Programs

Experience the wonders of animals, plants, and the outdoors with fun games, crafts, experiments, and activities. We are all about hands-on learning and discovery and venture outside for nature hikes. Different topics each session. No class Nov 28. Registration for Fall 2025 When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a current charge of $1R/$5NR for each section, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, and 11/15. Registration Dates - February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool, Nature PlaySchool, Science Kids, Nature Friends, and Wild Child currently enrolled students are able to register for Fall 2025 - February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool, PlayTime Pals, 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

See the world through science goggles. Each session features a different scientific topic, and each week dives deeper into that topic through fun experiments, observations, games, crafts, and outdoor hikes. Please send you child with a peanut/tree nut free snack and reusable water bottle. No class Oct. 13 or Nov. 24. Registration for Fall 2025 When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a current charge of $1R/$5NR for each section, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, and 11/15. Registration Dates - February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool, Nature PlaySchool, Science Kids, Nature Friends, and Wild Child currently enrolled students are able to register for Fall 2025 - February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool, PlayTime Pals, 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

Preschool explorers get ready for outdoor adventure! Wild Child’s kid crew will create their own adventures around Wildwood’s pond, prairie, and woodland paths, and extend the exploration inside the classroom. No class Nov 24. Registration for Fall 2025 When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a current charge of $1R/$5NR for each section, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, and 11/15. Registration Dates - February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool, Nature PlaySchool, Science Kids, Nature Friends, and Wild Child currently enrolled students are able to register for Fall 2025 - February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool, PlayTime Pals, 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

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