Shimmery Minerals and Rad Rocks

The Shore that Once Was - Wes Hatch, Camp Coordinator at the Chattahoochee Nature Center
It’s hard to believe that glaciers have a major impact on the Georgia coast, especially when the closest glacier is some 2,000 + miles away! Glaciers are responsible for the rise and fall of the ocean - as glaciers grow, the ocean falls and as the glaciers recede, the ocean rises. Here in Georgia we have evidence of this rising and falling just an hour to the south of Atlanta.

The Fall Line can be found running northeast from Columbus to Augusta and is about 20 miles wide. This line actually represents an ancient shoreline that existed 65.5 million years ago, back when Georgia was located on the equator. Can you imagine only having to drive an hour to get to the Georgia coast! The Atlantic has since receded to its modern day place, due to the increase of glaciers at both poles. This Line is an important divide for plants, animals, and habitats. To the south you can see such animals like the Nine-banded Armadillo or the American Alligator. The habitats differ as well, north of the fall line has clay soils and deciduous hardwood forest including oaks, cherries, and hickories and the south is composed of sandy soils with pine and swamp forests and tidal marshes. Go out and try and find evidence of this ancient shoreline and compare it to your own backyard.

Visit the Chattahoochee Nature Center and see shimmering rocks in the Nature Exchange, along the trails and get crafty a paint rocks to hide around Roswell.

February 19 - 23
Roswell Rocks! At 11 am Daily - Get crafty by creating painted rocks. We are painting rocks to "hide" around Roswell and the surrounding area to spread joy and brighten people's day. Add your rock to city parks and other public areas for others to find.
Enchanted Woodland Trail - Back by popular demand, fairies and gnomes have been busy building whimsical houses along Kingfisher Pond Trail. Slow down as you search for the houses made from tiny natural objects. Bundle up and head out to the trail with us this winter. (daily through the end of February)
Wildlife Feeding Time - Tuesday, Feb. 20 at 4 pm
Creature Feature - Thursday, Feb. 22 and Friday, Feb. 23 at 2 pm
Outdoor Scavenger Hunt - Get outside and search high and low for enchanted clues all about our winter woods. Pick up a scavenger hunt sheet from Nature Exchange before you head outside. The more clues you find, the more Nature Exchange points you can earn. (daily through the end of February)
Shimmering Minerals - When we think of crystals, we often think of ice. This month in Nature Exchange, we will take a closer look at rocks, minerals, and crystals using hand lenses and microscopes. (daily through the end of February)

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 - www.chattnaturecenter.org