission to the premiere and its events, as well as admission to the Aquarium and the 3:30 p.m. showing of AT&T Dolphin Tales. VIP Red Carpet Premiere Plus tickets are $34.95 for adults and $28.95 for children.
Children under 3 years old only need a film pass, as they are admitted to the Aquarium for free.

For more information and to purchase tickets, please visit www.laughingpizza.com. For more information on Georgia Aquarium’s conservation efforts, visit www.georgiaaquarium.org or call 404-581-4000.

TICKET GIVEAWAY! - Congratulations to our winner, Lori V.!

We are giving a lucky AtlantaMoms.com reader 4 tickets for the VIP Red Carpet Event!  

To enter, leave a comment below telling us why you want to win.

Earn extra entries:

• Make sure you’ve completed the mandatory comment entry.
• Following @atlantamoms on Twitter - 2 extra entries
• Join Atlanta Moms on Facebook - 2 extra entries
• Sign up for our newsletter - 3 extra entries
• If you are a member of our forums (sign in or join here), leave your Member URL in the comments below. - 4 extra entries
• 3 extra entries per tweet – Tweet about this giveaway up to once every 8 hours:
  “I’m entered to win four tickets to Laughing Pizza VIP Red Carpet Premiere Event at Georgia Aquarium from @AtlantaMoms http://bit.ly/wtLSSZ”
• 5 extra entries per giveaway you enter – Enter any of The Divine Miss Mommy’s giveaways and leave a comment below telling us which giveaways you entered.

Entries accepted through 11:59 January 30th, 2012.  Winner will be contacted January 31st and must respond by 5pm January 31st in order to claim their prize so be sure to give us an email address that you check often!

The tickets do not include general admission to Georgia Aquarium.  Parking and food are not included.

More chances to win tickets on Mundane Magic!

On cold, rainy days in Atlanta when the entire family is stuck inside the house with an abundance of energy and nothing to do, consider taking the kids on an outing to a place indoors that can provide hours of entertainment and fun for everyone.

The Little Nook

The Little Nook is a wonderful place to take your children to get away from the rest of the crowd that’s bouncing around in bouncy castles, tearing through playgrounds like wild animals, and watching clowns do magic tricks. It is a great place to get away from all of that nonsense, so that you can enjoy things that bring inspiration to your child. Finger painting, imaginary campfires, nature inspired decorations, an enchanted forest, music, dance, and puppet shows are some of the things you’ll discover in The Little Nook. The cost to attend a weekly session is $165 per month, and for those that want to enroll in a weekly session for the entire school year can enroll for just $1,500. It is also great place to celebrate special occasions like birthdays and wedding showers.

Build-a-Bear Workshop

Just outside of Atlanta you can find Build A Bear in the North Point Mall in Alpharetta. It is a great place to take your young ones to build their very own stuffed toy. There are many types of toys they can create including bears, bunnies, cats, dogs, tigers, and more. They even have limited edition toys like SmallFrys and popular cartoon characters from movies and tv shows.Besides being a great place to let the kids pick out a gift for themselves, it is a great place to let the kids pick out a gift for a friend or family member. For just about every special occasion or holiday, there are many themed bears that your children can choose that would make a perfect gift while allowing the child to put their own personal touch on the gift. They can choose from the many stuffed toy themes that include toys for birthdays, Christmas, Hanukkah, Father’s Day, Mother’s Day, graduation, Halloween, Easter, Valentine’s Day, weddings, and anniversaries.

The Build A Bear Workshop can accommodate parties of all sizes starting at just $10 per guest. Food options include catering from Auntie Anne’s Pretzels, American Café, California Pizza Kitchen, Haagen Daas ice cream, Sbarro’s Pizza, Burger King, Sweet Tomatoes, and Joe’s Crab Shack. Also included in the package is a virtual party room that can be sports themes, beach themes, or dance themes on BearVille.com. Each guest can use this virtual space to continue their adventure at home by bringing their toy to life online for free. It is a great place for the entire family as it offers a wide variety of themed toys that are appropriate for babies, children, teens, and adults. The store is open Monday through Saturday from 10am until 9pm, and on Sunday from 12pm until 7pm.

American Girl

While visiting Build A Bear at North Point Mall, don’t forget to treat the girls in your family to a visit to the American Girl Store. Girls can find their favorite dolls along with fashionable outfits and accessories to go along with them. The store also carries matching clothing that they can put on to match their dolls, as well as themed play sets and brain stimulating books that are perfect for young girls to read. And when hunger strikes, they can mosey on over to the American Girl Bistro and have lunch or a delicious ice cream treat. Party reservations can also be made for birthdays and other special occasions.

Chattahoochee Nature Center
9135 Willeo Road Roswell, GA 30075 | 770-992-2055
Website

Save 10% off all books in the Nature Store. We have an excellent selection on Nature Books for your winter reading. CNC Members receive an additional 10% discount!

WHEN: All January Long

In the Nature Exchange

WHEN: All January Long

Cold weather is the perfect time to read a wild book. This month, learn about some wildlife that has made it big in print. From The Very Hungry Caterpillar to Hoot, there is a world of nature to discover in a book. Make yourself comfortable in the Nature Exchange as you read and take part in the Reading Rewards program. For a reading reward information, checkout the Nature Exchange page at chattnaturecenter.org

Creature Feature – Bard Owls or Barred Owls?

WHEN: Thursdays and Fridays at 4 PM and Saturdays and Sundays at 2:00 PM

All Ages. During January, join a CNC naturalist to uncover some of the interesting names of animals that call Georgia home.  Why do we have a Barred Owl and a Barn Owl?  Why a Box Turtle and a Gopher Tortoise?  Visit with one of our non-releasable animals as you learn about their nifty names!

Trail Hikes

WHEN: Saturdays and Sundays at 1:00 PM

A CNC docent guides you on a journey through the CNC trails using biofacts and activities to spark your “natural” curiosity.

Feeding Time

WHEN: Tuesdays and Saturdays at 4:00 PM

Join a naturalist for an in-depth look at one of our resident animals as our Wildlife Department feeds them!

Animal Encounter

WHEN: Sundays at 4:00 PM

Learn about the native wildlife living at CNC through a 30-minute live animal presentation with one of our naturalists or docents.

Pee-Wee Naturalist Winter Series – Ages 3 – 4

WHEN: Tuesdays: December 13, January 10, and February 7 9:45 – 11:00

$50 Non-Members/$35 Members (price for 3-part series per child, adult helper required and admitted free), Pre-Registration Required.
Looking for something different to do this winter and not be cooped up at home?  Then head out to CNC!  This winter we will have fun learning about Giving Back – Gifts for Nature, Animal Stories with Mother Nature, and Growing Tall!  You and your budding naturalist will have fun playing games, singing songs, making fun nature art and visit with CNC’s wildlife up close!
To pre-register, contact our scheduling office at scheduling@chattnaturecenter.org or (770) 992-2055 ext. 237.

Bard OWL North Fulton Drama Club

WHEN: January 14^th at 2:00PM

All Ages
Did the Bard ever write about Barred Owls? Join members of North Fulton Drama Club for a hilarious and exciting romp through some of your favorite scenes from Shakespeare. Discover the animals of Shakespeare’s plays and do a little acting of your own during this interactive performance!

Night Hike

WHEN: January 14^th  from 7:00PM – 9:00PM

$10 General Public, $7 Members
All Ages
Nothing helps get you out of the winter blues then a crisp hike outside underneath a clear sky filled with stars!  Winter is a wonderful time to explore the sky above.  Join a naturalist on a night hike, check out the stars above, visit with a CNC animal and finish off the night with a warm campfire and marshmallows!

CNC Service Day

WHEN: January 16^th from 1:00PM – 3:00PM

Ages 5 – Adult
Pre-Registration Required.
Come help CNC clear trails, pull privet, mulch trails, and other projects that are needed around the grounds.  The registration deadline to volunteer for this event is Monday, January 9, 2011.  Contact r.gilbert@chattnaturecenter.org or 770-992-2055 ext. 236.

Home School Science Monday

WHEN: January 23^rd from 12:30PM – 3:00PM

All Ages
Learn over lunch about animals in children’s literature. Afterwards, head to the Nature Exchange for trading, project help and to solve the science experiment of the month!

All About Nature Social Club

WHEN: January 26^th from 7:00PM – 9:00PM

Ages 16 – Adult
$10 General Public, $5 CNC Members
Free for CNC Volunteers and Master Naturalist Graduates
Join our monthly Dine and Discover potluck!  Spend your evening socializing with like-minded folks and learning from Mark Warren, founder of Medicine Bow in Dahlonega, A Primitive School of Earthlore in the North Georgia Mountains.  Mark Warren is a lifelong student of nature and primitive lore.  Mark has also written two books, his third is scheduled to be released spring 2012 called Two Winters in a Tipi.  Visit our website for details www.chattnaturecenter.org/All-About-Nature-Social -Club.html.

Brownie Overnight

WHEN: January 28^th 7:00pm – January 29^th

$35 per scout; $25 per adult
Pre-registration Required
Brownie Scouts will earn their Space Explorer Try-It (or comparable new badge)while discovering the CNC after dark!
To register, contact the Scout Coordinator at 770-992-2055 x249 or scouts@chattnaturecenter.org

Mammal Study Merit Badge

WHEN: January 29^th from 12:00PM – 4:30PM

$25 per scout
Pre-registration Required
Boy Scouts will learn all about mammals in this hands-on workshop.  Learn about the biofacts we use for programs and see one of our rehabilitated mammals up close. Pre-registration is required and payment is due at the time of registration.  Scholarships may be available – contact us for details.
To pre-register, contact our scheduling office at scheduling@chattnaturecenter.org or (770) 992-2055 ext. 237.

See some of the world’s most popular Monster Jam® Monster Trucks and meet their drivers for FREE all in preparation for the Jan. 14 Advance Auto Parts Monster Jam show at the Georgia Dome

The Chattahoochee Nature Center wants to reward your children for reading. The Reading Rewards program encourages reading for pleasure by turning each minute read into points that can be used in the Nature Exchange. Points that can earn cool shells, real deer antlers, ancient fossils and more.

Nature discoveries can be made in the pages of a great book. From adventure stories set in far off lands to factual books about any creature under the sun, children can find whole worlds of nature without leaving their favorite chair. Many scientists, artists, teachers, explorers and more have found their way to their careers after being inspired by reading about nature.

Getting started is simple. Download a Reading Rewards Reading log here and start reading. Readers receive one point for every minute they read for fun and 10 extra points each time you read about a nature topic. You can read books, magazines and even newspapers. We are so excited about what you read, we might even ask a question or two so that you can earn even more points! Just be sure that your student is reading for pleasure- homework and class assignments do not count. Then bring your reading log to the Nature Exchange at the Chattahoochee Nature Center and trade it in. It’s that simple.

The Nature Exchange is included with general admission to the Chattahoochee Nature Center. To learn more about the Nature Exchange, visit chattnaturecenter.org/nature-exchange.html.

See you soon!

-Rachel Barton

“Curator of Exhibits”, Chattahoochee Nature Center