When Hilary Chart started exploring childcare for her son Rohan and first toured Dodge Nature Preschool in 2017, she knew it was the right place for him.
“It seemed so magical,” says Hilary. “Being outside all the time, there were so many different opportunities.”
Initially, the preschool wasn’t feasible for their family. They would have a significant commute and Hilary and her husband Rasika both worked full time. But Hilary continued to think wistfully of Dodge. When the pandemic hit, they both realized Dodge was where Rohan needed to be.
Rohan climbing a tree at Dodge Nature Center.
“The preschool was committing to this totally outdoor model,” Hilary says. “We needed a place where he could keep learning and mixing safely with other kids. We were like, ‘We're going to make this work.’”
Hilary watched Rohan thrive at the preschool and didn’t hesitate to enroll her daughter Solveij when she became old enough to attend. As both their children spent every day outside learning, exploring, and growing, Hilary and Rasika began to see the outdoors from a different perspective.
Solveij playing in Dodge Nature Preschool's backyard.
“Our commitment to have Ro and Sosi outside every day opened the outdoors up to our whole family,” Hilary notes. “Our entire relationship with the natural world shifted. We started to see and appreciate the wildness all around us.”
Instead of traditional playgrounds, the family sought out natural parks and trails. Camping trips filled their summers (and winters). They frequently visited the nature center grounds for family hikes through familiar fields and forests, with tools like magnifying glasses and their curiosity in tow.
The whole family on a camping trip together.
“The preschool has been super important for us as a whole family, and that's not something I anticipated,” Hilary shares. “The kids knew how to be outside, but as adults, we had forgotten. Dodge reminded us.”
This article was originally published in the Nourish Your Need for Nature Newsletter, Spring/Summer 2025.