Key Points

• Since 2018, Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery has contributed more than $400,000 to Dodge Nature Center in Minnesota to help expand its environmental education programs.

• The support funds Dodge’s fellowship program, which offers hands-on workforce training for individuals pursuing careers in education, conservation and related fields.

• Fellows help reach more than 55,000 learners annually through field trips, after-school programs, seasonal camps and community events.

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Since 2018, Marathon Petroleum’s St. Paul Park refinery has invested more than $400,000 in support of Dodge Nature Center, helping the Twin Cities-based nonprofit expand its environmental education programs and reach more learners across Minnesota.

The funding supports Dodge’s fellowship program, to which Marathon is the largest contributor. The program provides hands-on workforce training for individuals pursuing careers in education, conservation and related fields.

With help from these fellows, Dodge’s team of naturalists reaches more than 55,000 learners annually through field trips, after-school programs, seasonal camps and community events. Programs serve everyone from preschoolers to adult learners.

“This partnership continues to be a meaningful investment, not just for us, but for the future of environmental education,” said Brenda Teats, Development Director at Dodge Nature Center. “The support from Marathon Petroleum helps us grow the next generation of educators and reach more learners of all ages in our community.”

“The support from Marathon Petroleum helps us grow the next generation of educators and reach more learners of all ages in our community.”

Many past fellows have gone on to successful careers across the country as teachers, STEAM instructors, nature center educators, and naturalists at zoos and parks. Others are now working in conservation, science and animal care. Some are leading outdoor programs at camps and at museums, where they’re helping to create new experiences with hands-on learning and inspiring the next generation.

"My fellowship with Dodge Nature Center taught me so much about myself, how people learn, and how to build meaningful connections with the world around us," said Viola El-Afandi, former Dodge Nature Center Fellow and current Learning and Instruction Specialist at the Science Museum of Minnesota. "It gave me the foundation I needed and the confidence to lead, while also helping me learn how to connect with people and inspire them to care about it too."

The fellowship program has also become a meaningful cause for employees at the St. Paul Park refinery, who regularly volunteer their time at Dodge. In 2024, Dodge ranked in the top five for employee giving and number one in volunteer hours among local partners, with nearly 400 hours logged last year.

“We’ve seen firsthand how fellows who complete this program go on to build successful futures, but it’s also a place our employees care deeply about,” said Joe Kuphal, Refining Maintenance Director at the St. Paul Park refinery and Dodge Nature Center board member. “It’s that kind of lasting impact that makes partnerships like this so valuable, both for our employees and for the communities we serve.”

Most recently, the refinery’s investment is supporting current fellows as they teach at Dodge’s new Education Center at Shepard Farm in Cottage Grove, expanding access to students across more Minnesota communities. If you’d like a closer look, this short video offers a glimpse into the farm and the hands-on learning taking place there.