For 25 years, the backyard behind Dodge Nature Preschool has been an essential part of the early childhood learning experience. With room to run, dirt to dig in, and logs to climb, imaginations bloom and naturally curious minds are nurtured. Over the decades, the backyard has evolved alongside the needs of students, staff, and the community.
“The goals of developing the Preschool in the beginning were about fostering community,” says Sheila Williams-Ridge, former Preschool staff and current Dodge Board Member.
Olivia Irvine Dodge, the founder of Dodge Nature Center, and Sheila Williams-Ridge at the opening day of Dodge Nature Preschool in September 2000.
Sheila started at the Preschool in 2000, before there was even a building, and alongside founding Preschool Director Julie Powers she was instrumental in the school’s strong start. Sheila and Julie hoped Preschool families would feel connected to the space—physically and emotionally—and return for programs, school-aged camps, and more.
Students in the Preschool backyard in June 2003.
In 2020, life at the Preschool shifted in response to emerging community health needs. To keep classes running and serve the volume of students enrolled, teachers shifted to an all-outside model. Snack time became outdoor picnics, students circled up for stories around campfires, and the backyard space shifted into three distinct outdoor classrooms. It became apparent then the space was in dire need of upgrades.
“It wasn’t the quality experience we wanted to offer,” says Joey Schoen, Assistant Preschool Director. “Anything needs to be refreshed 20 years in. That’s just the nature of working outside.”
Preschool students running along a trail at Dodge Nature Center. Photo credit: Kerem Yücel | MPR News
The Preschool was intentionally built with easy access to nature center grounds—wetlands and woods are mere steps outside the gate. This also means the backyard sits on land that had slowly eroded over the years. It needed major hardscape work.
Just as teachers shape curriculum to engage students’ curiosities, their ideas helped shape the redesign of the outdoor classrooms. Teachers gave students blank maps and asked them to draw what they wanted. “Some of them had fantastical ideas like a pool and a waterslide, but that still told us they value water play,” says Joey.
The new outdoor classrooms under construction in Summer 2024.
Members of the redesign task force continued to plan and enhance the three separate outdoor classrooms. While it started as a necessity during the pandemic, teachers found the dedicated spaces better served both students and staff.
Community at the Preschool may look different now, but it still feels vibrant after 25 years.
“While the spaces are separate, there’s so much more community,” says Joey. “We’re still very connected. We think of each other as neighbors.”
Preschool students sitting together with Poppy, the Preschool chicken.
This article was originally published in the Nourish Your Need for Nature Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2025.