We're having a conversation with Chattahoochee Nature Center's Senior Director of Learning & Engagement to talk all things Canoemobile. What will be the final stop on the east coast, Canoemobile will connect people with the Chattahoochee River in more ways than one.
Visit Roswell: What’s the background of the Canoemobile program?
Alicia: Chattahoochee Nature Center has partnered with Wilderness Inquiry’s Canoemobile [https://wildernessinquiry.org/programs/canoemobile/] for 10 years—celebrating a decade of partnership this year! Canoemobile travels the country bringing people in major cities to their local waterways, and Chattahoochee Nature Center serves as its Atlanta-area destination, connecting people of all backgrounds and abilities with the Chattahoochee River. Often, communities are disconnected from the rivers and waterways that sustain them. Canoemobile helps change that by giving people an opportunity to experience their local river firsthand while learning about watersheds, the environment, and the ways our waterways connect us to one another. For two weeks each fall, Chattahoochee Nature Center hosts local schools and community organizations for this unique experience. And this year, we’re excited to feature a new Community Day that is free and open to the public!
Visit Roswell: Why have its organizers chosen to have its final stop be in Roswell? Where else will it have been?
Alicia: Roswell is the Atlanta-area destination for Canoemobile and its southernmost stop on the East Coast route. This year’s journey will travel through Boston, New York, Newark, Washington, D.C., and Baltimore before arriving in Roswell and the Chattahoochee River. Based in St. Paul, Minnesota, Wilderness Inquiry operates Canoemobile programs across the country, traveling to communities in 32 states. We’re proud that Roswell is part of this national effort to connect people with their local waterway, and that the Chattahoochee is the river that welcomes Canoemobile to the Atlanta region.
Visit Roswell: What’s different about this program than other river education programs?
Alicia: You’ve probably never seen a vessel quite like the 10-person Voyager canoes that are at the heart of Canoemobile. Imagine paddling down the Chattahoochee River with nine other people in one canoe!
But the canoe itself is only part of what makes the experience special. Inclusivity is at the core of the program. The experience is highly team-oriented and community-focused, bringing people of different ages, backgrounds, identities, and abilities together through an outdoor adventure. It creates an opportunity for people to experience the benefits of time in nature while building connection with the river, with one another, and with themselves.
For our school groups, a sixth-grade teacher captured the impact beautifully: “Thank you for giving our students an opportunity to see this very important watershed. So many of our students do not know where the source of their food comes from, let alone their water. For many, this was the first time they have ever seen, experienced, or interacted with the Chattahoochee River. How can you care about something you’ve never seen or experienced?”
The experience gives students a deeper appreciation for the river, what it provides, and what it means to them, and opens the door to more inquiry-based learning. As the teacher put it, “we have inspired the next generation of future leaders, activists, and conservationists.”
Visit Roswell: Who is the perfect audience for the Canoemobile program?
Alicia: That’s one of the things we love most about Canoemobile: the perfect audience is just about everyone! Students, families, community groups, first-time paddlers, and experienced outdoor enthusiasts can all find something meaningful in the experience. For some participants, it may be their first time on the Chattahoochee River. For others, it may be a chance to try something new, stretch outside their comfort zone, or experience a familiar place in a completely different way. At its heart, Canoemobile is about connection -connecting people with the river, with nature, and with one another. It’s an accessible, memorable outdoor experience that builds confidence, encourages curiosity, and reminds us that the Chattahoochee is a resource we all share.
Visit Roswell: Can you tell us more about the Community Day on November 7th?
Alicia: New this year, Chattahoochee Nature Center is inviting the community to experience the Chattahoochee River through Canoemobile! On Saturday November 7, visitors can enjoy CNC’s 127-acre campus, connect with local river-based partners, and experience an introductory paddle on the Chattahoochee aboard a 10-person Voyager canoe with the Wilderness Inquiry guide team. Thanks to generous support from Fulton County Arts & Culture [https://www.fultonarts.org/], Community Day is free and open to the public. Advance registration is required -reserve your spot here [https://chattnaturecenter.org/events/wilderness-inquiry-canoemobile/?occurrence=2026-11-07].
Visit Roswell: How does supporting programs like this one benefit the Chattahoochee Nature Center?
Alicia: Chattahoochee Nature Center’s mission is to inspire lifelong connections with nature through the Chattahoochee River. Canoemobile brings that mission to life in a particularly powerful way. Chattahoochee Nature Center is where many people have their first meaningful encounter with nature, whether it is through a school field trip, a family visit, a special event, or an experience like Canoemobile. Getting people onto the river creates a direct and personal connection to the waterway that sustains our community.
We believe that when people experience nature firsthand, they are more likely to value it, care for it, and become stewards of it. Programs like Canoemobile also remind us that the health of our communities and the health of our environment are deeply connected. By creating shared experiences on the Chattahoochee, we’re helping build stronger connections between people and the place we all call home.
Visit Roswell: Anything else you’d like to add?
Alicia: It’s not too late to get involved with Chattahoochee Nature Center and Canoemobile! We have opportunities for both sponsorship and community engagement, and we’d love to connect with organizations interested in being part of this unique celebration of the Chattahoochee River. For more information, please contact programs@chattnaturecenter.org