Dodge Nature Center - Week 1

As of Friday my placement at the Dodge Nature Center has been solidified. I frankly could not be more excited that this has worked out so well. After a rough start, with a few dead-end placements pursued, Dodge has really come through. I'll be working two mornings a week with the preschool, spending my time in the Spruce room (all three classrooms are named for trees - Willow, Spruce, and Oak). In addition, I'm pursuing training as a Naturalist, which will set me up for more opportunities to participate at Dodge.

As I drove up to the 320 acre preserve tucked in between Marie Ave and Dodd Road in suburban Mendota Heights, I was overcome with a feeling of nostalgia and anticipation. I spent a few weeks of my summers attending camp at Dodge when I was younger and it had been a good ten years since I had been to the property. On the one hand I was excited to be back, but I also found myself worrying that my memories were giving it more credit than it deserved, or that I would be disappointed. At this point I'm already fairly certain that those concerns were unfounded.

On the whole I've been extremely pleased with and impressed by the faculty and staff at Dodge. At my preliminary interview on the 10th, I sat down with Sue, the volunteer coordinator, we chatted for a good twenty minutes about what's been going on at the Center, new programs, the change of seasons and the impact that will have on the farm and the preschool and the gardens, and generally about our mutual love of Environmental Education. After those twenty minutes Sue looked down at the papers in front of her and remembered that she was supposed to be interviewing me. We laughed and moved forward with the necessary procedures.

From there Sue connected me with two individuals - TJ the intern coordinator and Marty the director of the preschool. TJ and I met directly after Sue interviewed me and my final interview with Marty was last friday. Beginning this coming Wednesday my main contacts will be the three Spruce room teachers, Joey, Heather, and Marlais. I'm not really sure what to expect yet.

The classes are team taught by two head teachers and an assistant. That means that the 18 preschoolers are looking at a student/teacher ration of 3/18 or 1/6, which is very impressive by anyone's standards. The classrooms are very inspiring spaces, designed with many different nooks with varied focuses. There's an art area, a reading area, tables for writing excercises, and even an indoor loft/play area. THe rooms are packed full of kids art work and all sorts of stimulating toys. As a part of my interview with Marty I was given a tour while the kids were running around outside. Apparently the kids are outside everyday, unless the windchill is out of control, so they come bundled up and ready to get dirty. The staff all have different training backgrounds, some with environmental studies, others psychology, and numerous other undergraduate focuses, though all have completed a degree in Early Child Education.

At this point I feel i've begun rambling so I'll come to a close. I'll just say that I am convinced the Dodge Nature Center is going to be solid fit for me and I can not wait to get started.