Close Encounters with Butterflies!

Fun fact:
Butterflies taste with their feet.

Children get up close and personal with hundreds of native butterflies surrounded by colorful nectar plants in this special outdoor exhibit.
After admission, be sure to stop by the Nature Exchange, downstairs from the ticket counter, and pick up a “Butterfly Bingo” scavenger hunt sheet. Kids can earn a prize for identifying different types of butterflies. (Shhhh …this could be considered sneaking a little science into summer vacation!)

My two daughters, Georgia Anne, 12, and Sarah, 9, both did the scavenger hunt for butterflies and found more than half of the 24 types on their  “Bingo” cards. Searching for particular butterflies kept them engaged and busy for over an hour.

The exhibit itself is a garden full of colorful flowers surrounded on all sides by a clear mesh tent. There are mesh “doors” with velcro to make sure butterflies stay safely inside. At the door of the tent, you’ll get a nectar stick and instructions on how to handle these fragile insects.

Each person must be checked before exiting to make sure no hitchhikers leave with them. One moment of excitement occurred when a butterfly escaped the enclosure and the naturalist on duty grabbed a net and gently caught and guided the adventurous butterfly back into the exhibit.

If you want a butterfly to light on you, all you have to do is stand still near a patch of colorful flowers and hold out a nectar stick. Sometimes three or four butterflies will light on a stick.

Fun fact:
When a butterfly lands on you, it’s called “lighting.”

“One landed on my head!” my older daughter exclaimed. “Take a picture, mom!” Photo opportunities abound, so be sure to bring your camera. If you are interested in creating your own butterfly garden at home, you can purchase plants at the exhibit. The naturalists who work in the Nature Center are friendly and happy to answer questions about everything.

In addition to the Butterfly Encounter, the Chattahoochee Nature Center features numerous trails to explore along the Chattahoochee River, an outdoor aviary with gorgeous birds of prey and indoor nature displays that allow children to touch, feel and engage all their senses.

The Nature Exchange was a particularly interesting section. Kids can earn points by participating in activities such as the scavenger hunt and by bringing in nature items to be put on display in the Exchange. For example, my girls received 50 points for their filled out Bingo cards, and 25 points for filling out a survey. They were able to “purchase” some sea shells with their 75 points.

My daughters soon may be earning more points: We have a bearded dragon at home and she is currently shedding her skin, as she does twice a year. The naturalist said she would give my girls 100-200 points for the shed skin, to be displayed in the nature exchange for others to see and experience. My daughters want to return with the shed skin and see if they can earn enough points to purchase a carefully preserved butterfly. I think the points system encourages kids to observe, find and share nature.

Know before you go: The busiest times for the exhibit are 11:30 a.m.-2 p.m. weekdays because camp groups go through the exhibit then.
– Becky Cooper