Thomas Irvine Dodge Foundation

PROVIDING EXCEPTIONAL EXPERIENCES IN NATURE THROUGH ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION.

DODGE NATURE PRESCHOOL HAS BEEN A NATIONALLY RECOGNIZED LEADER AND VISIONARY IN EARLY CHILDHOOD ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATION SINCE ITS FOUNDING IN 2000. DURING THE ACADEMIC YEAR AND AT SUMMER CAMP, MORE THAN 360 STUDENTS, AGE 3 TO 5, LEARN AND GROW THROUGH NATURE-BASED CURRICULUM THAT IS DRIVEN BY THEIR INTERESTS AND FRAMED BY THE NATURAL CYCLE OF THE SEASONS. DODGE CONTINUES TO INNOVATE FACILITIES AND CURRICULUM TO ENGAGE PRESCHOOLERS IN AN ALL-OUTDOOR EDUCATIONAL MODEL THAT PREPARES THEM AS THE NEXT GENERATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL STEWARDS. RESEARCH STUDIES SHOW THAT TIME SPENT OUTSIDE IS ESSENTIAL TO CHILDREN'S HEALTHY DEVELOPMENT AND THE FORMATION OF ENVIRONMENTAL ETHICS. CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.DODGE NATURE PRESCHOOL TEACHERS ATTENDED AND PRESENTED AT THE NATURAL START ALLIANCE CONFERENCE, THE LARGEST NATIONAL GATHERING OF NATURE-BASED EARLY EDUCATION PROFESSIONALS. AS THEY HAVE SINCE 2011, DODGE NATURE PRESCHOOL HOSTED AND LED A LEARNING CONFERENCE IN 2022 THAT DREW EARLY CHILDHOOD EDUCATORS NATIONALLY AND PROVIDED PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT HOURS. 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. IT RECEIVED THE HIGHEST POSSIBLE RATING OF 4 STARS FROM PARENT AWARE, THE STATE OF MINNESOTA'S QUALITY RATING SYSTEM.

DODGE NATURE CENTER PROVIDES MORE THAN 60,000 NATURE EXPERIENCES ANNUALLY TO PEOPLE OF ALL AGES AND BACKGROUNDS. ITS HIGH-QUALITY ENVIRONMENTAL EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMS INCLUDE SCHOOL FIELD TRIPS THAT ALIGN WITH STATE ACADEMIC STANDARDS IN SCIENCE AND SOCIAL STUDIES, AFFORDABLE SCHOOL-BREAK CAMPS AND AFTER-SCHOOL PROGRAMS FOR K-8 STUDENTS, FREE OR LOW-COST COMMUNITY EVENTS, AND ADULT ENRICHMENT. THESE EDUCATIONAL EXPERIENCES IN THE OUTDOORSAND OCCASIONALLY ONLINE VIA VIDEOS AND VIDEO CONFERENCINGPROVIDE SOCIAL, PHYSICAL, ACADEMIC, COGNITIVE AND HEALTH BENEFITS TO PARTICIPANTS.CONTINUED ON SCHEDULE O.BY GAINING SKILLS AND UNDERSTANDING OF THE NATURAL WORLD, PARTICIPANTS ARE INSPIRED TO CONSERVE LAND, WATER AND WILDLIFE. DODGE'S RESIDENT EDUCATIONAL ANIMALSLIKE RAPTORS, REPTILES AND AMPHIBIANSCONTRIBUTE TO THESE ENGAGING NATURE PROGRAMS AND MAKE REAL THE AIMS OF WILDLIFE CONSERVATION. AT FOUR TWIN CITIES-AREA PROPERTIES, DODGE OFFERS PEOPLE ACCESS TO 460+ ACRES OF RESTORED AND NATIVE LANDSCAPES, INCLUDING WOODS, PRAIRIE, WETLANDS AND OAK SAVANNA. THESE GREENSPACES ARE HABITAT FOR WILDLIFE INCLUDING WHITE-TAILED DEER, COYOTE, RACCOONS, MUSKRATS, TURTLES AND MORE THAN A HUNDRED SPECIES OF WILD BIRDS. TRAILS ARE OPEN DAILY TO THE PUBLIC AT NO CHARGE. OPENED IN 2022, DODGE'S SHEPARD FARM IN COTTAGE GROVE WELCOMES GUESTS TO WALK ITS ONE-MILE TRAIL THROUGH 100+ YEAR OLD FORESTS, VISIT FARM FIELDS AND PRAIRIE FROM SUNRISE TO SUNSET AT NO COST YEAR-ROUND. ADDITIONALLY, WE PILOTED NEW PROGRAMMING AT SHEPARD INCLUDING SUMMER CAMPS, FAMILY PROGRAMS, GUIDED TRAIL HIKES AND A COMMUNITY HALLOWEEN EVENT. DODGE OFFERED THESE SERVICES WITH THE SUPPORT OF 23 BOARD MEMBERS, 33 FULL-TIME STAFF, 13 PART-TIME STAFF, AND 335 VOLUNTEERS.

TO CONVEY THE SIGNIFICANCE OF AGRICULTURE IN THE ENVIRONMENT AND PEOPLE'S LIVES, DODGE NATURE CENTER MAINTAINS TWO WORKING FARMS IN WEST ST. PAUL AND COTTAGE GROVE. THE FARMS OFFER STUDENTS OF ALL AGES LEARNING EXPERIENCES ABOUT FOOD SCIENCE, TRADITIONAL AGRICULTURE, SOIL SCIENCE, BEEKEEPING, LIVESTOCK, SUSTAINABILITY AND RENEWABLE ENERGY. HERITAGE BREEDS OF CHICKENS, COWS, HORSES, PIGS, SHEEP AND GOATS ARE VIEWABLE IN THE PASTURES EVERY DAY; FARM TOURS TAKE VISITORS INTO THE BARN AND CHICKEN COOPS. COMMUNITY MEMBERS CAN RENT GARDEN PLOTS, LEARN ORGANIC GARDENING PRACTICES FROM OUR FARMERS, AND GROW PRODUCE IN RICH SOIL. THE FARMS OFFER DODGE'S TWO MOST POPULAR PUBLIC PROGRAMS: MAPLE SYRUPING, AND THE SPRINGTIME BIRTH OF FARM ANIMALS LIKE LAMBS, GOAT KIDS, PIGLETS AND CHICKS.

VOLUNTEERS ARE AN INTEGRAL PART OF DODGE NATURE CENTER AND PRESCHOOL. DODGE IS ABLE TO ENHANCE THE LIVES OF MORE THAN 46,580 SCHOOL CHILDREN WHO VISIT THE CENTER EACH YEAR WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF VOLUNTEERS. VOLUNTEERS ARE CRITICAL TO THE SUCCESS OF OUR PROGRAMS AND SERVE IN A VARIETY OF CAPACITIES INCLUDING TEACHER NATURALISTS, CLASS ASSISTANTS, LAND RESTORATIONISTS, GROUNDS SUPPORT, EVENT HELPERS, OFFICE ASSISTANTS, TRAIL GREETERS AND GUIDES, CAMP VOLUNTEERS, PRESCHOOL ASSISTANTS, AND ANIMAL CARE AND GARDEN SUPPORT. VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED APPROXIMATELY 5426 HOURS OF SERVICE DURING THE YEAR ENDED AUGUST 31, 2022.