Camps

Dodge Nature Center is committed to providing high-quality environmental education while ensuring the health and safety of everyone involved. We have established the following safety guidelines:
– Physical distancing of at least 6 feet will be incorporated into activities both indoors and out.
– Groups of campers onsite will coordinate to use separate facilities and conduct separate activities.
– Any high contact area, such as bathrooms, will have their touchable surfaces disinfected after use by a group. Groups will use the bathrooms and hand-washing areas one at a time in succession.
– Frequent handwashing with soap and water will be required. Hand sanitizer and disinfecting supplies will also be available.
– Whenever possible, activities will be held outdoors, and campers will spread out around the nature center.
– Campers are required to wear face masks for all indoor activities and any outdoor activities where distancing of 6 ft. cannot be maintained.
– Bug spray and sunscreen will be applied before camp and will only be reapplied by campers under supervision of staff.

Registration is done on a first-come, first-served basis. Deadline for registration is one week before the start date for each camp. Full payment of camp fees is due upon registration. Spots are only guaranteed once the Camper Registration Form AND your payment are received. Phone registrations are not accepted. Payment and registration must be done online.

Dodge Nature Center is committed to serving families from all economic backgrounds. Families are encouraged to inquire about assistance in order to make camp affordable. Scholarships are available to those who qualify.

Scholarship Form

Requests for cancellation must be made at least one week prior to start of camp to qualify for a refund. All requests for cancellations will be assessed the following fees:
– Summer Camp: $50 processing fee per camp cancelled
– Fall Break Camp: $20 processing fee per camp cancelled
– Spring Break Camp: $20 processing fee per camp cancelled
No refunds will be issued for requests made less than one week to the start of the camp. No substitutions or transfers will be permitted.

Campers will be checked in and out at the Dodge Main Office Entrance #1 at 365 Marie Ave. W in West St. Paul. To ensure the health and safety of campers and their families, new procedures have been established for summer camp drop-off and pick-up:
– Drop-off will begin promptly at 8:15 am and end at 8:30. Adults dropping off campers will remain in their vehicle in the drop-off loop. One staff will check in your camper and record their temperature via infrared thermometer, their responses to wellness questions, and persons authorized for pick-up at 3:00 pm.
– Campers who are healthy will be sent to their group leaders.
– Pick-up will begin promptly at 3:00 pm and end at 3:15. Adults picking up campers will remain in their vehicle and sign for their camper.

Your camper will be safe with highly trained naturalists and volunteers. All camps will maintain a 2 to 8 ratio of staff to campers. Students requiring supervision beyond the nature center’s student to staff ratio may need to provide a personal aide at their own expense.

There is a zero tolerance policy for physical and verbal violence. DNC has the right to dismiss a camper without a refund for violating the center’s no tolerance policy concerning physical and verbal violence.

Campers should come prepared to be outside. Camps will not be cancelled due to inclement weather; activities will be adjusted for the safety of the children.

There is a late charge of $5 per 5 minutes after the time camp ends.