Dodge Nature Center

The Thomas Irvine Dodge Nature Center, founded in 1967, is a nonprofit organization in Minnesota. The center's properties are West St. Paul, Mendota Heights and Cottage Grove and contain nature preserves, community gardens, a working model farm, a nature education-based preschool, a raptor center and a bee aviary. Its revenue streams and program offerings have grown over the years. The center's 40 educational programs serve over 50,000 visitors annually with the help of 1,400 volunteers and approximately 20 paid staff.[1]

History

Olivia Irvine Dodge was a philanthropist who donated the land for Dodge Nature Center and formed the nonprofit which operates it.[2] In the 1970s she invited school programs to the nature center to have gardening plots. Dodge installed a model farm, a greenhouse, and also provided training resources.[3] The center mainly hosted school trips, birding sessions, and nature classes. Dodge said, "We believe in teaching and engendering in our young a love and reverence for nature".[4]

Nature preserve

After Dodge observed that the area around her in West St. Paul was becoming developed, she decided to preserve some of the land for the public. "A nature center seemed, and still does, the wisest way to use the land—save it, respect it, and use it to teach children", she said.[5] Volunteer naturalists were invited starting in 1977 to lead structured training programs for school children.[6] Animals on the preserve have included pigs, sheep, cattle, and horses, many of which were kept on site through old age .[4]

Over the years the center has fostered close cooperation with local schools.[4][6][7] In 2013 an additional donation of land in Cottage Grove expanded its facilities, bringing the total amount of land to over 400 acres and eight miles of trails.[1][8] The center also offers various outdoor summer events at the amphitheater at the West St. Paul location.[9] The Olivia Irvine Dodge Library and History Center was added as part of the organization's 50th-anniversary celebration in 2017.[1][10][11][12]

Nature Preschool

In the late 1990s the center's board of directors decided to create an on-site preschool.[2] The Dodge Nature Center Preschool opened in September 2000 in a three-classroom building designed for that purpose.[13]

References
  1. Ferraro, Nick (October 9, 2017). "Dodge Nature Center captures its history, honors its founder with renovated farmhouse". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  2. Kimball, Joe (February 9, 1998). "A field trip on the trail of nature". StarTribune. p. B1, B5.
  3. Peterson, George (December 14, 1975). "a farm on the prairie". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 11F.
  4. Kimball, Joe (May 18, 2001). "Around St. Paul: Donor hopes Dodge preserve will inspire love of nature". StarTribune. p. B1, B3.
  5. Kern, Ben (April 5, 1981). "'Ma Nature's call brings more folks to centers'". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 13C, 14C.
  6. Mundt, Diane (December 22, 1988). "Volunteers benefit by teaching kids, Dodge Nature Center depends on retiree staff'". Star Tribune. p. S3.
  7. Crum, William (May 6, 2012). "Every day a field trip at Garlough". Star Tribune.
  8. Ferraro, Nick (September 3, 2013). "Cottage Grove homestead donated to Dodge Nature Center". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  9. Rolfsmeier, Liz (July 12, 2015). "Nature shares the stage – The outdoor concert series at Dodge Nature Center features music, drama and the occasional deer". Star Tribune.
  10. Pinson, Ginger (January 30, 2017). "' Dodge Nature Center: 50 years of celebrating the great outdoors". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  11. Guthrey, Molly (February 2, 2017). "' Daily Juggle: Happy Birthday to my back yard, Dodge Nature Center". St. Paul Pioneer Press. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  12. Nelson, Katie (April 5, 2017). "Big changes afoot at Shepard farm in Cottage Grove". South Washington County Bulletin. Retrieved May 25, 2019.
  13. Pfister, Darlene (September 26, 2000). "Kids learn from all things natural at school". StarTribune. p. B1, B8.

Further reading
  • Bray, Ashley (February 26, 2012). "Changing the face of education, Dodge Nature Center hopes to fuel a movement to change the way early education is done". StarTribune. p. N1, N4.
  • Kern, Ben (April 5, 1981). "Nature centers add activities; some have new facilities too". Minneapolis Tribune. p. 13C, 14C.
  • "Bulletin". The Daily Journal. Fergus Falls. January 23, 1973. p. 19.
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