THOMAS IRVINE DODGE NATURE CENTER

DODGE NATURE PRESCHOOL, ESTABLISHED IN 2000, IS A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER IN EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION. RESEARCH CONSISTENTLY SHOWS THAT TIME IN NATURE IS A VITAL PART OF EARLY CHILDHOOD DEVELOPMENT. DODGE'S PROGRAM SERVED 326 CHILDREN AGES 3 TO 5 THROUGH LAST SCHOOL YEAR AND SUMMER SESSION. OUR INNOVATIVE NATURE-BASED CURRICULUM FOSTERS COGNITIVE, SOCIAL, AND PHYSICAL DEVELOPMENT BY INTEGRATING OUTDOOR EXPLORATION AND SEASONAL LEARNING, GUIDED BY STUDENTS' INTERESTS AND BASED IN BEST PRACTICES. EMPHASIZING AN ALL-OUTDOOR EDUCATION MODEL, DODGE CULTIVATES CURIOSITY, RESILIENCE, AND ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDSHIP IN YOUNG LEARNERS.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULED O:) (CONTINUED FROM PART III)DODGE NATURE PRESCHOOL INVESTED IN THE RECONSTRUCTION OF ITS OUTDOOR LEARNING AREA IN 2024 TO IMPROVE SAFETY, ACCESSIBILITY, AND EDUCATIONAL VALUE. THIS TRANSFORMATION CREATED THREE NEW OUTDOOR CLASSROOMS, OFFERING ENHANCED SPACES FOR CHILDREN AND STAFF TO EXPLORE, LEARN, AND CONNECT WITH NATURE. THESE IMPROVEMENTS SUPPORT THE PRESCHOOL'S GOAL OF PROVIDING HIGH-QUALITY, NATURE-BASED CHILDHOOD EDUCATION FOR STUDENTS AND THEIR FAMILIES.DODGE NATURE PRESCHOOL IS LICENSED BY THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF HUMAN SERVICES, ACCREDITED BY THE NATIONAL ASSOCIATION FOR THE EDUCATION OF YOUNG CHILDREN (NAEYC), AND CERTIFIED AS A NATURE EXPLORE CLASSROOM. THE SCHOOL HAS EARNED THE HIGHEST RATING OF 4 STARS FROM PARENT AWARE, MINNESOTA'S QUALITY RATING SYSTEM. OUR STAFF REGULARLY PRESENT AT NATIONAL CONFERENCES, INCLUDING THE NATURAL START ALLIANCE, AND CONTINUE TO LEAD PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT FOR EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS THROUGH OUR ANNUAL LEARNING CONFERENCE, WHICH HAS BEEN A HUB FOR PROFESSIONAL GROWTH SINCE 2011.

DODGE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES MORE THAN 65,000 ACCESSIBLE AND AFFORDABLE NATURE EXPERIENCES ANNUALLY, WELCOMING INDIVIDUALS OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. OUR HIGH-QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION PROGRAMS INCLUDE STANDARDS-BASED SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, AFFORDABLE SCHOOL BREAK CAMPS, AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR K-8 STUDENTS. ADDITIONAL OFFERINGS INCLUDE A NATURALIST FELLOWSHIP PROGRAM, ENGAGING FAMILY ACTIVITIES, ADULT ENRICHMENT OPPORTUNITIES, AND FREE OR LOW-COST COMMUNITY EVENTS. TO ENSURE BROAD PARTICIPATION, DODGE OFFERS LOW-COST PROGRAMS AND SCHOLARSHIPS TO SUPPORT SCHOOLS AND FAMILIES IN FINANCIAL NEED.(CONTINUED ON SCHEDULED O:)(CONTINUED FROM PART III)DODGE'S SHEPARD FARM SITE IN COTTAGE GROVE EXPERIENCED INCREASED PARTICIPATION FROM SOUTHEAST METRO SCHOOLS AND COMMUNITY MEMBERS THIS YEAR. THE SITE OFFERS SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS, SEASONAL CAMPS, AND HANDS-ON PROGRAMS FOR FAMILIES AND ADULTS. FARM-TO-TABLE, BLACKSMITHING, AND BACKYARD CHICKEN AND BEEKEEPING CLASSES DISTINGUISH DODGE AS A COMMUNITY RESOURCE FOR LIFELONG ENVIRONMENTAL LEARNING. LOCAL SCHOOLS HAVE ALSO REQUESTED PROGRAMS SUCH AS GIRLS EXPLORE SCIENCE TO SUPPORT STUDENT ENGAGEMENT AND STRENGTHEN SCIENCE ACHIEVEMENT.IN ADDITION TO EDUCATION PROGRAMS, DODGE PROVIDES FREE PUBLIC ACCESS TO MORE THAN 460 ACRES OF RESTORED AND NATIVE HABITATS, INCLUDING WOODS, PRAIRIES, WETLANDS, AND OAK SAVANNA. THESE NATURAL AREAS OFFER WILDLIFE HABITAT AND PEACEFUL OUTDOOR SPACES OPEN TO EVERYONE IN THE COMMUNITY, WITH TRAILS ACCESSIBLE YEAR-ROUND AT NO COST. CONSERVATION EFFORTS CONTINUE ACROSS DODGE'S FOUR PROPERTIES IN COLLABORATION WITH PARTNERS SUCH AS THE MINNESOTA LAND TRUST, WASHINGTON COUNTY WATERSHED, AND THE MINNESOTA DEPARTMENT OF NATURAL RESOURCES. DODGE OFFERED THESE SERVICES WITH THE SUPPORT OF 26 BOARD MEMBERS, 34 FULL-TIME STAFF, 13 PART-TIME STAFF, AND 270 VOLUNTEERS.