Programs

Does your toddler miss the cutoff for Nature Preschool or Nature Play School? Toddler Tree School is an introductory class for two and three year olds. Tots explore nature, learn, and grow through themed hikes, outdoor exploration, sensory activities, dramatic play, songs, stories, art, and visits to the animal room. The majority of the program takes place outside at the Wildwood Nature Center grounds in their outdoor gathering space and hiking, and their indoor classroom is located at Wildwood. Program is for children ages 2-3 as of September 1. No class November 25 and 27. Registration for Fall 2025 Registration Dates - March 3 - Resident Registration 7:30am online and 8:30am in person - March 7 - Nonresident Registration 8:30am online and in person If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.

Sections & Details

Hike the trails around the pond, prairie, and woodland, draw in their journals, turn over logs to look for insects and worms, and get to know the animals at Wildwood all while developing lifelong learning skills in the classroom and outside. Nature PlaySchool rotates curriculum, exploring different seasonal topics each year and different curriculum each day. This allows your child to attend a unique program for multiple individual days and for two years. All children must be completely toilet trained to participate. Age is 3-4 years old as of September 1. No Class Dates: October 13, November 24-28, December 22-December 31. Registration for Fall 2025 Registration for Nature Preschool is for the full school year. There is a $50 non-refundable deposit due at the time of registration that deducts from the total fee for the program. When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the pay in full (PIF) option, the remaining balance will come due on your account on 8/15/2025. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a balance of $50 in your cart for the deposit, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, 11/15. Registration Dates - February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool students enrolled in the current school year can register for Nature Preschool for 2025-2026 School Year - February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool and Toddler Tree School families. - March 10 at 12:00 pm– Open Registration for all new students Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.

Sections & Details

Wildwood's nature focused program for children ages 3-4 infuses traditional readiness learning and preschool activities with an emphasis on the natural world and daily outdoor discovery. The curriculum incorporates the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards. In addition to their ABC’s and 123’s, preschoolers hike the trails around the pond, prairie, and woodland, draw in their journals, turn over logs to look for insects and worms, and get to know the animals at Wildwood all while developing lifelong learning skills in the classroom and outside. Nature Preschool rotates curriculum, exploring different seasonal topics. This allows your child to attend a unique program for two years. All children must be completely toilet trained to participate. Age is 3-4 years old as of September 1. Priority Registration for students currently enrolled begins Friday, February 9th at 10:00 am online Open Registration for new students begins Friday, March 1st at 10:00 am online No Class No Class October 14, November 25-29, December 23- January 3, January 20, February 17, March 24-28. Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account.

Sections & Details

Wildwood's nature focused program for children ages 3-4 infuses traditional readiness learning and preschool activities with an emphasis on the natural world and daily outdoor discovery. The curriculum incorporates the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards. In addition to their ABC’s and 123’s, preschoolers hike the trails around the pond, prairie, and woodland, draw in their journals, turn over logs to look for insects and worms, and get to know the animals at Wildwood all while developing lifelong learning skills in the classroom and outside. Nature Preschool rotates curriculum, exploring different seasonal topics. This allows your child to attend a unique program for two years. All children must be completely toilet trained to participate. Age is 3-4 years old as of September 1. No Class October 13, November 24-28, December 22-January 5, January 19, February 16, and March 23-27, April 3. Registration for Fall 2025 Registration for Nature Preschool is for the full school year. There is a $100 non-refundable deposit due at the time of registration that deducts from the total fee for the program. When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the pay in full (PIF) option, the remaining balance will come due on your account on 8/15/2025. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a balance of $100 in your cart for the deposit, and they remaining fee is split into 8 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, 11/15, 12/15, 1/15, 2/15, and 3/15. Registration Dates - February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool students enrolled in the current school year can register for Nature Preschool for 2025-2026 School Year - February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool and Toddler Tree School families. - March 10 at 12:00 pm– Open Registration for all new students Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.

Sections & Details

Wildwood's nature focused program for children ages 3-4 infuses traditional readiness learning and preschool activities with an emphasis on the natural world and daily outdoor discovery. The curriculum incorporates the Illinois Early Learning and Development Standards. In addition to their ABC’s and 123’s, preschoolers hike the trails around the pond, prairie, and woodland, draw in their journals, turn over logs to look for insects and worms, and get to know the animals at Wildwood all while developing lifelong learning skills in the classroom and outside. Nature Preschool rotates curriculum, exploring different seasonal topics. This allows your child to attend a unique program for two years. All children must be completely toilet trained to participate. Age is 3-4 years old as of September 1. Priority Registration for students currently enrolled begins Friday, February 9th at 10:00 am online Open Registration for new students begins Friday, March 1st at 10:00 am online No Class No Class October 14, November 25-29, December 23- January 3, January 20, February 17, March 24-28. Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account.

Sections & Details