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Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove is managed by Dodge Nature Center. It opened to the public in the spring of 2022 and offers a one-mile trail that families can explore any day of the year between sunrise and sunset. Dodge Nature Center offers nature programs for children, adults and families at the farm. Farm animals include goats, cows, sheep, honey bees. Families can also rent a garden plot on the property. A trail map can be printed from Shepard Farm’s webpage. It shows where the walking path is paved, gravel or road and also includes markers for finding the pavilion, restrooms, community gardens, historic buildings and bee apiary – as well as entrances and exits. The trailhead is marked by a white kiosk to the west of the parking lot and their are trail markers throughout the path. The trail is only about a mile long, so it is ideal for walking with younger kids. Explore the 100-year-old woods and restored prairie, check out the historic farm buildings from the 1920s, view the community gardens and bee apiary along your walk. Naturalist led programs and guided hikes can be found on the Dodge Nature Center activities calendar. Look for programs on raising bees and chickens as well as agricultural and environmental education. Summer camps are managed by Dodge Nature Center. Campers should expect to be outdoors and get dirty. Find more information in our annual summer camp guide.
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Shepard Farm Trail Map.
Family Programs at Shepard Farm
Summer Camps
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