Continuing Education Opportunities

Dodge Nature Preschool provides a premiere quality early childhood environment that meets children’s developmental needs while initiating them into a lifelong, meaningful relationship with the natural world.

We offer several options for professional development and learning, giving educators an opportunity to advance their skills and knowledge of nature-based education.

Learning Conferences

No conferences scheduled at this time.

Off Site Presentations

Our professional staff offers presentations for other educators. Presentations are designed to meet the needs of your staff, and are based on Dodge Nature Preschool practices and concepts.

Available topics:

Exploring the Seasons with Young Children: Lessons from a Nature Based Preschool
Embracing Rough & Tumble Play
Sticks & Stones

Cost is $150 per presentation plus mileage over 20 miles. Presentations can also be customized. Please call 651.455.4555 for additional topics and pricing.

Visiting Experiences

Spend one to five days at Dodge Nature Center observing preschool teachers and naturalists. Walk the trails, experience a working farm, participate in gardening, and more. Customize your experience to your educational preferences.

Stay at Dodge Nature Center's Lilly Cabin as a part of your experience. The Lilly Cabin is a one bedroom/one bathroom retreat located on a secluded wooded site on Dodge's Lilly property. The cozy cabin includes a kitchen, screen porch, indoor and outdoor fireplaces, grill and outdoor screened gazebo.

Visiting experiences are designed for individuals or small groups. Please call 651.455.4555 for more information and pricing.

Opportunities for Students

Dodge Nature Preschool welcomes preservice teachers and educators. We partner with local colleges to place student teachers.

We also offer 10-week internships for students in a variety of fields. An internship at Dodge Nature Preschool offers an opportunity to experience our nature-based approach to the education of young children. Interns will work directly with our staff and students.

Preschool interns are encouraged to bring their own interests, skills, and talents into the classroom. Interns will also be asked to work on special projects over the course of their internship including documenting children’s work through photographs and videotaping.

Resource Manual for Educators

Four Seasons at a Nature Based Preschool, a resource guide for teachers of young children, is available for purchase. This resource guide offers activity suggestions that are likely to be of interest to young children. It focuses on seasonal changes in the Upper Midwest, areas of study that have been of interest to children at our preschool, and specific resources available at Dodge Nature Center.

Click here to download an order form.

Sample pages:

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