Sparking children’s imaginations since 2004, the Wright Environmental Education Center has hosted nearly 2,000 people a year. Most of these are elementary school students, including private and home school groups, and scout troops; the public can visit only on specified dates. The Natural Resource Management Unit of the Cobb County Parks Department leads programs in 14 schools. They conduct three in-class visits, as well as field trips to a nature center. The Wright Center recently hosted a fall field trip for third graders from Murdock Elementary School. The highlight of the trip was a hike through the woods led by one of the Center’s naturalists, followed by a picnic on the park grounds.
Jenna Kobin looks for wildlife in the trees and sky above.
In addition to teaching children about the environment, the Wright Center also features over 19 wooded acres with a variety of native plants. The Master Gardener Volunteers of Cobb County (MGVOCC) have been working there for two years, and host “open garden days” for the public.
This unique urban forest began as pasture land the Elwood Wright family bought in the mid 1940’s. Jean Wright slowly transformed their family’s property by rescuing native plants from construction sites and replanting them. She created a haven for endangered plant species as well as wildlife. This protected property became a nature center after Cobb County bought it in 2003. They renovated the Wright house into classrooms which were soon filled with a new generation of children learning about our environment.
The Wright Environmental Education Center is located at 2661 Johnson Ferry Road in Marietta/East Cobb. Parking is on Post Oak Tritt Road next to Chestnut Ridge Christian Church. This property is opened only for scheduled programs and is not opened for daily public access. For more information, contact John Purcell at 770-528-8825
