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Juneteenth Family Day Celebration
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 »Blacksmithing Basics 1 with Coal Forge (8-session Series)
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 »Farm Fun
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
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
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
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 »Locally Grown Theatre Presents: Around the World in 80 Days
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
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
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
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 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…
Find out more »Coal Forge Blacksmithing Project Shop: Bottle Opener (One-day Workshop)
This program 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 included! …
Find out more »Universe in the Park
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)
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
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
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
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
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 »Night for Nature 2025
Step into the classroom without walls and discover the outdoors like never before. At Night for Nature, you won’t just be a guest — you’ll be an explorer. Wander through the woods, encounter fascinating wildlife, and take part in the hands-on experiences that bring Dodge’s environmental education to life. As the sun sets, gather for a lively auction and fund-a-need program that directly supports getting more people outside, sparking curiosity, and building a future of nature stewards. TICKETS Tickets range…
Find out more »Nature Tots (Thursday Morning Series)
Join Dodge Nature Preschool teacher Melissa Thompson, M. Ed., for a six-week series of Nature Tots classes! Curiosity will guide you through the Nature Tots program where families will explore the woodlands, farm, and Minnesota native animals at the nature center. Each class will include an inside group gathering time, a short walk outside (a quarter to a half mile) exploring Dodge’s ecosystems, a small snack, and an inside closing song. This program will help adults be comfortable outside with…
Find out more »Nature Tots (Friday Morning Series)
Join Dodge Nature Preschool teacher Melissa Thompson, M. Ed., for a six-week series of Nature Tots classes! Curiosity will guide you through the Nature Tots program where families will explore the woodlands, farm, and Minnesota native animals at the nature center. Each class will include an inside group gathering time, a short walk outside (a quarter to a half mile) exploring Dodge’s ecosystems, a small snack, and an inside closing song. This program will help adults be comfortable outside with…
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