Cancellation Policy
Activity fees are nonrefundable. No full or partial refunds will be given, except for camp cancellations with advance notice.
Activities
Experience Nature All Year Long
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List of Events
Forest Bathing
$30
Join Silvae Spiritus Nature & Forest Therapy, certified by the Association of Nature and Forest Therapy Guides and Programs, for a guided forest bathing experience! Forest bathing is a slow-moving, deeply sensory, mindful and “bodyful” walk in nature that has shown to result in measurable physiological, cognitive, and emotional benefits. Much like walking meditation or yoga, these activities can be practiced on one’s own, almost anywhere, and yet the benefits greatly increase with regular practice. Forest bathing is significantly more…
Find out more »Blacksmithing Basics 1 with Coal Forge (8-session Series)
$400
This program is sold out. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. Join blacksmithing instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for an eight-week dive into the basics of blacksmithing at Dodge’s new forge at Shepard Farm! This course is designed to ignite your passion for blacksmithing and introduce you to the seemingly endless ways of shaping iron with fire and hammer. You’ll gain basic knowledge of iron and its characteristics, an understanding of the dynamics of forging using a coal forge,…
Find out more »Elemental Yoga
$80
Join Yoga Therapist/Registered Yoga Teacher Elizabeth Fletcher for yoga outdoors at Dodge! During this five-week, mixed-level series, you'll move with each of the five elements—earth, water, fire, air, and space—to increase vitality and deepen your connection to the natural world. Each 60-minute class incorporates yoga and qi gong movements, breath, and a guided meditation to align the body, mind, and spirit. Adaptations are offered to accommodate a range of students who can comfortably work on the ground. Please bring a…
Find out more »Juneteenth Family Day Celebration
Free
Join West St. Paul’s ROCC (Residents of Color Collective), one of Dodge’s community partners, for a joyous Juneteenth celebration at the nature center! Juneteenth, also known as Emancipation Day, is a holiday commemorating the end of slavery in the United States observed annually on June 19. Free entry! All are welcome and invited to celebrate. Shop from BIPOC-owned businesses and make community connections. Learn something new in nature with Dodge naturalists. Get creative with an arts & crafts activity. Enjoy live music…
Find out more »Farm Fun
$8
Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Dodge’s farm! Tour the barnyard and meet cows, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens.
Find out more »Nature Game Night
Free
This program is cancelled. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. Everyone has a board game they’ve been meaning to play. Whether it’s a lack of time or space, let Dodge Nature Center be the perfect excuse to gather your friends and finally break it out! Enjoy an evening hike and learn about the many animals at Dodge before settling in to play some games. Board games will be provided but feel free to bring your own!
Find out more »Nature Tots: Summer Berry Fun
$25
This program is sold out. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. Join Dodge Nature Preschool teacher Melissa Thompson, M. Ed., for a single session of Nature Tots class! Curiosity will guide you through the Nature Tots program where families will explore the sweet summer berry season and more. This class will include group gathering time, a short walk outside (a quarter to a half mile), a small snack, and an inside closing song. Nature Tots helps adults be comfortable outside with…
Find out more »Incredible Insects
$8
All bugs are insects—but not all insects are bugs! Join us as we discover what makes an insect an insect. Through hands-on exploration, observation, and a bit of digging, learn where insects live and what makes them so incredible. Be ready to run, jump, and get your hands dirty as we search high and low for these tiny creatures of the natural world!
Find out more »Offices Closed – Trails Open
Dodge buildings and offices will be closed for the Fourth of July. Trails are open during daylight hours for you to hike and explore!
Find out more »Locally Grown Theatre Presents: Around the World in 80 Days
Free
Come to Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove to enjoy Around the World in 80 Days, a free show presented by the folks at Locally Grown Theatre! Hold onto your seats for the original amazing race! Join fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant, Passepartout, as they travel across seven continents in an unheard-of 80 days. But his every step is dogged by a detective who thinks he’s a robber on the run. Danger, romance and comic surprises abound in this whirlwind of a show.…
Find out more »Locally Grown Theatre Presents: Around the World in 80 Days
Free
Come to Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove to enjoy Around the World in 80 Days, a free show presented by the folks at Locally Grown Theatre! Hold onto your seats for the original amazing race! Join fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant, Passepartout, as they travel across seven continents in an unheard-of 80 days. But his every step is dogged by a detective who thinks he’s a robber on the run. Danger, romance and comic surprises abound in this whirlwind of a show.…
Find out more »Locally Grown Theatre Presents: Around the World in 80 Days
Free
Come to Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove to enjoy Around the World in 80 Days, a free show presented by the folks at Locally Grown Theatre! Hold onto your seats for the original amazing race! Join fearless adventurer Phileas Fogg and his faithful manservant, Passepartout, as they travel across seven continents in an unheard-of 80 days. But his every step is dogged by a detective who thinks he’s a robber on the run. Danger, romance and comic surprises abound in this whirlwind of a show.…
Find out more »Nature Tots: Summer Farm Fun
$25
Join Dodge Nature Preschool teacher Melissa Thompson, M. Ed., for a single session of Nature Tots class! Curiosity will guide you through the Nature Tots program where families will explore summer fun on the farm and more. This class will include group gathering time, a short walk outside (a quarter to a half mile), a small snack, and an inside closing song. Nature Tots helps adults be comfortable outside with their young child and learn strategies to support their development. …
Find out more »Coal Forge Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Opener (One-day Workshop)
$95
Join blacksmithing instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a one-day blacksmithing workshop at Dodge’s new forge at Shepard Farm. Build your blacksmith skills with a fun and useful project: making a bottler opener! They’re quick to make and can incorporate all basic blacksmithing processes in one compact project. We’ll end class with a celebratory bottle-opening to try out your new tool—that means a beer or soda is included! No experience necessary. All materials and consumables included in class…
Find out more »Universe in the Park
Free
Starry summer skies await you and your family! Join staff from the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota outdoors at Dodge for a closer look at outer space. Your evening starts with a short outdoor presentation and slideshow to introduce you to the solar system and the tools astronomers use to study it. Then, as weather permits, you can view the sky through 8-inch reflecting telescopes until 10 or 11 p.m. What do you wonder about the…
Find out more »Coal Forge Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Opener (One-day Workshop)
$95
Join blacksmithing instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a one-day blacksmithing workshop at Dodge’s new forge at Shepard Farm. Build your blacksmith skills with a fun and useful project: making a bottler opener! They’re quick to make and can incorporate all basic blacksmithing processes in one compact project. We’ll end class with a celebratory bottle-opening to try out your new tool—that means a beer or soda is included! No experience necessary. All materials and consumables included in class…
Find out more »Morning at Shepard Farm
$8
Join a Dodge naturalist for a farm tour of Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove! Meet farm animals as you explore the historic barn, poultry pens, bee apiary, and wide pastures.
Find out more »Farm Fun
$8
Experience the sights, sounds, and smells of Dodge’s farm! Tour the barnyard and meet cows, sheep, goats, pigs and chickens.
Find out more »Nighttime Animals
$8
When the sun goes down, a whole new world wakes up! Join us to hear a fun story about nocturnal animals and get an up-close look at some of these amazing nighttime creatures. Who might you meet after dark? Come and find out!
Find out more »Universe in the Park
Free
Starry summer skies await you and your family! Join staff from the Minnesota Institute for Astrophysics at the University of Minnesota outdoors at Dodge for a closer look at outer space. Your evening starts with a short outdoor presentation and slideshow to introduce you to the solar system and the tools astronomers use to study it. Then, as weather permits, you can view the sky through 8-inch reflecting telescopes until 10 or 11 p.m. What do you wonder about the…
Find out more »
