Frequently Asked Questions

All applications received during the priority period will be randomly numbered and placed in a lottery. School year priority lottery happens in January each year. Summer priority lottery is in March.

Currently-enrolled and returning families are given priority in placement. After these placements are made, new families are placed. An effort will be made to grant each family’s first choice for days and times. A non-refundable deposit and registration fee will be required to hold placement. The deposit payment will be applied to the May tuition only. This deposit is nonrefundable regardless of child’s attendance.

Applications received after the priority period will be considered in the order in which they are received.

Yes! We go outside every day that it is safe to be outside: sunny, rainy, cold, snowy, muddy, hot. We monitor the weather each day for all appropriate conditions including wind chill, excessive heat, air quality, etc. We make the decision to stay indoors if it is unsafe to play outside.

Being in nature is our passion. As we say at Dodge, “There is no bad weather, only bad gear.”

Our Parent Handbook provides a full list of recommended gear for each season. Below is a short example of the gear list. We have gear for borrowing for families who forget gear on a given day. If you cannot afford gear, please talk to your teacher.

Fall/Spring/Summer
– Rain boots (even on sunny days)
– Rain jacket
– Rain pants
– Light gloves*
– Second layer (fleece/vest)*
– Closed-toe indoor shoes*
*When needed for colder weather.

Winter
– Snow pants
– Boots
– Waterproof mittens
– Scarf/Neck warmer
– Hat
– Second layer (fleece/vest)
– Wool socks
– Snow Jacket/Coat

Children should be potty-trained before starting preschool at Dodge Nature Preschool. If your child isn’t yet potty-trained, you are still encouraged to apply during the priority period. We understand that potty training takes time and children will have accidents, but they should be well on the road to being fully potty-trained. This will help them to fully participate in our walking field trips around the Nature Center.

• We read to children.
• We speak to children in complex language and support conversations kills.
• We sing together learning the basics of rhyming and phonetics.
• We teach children how to handle books gently and provide time to look at books independently.
• We model writing for children: story dictation, the “List” of activities, etc.
• We offer opportunities to measure: filling containers of different sizes, building block towers as tall as children, finding the creek depth with a stick.
• We count together: the number of children in a hiking group, the quantity of food at snack, the number of butterflies in the prairie today, etc.
• We provide a wide array of manipulative toys that allow children to make patterns, sort, and classify items.
• We play games that build visual discrimination skills, like “Who’s Missing?”
• We sing songs that include counting forwards and backwards, like “Five Green and Speckled Frogs,” “One Little Bird”, etc.

• We offer unlimited opportunities to practice in a social setting.
• We work in mixed age groups with children teaching each other.
• We support and model problem solving.
• We allow time to work on projects and develop skills.
• We express our own feelings and admit our mistakes.
• We take advantage of teachable moments.
• We listen to children.
• We set high yet reasonable expectations.

• We set clear and consistent expectations and limits.
• We accommodate personal needs.
• We see children as capable in learning new skills.
• We follow through and celebrate success.
• We allow children to experience natural and logical consequences when appropriate.
• We work to keep the difference clear between requests and directions. For instance, cleaning up after playing is not a choice.