about us

Nature Pathways Early Learning Center opened December 1, 2025 on the former Children’s Country Day School property, a seven-acre model farm in Mendota Heights.

Nature Pathways is a nature and farm-based child care program serving children ages 16 months to 5 years. During the summer, children who have completed Kindergarten may also enroll in the Summer Camp program.

To support a smooth transition and ensure the continuation of a long-standing tradition of high-quality, licensed child care, Anna Dutke will co-own Nature Pathways with Gayle Johnson, former co-owner of Children’s Country Day School, for one year.

Learn more

Now Enrolling!

January 2026-June 3rd, 2026

Ages: 16months-5 years

Schedule Options:

  • Full day (7:30-4:30pm) or half day (8:30-11:30am) option
  • Choice of a three, four, or five day a week schedule

Calendar

Contact us for additional details and to receive an application to register.

Nature Pathways Information Sessions

Bring your child(ren) to Nature Pathways for an opportunity to visit one of our classroom spaces to play, listen to a story and meet some of our resident animals.

This is an opportunity to learn more about our program offerings and meet the new Co-Directors of Nature Pathways, Anna Dutke and Jenna Ruble.

Sign up for one of our information sessions using this link.

Dates & Times: Saturday, January 10th and Monday, January 19th: 9am, 10am and 11am. Thursday, January 15th: 5pm & 6pm.

Registration is OPEN! 2026 Summer Camp

Summer Camp Registration (Link)

Registration will be done via a lottery system. The Nature Pathways Summer Adventures lottery is open from Wednesday, January 7th-Thursday, January 15th. Applicants will be notified within a week of the lottery closing.

Program Options:

  • Full 10-week session: June 15 through August 21, 2026
  • One five-week session: June 15 – July 17, 2026 OR July 20 – August 21, 2026

Schedule Options:

  • 5 full or half days (Monday-Thursday)
  • 3 full or half days (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
  • 2 full days (Tuesday/Thursday) *only available for 10 week session option

Hours:

  • Half day 8:30 – 11:30am
  • Full day 8:30-4:30pm (may drop off as early as 7:30am)

More information (link)

Summer Camp Home Page Image

26-27 School Year – Register TODAY!

Registration is now open! Click here to register (Lottery Window: Monday, January 12th – Friday, January 23rd.

Ages (by September 1st) 16months-5 years

Schedule Options

  • 2 days/week (Tuesday/Thursday)
  • 3 days/week (Monday, Wednesday, Friday)
  • 4 days/week (Monday or Friday off)
  • 5 days/week (Monday-Friday)

Hours:

  • Full Day 8:30-4:30pm (may drop off as early as 7:30am)
  • Half Day 8:30-11:30am

Calendar

Enrollment Home Page Image

Our Staff

We at Nature Pathways Early Learning Center are proud to share that all our classroom teachers are lead teacher qualified. Our dedicated staff has been involved with quality early childhood education for many years. We strive to provide a lower child to staff ratio than is required by the State of Minnesota.