Activities
Experience Nature All Year Long
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Girls Explore Science: Springtime Sensations!
Science and outdoor fun are in bloom this season with Girls Explore Science! Explore the colors of spring through various nature activities like art and cooking. Welcome new babies on the farm and migrating birds as they return after the cold winter months. Make new friends and have fun as you celebrate all the natural wonders of the season. Girls, female-identifying, and non-binary youth in grades 5-8 are welcome to participate. Scholarships are available for those who qualify. Preregistration is…
Find out more »Storytime on the Trails: Fawn’s First Days
Celebrate the return of spring with a self-guided hike and a story! Follow the trail at Shepard Farm as you read about Fawn’s adventures in the first days of their life. Begin your hike by the pavilion, then follow the signs and arrows as you take a short hike through the woods. Trails are open sunrise to sunset. Begin your hike at the pavilion near the trailhead, 5 on the Shepard Farm Map.
Find out more »Pride Outside
Pride Outside is back! Come to Dodge Nature Center to explore the changing seasons, learn something new in nature, and grow into your unique self in the outdoors. You’ll find an affirming community that welcomes students just as they are. Pride Outside is an after-school program for 5th-12th grade youth, of any sexual or gender identity, and LGBTQIA+ allies.
Find out more »Foraged Foods
Discover what wild edibles are beginning to bloom as you venture through the nature center on a foraging hike! Learn how to prepare different plants for the dinner table and savor the tastes of nature. Preregistration is required. Registration typically closes the day before the program at 12 p.m. Program fees are final and transfers are not permitted.
Find out more »Rock the Barn 2024
Put on your boots and come on down for Dodge’s annual farm and music festival—all while supporting the Dodge Nature Preschool Scholarship Fund! Enjoy live bands and musicians as spring blooms around the nature center. Bring a blanket to picnic with family and friends. Get up close to farm animals, make dandelion fritters, and ride the hay wagon. Opportunities to support the Scholarship Fund at the event include a bake sale, raffle baskets, lemonade stand, and more. Get your tickets…
Find out more »Here a Chick, There a Chick
Baby birds are a true sign of spring—come meet the newest arrivals at Shepard Farm! Chicks, ducklings, and poults (baby turkeys) are some of Mother Nature’s cutest creations. Learn the natural history of these birds and get a chance to hold these adorable creatures. Preregistration is required. Registration typically closes the day before the program at 12 p.m. Program fees are final and transfers are not permitted.
Find out more »Here a Chick, There a Chick
Baby birds are a true sign of spring—come meet the newest arrivals on Dodge’s Main Property farm! Chicks are one of Mother Nature’s cutest creations. Learn the natural history of chickens and get a chance to hold one of these adorable creatures. Preregistration is required. Registration typically closes the day before the program at 12 p.m. Program fees are final and transfers are not permitted.
Find out more »Coal Forge Blacksmithing Basics 1 (8-session Series)
This class is sold out. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. Join blacksmithing instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a 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…
Find out more »Offices Closed – Trails Open
Dodge buildings and offices will be closed for Memorial Day. Trails are open during daylight hours for you to hike and explore!
Find out more »Discover the Night Science Festival
Explore the sights and sounds of the nature center at night! After the sun sets, join naturalists at our Shepard Farm Property in Cottage Grove for a festival of science. Activities for all ages include: Bat Monitoring and Detection Moth Discovery Night Creature Touch, See, and Listen Table Biofluorescence UV Walk Stargazing Bring your flashlight and sense of adventure—get ready to discover the night! Online tickets go on sale Wednesday, May 8! Day-of sales at the gate are cash only.
Find out more »Coal Forge Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Opener (One-day Workshop)
This class is sold out. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. 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…
Find out more »Coal Forge Blacksmithing Date Night (One-day Workshop)
This program is sold out. Visit the Activities Calendar for more upcoming programs. Grab a friend, partner, spouse, or kid (ages 16+) and join instructors from Chicago Avenue Fire Arts Center for a blacksmithing workshop at Dodge's new forge at Shepard Farm! In this short workshop, you'll use fire and hammer to shape red hot iron into interesting objects that will bring out your personal creativity. Project options include simple items like skewers, roasting forks, cheese cutters, or decorative knots. Your dynamic duo…
Find out more »Offices Closed – Trails Open
Dodge buildings and offices will be closed for the Fourth of July holiday. Trails are open during daylight hours for you to hike and explore!
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