As the Chattahoochee Nature Center (CNC) nears its 50th anniversary, its story is one of tremendous impact, built over decades through community support, thoughtful leadership and a mission that has never wavered: connecting people with nature.
For long-time supporter, Dotty Etris, that mission was clear from the start. After volunteering in the earliest days of the center and encouraging others to get involved, she joined the staff in 1977, a mere six months after CNC first opened its doors. What was meant to be a short-term role quickly evolved into a 14-year career, where she served as the first Director of Operations, helping guide everything from fundraising to public relations.
In those early years, CNC was introducing a concept that was unfamiliar to many in the region. “We had to really educate the public about what a nature center was,” Etris recalls. “What ultimately drew people in was something simple but powerful—a welcoming, family-friendly place where learning about the environment felt approachable, engaging and even fun!”
That same spirit of creativity and education laid the groundwork for what would become one of CNC’s most beloved traditions: the Native Plant Sale. Its origins trace back to the mid-1980s. Thanks to the efforts of dedicated supporters, an early shade garden filled with trilliums, bluebells and ferns took root on the property and began to flourish. By 1987, Henning von Schmeling, CNC’s retired horticulture director, worked alongside fellow CNC employee, Charlotte Reese, to launch the first plant sale, working with a local Alpharetta nursery to prepare the plants for the community.
The initiative continued to grow alongside CNC itself. By the early 1990s, the sale expanded to include fall offerings of shrubs and trees, creating even more opportunities for visitors to bring a piece of the center home, while sustainably supporting Georgia’s ecosystem.
Today, that sense of connection remains central to CNC’s success. According to Natasha Rice, president and CEO of CNC, “Our ability to connect over the past 50 years comes down to a strong foundation: a mission that has endured for decades, supported by a committed community, dedicated staff and deeply engaged volunteers and board members.”
Over the past 50 years, CNC has grown into a leader in environmental education and conservation, and has developed one of the region’s premier wildlife clinics.
chattnaturecenter.org.