Farm Festival 10 AM - 2 PM
Kick-off our 40th year at our annual Farm Fest celebration. Receive special souvenir, purchase a 40 year t-shirt, stock up on plants for your garden, play games, eat food, dunk a DNC staff person, enjoy entertainment, and even put your name in to win two nights at our Lily Cabin!

Scavenger Hunt on the Lily
Go to our website and get a list of items, then go to the Dodge Lily property and find out how many you can spot! Mail in your findings by May 28, and receive a prize if you find them all!

"Barn" Dance and BBQ
For current and Alumni Preschool parents and children.

O.W.L.S Spring into Summer Hike 11 am - 1 pm
Older, Wiser, Livelier, Seniors are invited to come hike the trails
and see what’s blooming, buzzing, birthing and chirping. Cost
is free, optional lunch available for a fee.

Golf Tournament 11 am
Come support Dodge and environmental education by golfing at Willinger's, in Northfield. Lunch and dinner provided, as well as great prizes.

Music Concert in the Aphitheater 7 pm
"The Eddies on the River", Imagine yourself listening to five fabulous musicians as you gaze across a prairie on a balmy midsummer eve. Come enjoy - we'll pass the hat to cover costs. Refreshments also for sale.

Morning on the Farm 8 am
Pull on your work boots an bring an appetite as you spend a morning at the nature center's farm helping to feed, tend to new arrivals and mucking stalls. Includes a hearty breakfast of pancakes with homemade syrup, hand churned butter, eggs and bacon.

Growing Butterflies 1 pm
Learn how to attract Monarchs. We'll supply plants, seeds and advice. For youth age 12 up through adults.

Summer Camps Begin
Preschool through grade 8

Bald Eagle Day
We have one! Bring a friend and come look at it in our Voight Raptor Mews, along with our Barred and Screech owls!

Invasive Plant Hike 1pm
Walk the trails at DNC, identify our most invasive species and learn how to control them.

Bugs and Slugs
Friday summer camp for students entering grades 1-2

Creatures of the Night 8:30 pm
Adults and kids age 5 and up will enjoy learning about fireflies, bats, owls and nighthawks.

Photography Contest 6:30 pm
Dodge Nature Center is holding their annual photo contest during the month of July. Submit an 8x10 glossy photo to the main office. Click here for more information on the contest.

Our Changing Climate and the Science Behind It 6:30 pm
Come see a presentation on the scientific findings that have lead us to our current understanding of global warming. Donations welcome.

Preschool Alumni play date 10 am - Noon
For Preschool Alumni parents and children.

The Wiley Coyote 7 pm
Learn more about the urban predator: myths and legends. Includes a hike. Adult focused.

Farm Tour 10 am
For all ages. Learn about farms and farm animals as you tour the pastures, barn and hayloft.

Blood Sucking Beasts 1pm
Mosquitoes, leeches and ticks - oh my! Learn more about these blood-sucking beasties.

Flower Gardens at Dodge 1pm
Come and learn about the gardens at Dodge.

Starlight, Starbright 8:30 pm
Bring the whole family out to Dodge to do some night stargazing, with a U of M sponsored class from their "Universe In the Park" program.

Owl program at Barnes & Noble 11 pm
Visit the Barnes & Noble in Eagan to meet and learn about a DNC owl prior to the release of the seventh Rowling book, ""Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows" at midnight!

Camp Out
Overnight Camp for students entering grades 6-8

Farm Tour 10 am
For all ages. Learn about farms and farm animals as you tour the pastures, barn and hayloft.

A Prairie Home
Half day summer camp for students entering grades 3-5

Woolly Bears - Shoe Fly! 10 am
Come experience one of our most popular programs, Woolly Bears, for parents and their preschoolers. Sign up for either Wednesday, Thursday or Saturday and learn all about flies.

Preschool Alumni play date 10 am - Noon
For Preschool Alumni parents and children.

Busy as a Bee 1 pm
For ages 5 on up. Learn all about bees as you follow a honeybee from hive to flower.

Nature's Yucky
Friday summer camp for students entering grades 1-2

Monarch Butterflies
In honor of Grandparent’s Day, bring yours to the Monarch Butterflies program at Dodge. Grandparents get in for free!

40th Anniversary Poster Contest
Children ages 3-12 can enter our 40th Anniversary Dodge poster contest. Come to the nature center for inspiration and sketch, color or paint a picture that says Dodge to you! Posters submitted by September 24 will be eligible for prizes and all entries will be displayed in the Education building for the Grandparents open house on September 30.

Grandparent's Open House
All grandparents are welcome to come see the preschool and tour the nature center grounds at an open house.

Orchard Tour
Meet at the Rookery to tour our orchard and learn all about apples.

Fall Break Camp Begins
Send your children to Dodge for Fall Break Camp during MEA week.

Pumpkin Carving Contest
Bring your carved pumpkin to the Farm Education Building from 8am on Wednesday October 24 - 4pm Friday October 26 for prizes and display at our Halloween Extravaganza!

Halloween Extravaganza 6 - 9 pm
Back for the first time in 4 years! Enjoy bonfire, a scary trail, candy, a children's trail, candy, and more.

Fall Hayride and Bonfire
Come to an old fashioned hay ride and bonfire! Great for the whole family.

Craft Fair
Everyone is invited to our Preschool for a craft fair. Get some of your holiday shopping done at Dodge!

Paper Making
Come learn all about the art of paper making.