Wildwood Program Center

Wildwood Program Center

Nature Programs

Wildwood Program Center hosts our scheduled nature classes, birthday parties, scout programs, school groups, and camps. We offer a variety of nature and environmental programs for ages 1 and older, as well as family events.

Location

529 Forestview Ave.
Park Ridge, Illinois

Phone

847-692-3570

Early Childhood Nature Programs

1160206 / Wild Child

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 March 28.
1160206-5 - Wild Child Friday (Full Semester)
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/10/2025 - 5/2/2025
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3.00-6.99

1160210 / Valentine's Party with the Animals

Show your love for the animals! Create handmade Valentines for our cuddly friends, and receive a Valentine from the animals to you! Spend time with our critters - feeding, petting, playing with them - and learn about animal bodies and animal care.
1160210-5 - Valentine's Party with the Animals
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/10/2025 - 2/10/2025
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 3-7
1160210-6 - Valentine's Party with the Animals
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/11/2025 - 2/11/2025
6:00 pm - 7:30 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 3-7

1160212 / Nature's Two-Riffic

Find out just how terrific nature is as you prepare for preschool! Discover animals, nature, and seasonal topics through songs, art, activities, games, stories, and walks outside at Wildwood.
1160212-3 - Nature's Two-Riffic
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/8/2025 - 3/19/2025
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/o Adult

1160215 / Toddler Tree School - Winter/Spring

Does your toddler miss the cutoff for Nature Preschool or Nature PlaySchool? Toddler Tree School is an introductory class for two and three year olds. Tots explore nature through hikes, outdoor exploration, sensory activities, dramatic play, songs, stories and art. No class March 25 or 27. Priority Registration for students currently enrolled in the Fall session from Nov 18-Dec 8. New registration begins Monday, December 9th for residents and December 13th for nonresidents. Payment plan option available until December 14.
1160215-2 - Toddler Tree School Tu/Th
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/7/2025 - 5/8/2025
9:15 am - 11:15 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 2-3 as of Sept

1160342 / Afternoon Adventure Club (PS)

Afternoon Adventure Club extends your preschooler’s day by an additional 1.5 hours. Classes are held at the Maine Park Leisure Center. We look forward to a WILDLY fun time!
1160342-1 - Afternoon Adventure Club M
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/6/2025 - 5/5/2025
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
1160342-2 - Afternoon Adventure Club Tu
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/7/2025 - 5/6/2025
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
1160342-3 - Afternoon Adventure Club W
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/8/2025 - 5/7/2025
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
1160342-4 - Afternoon Adventure Club Th
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/9/2025 - 5/8/2025
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
1160342-5 - Afternoon Adventure Club F
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/10/2025 - 5/2/2025
3:00 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99

Youth Nature Programs

1160401 / Inside Your Insides

Get ready to explore the human body! Discover how your body breaks down food by creating a working model of an esophagus and stomach and exploring acids and bases. Follow a blood cell and find out its unique purpose in transporting oxygen all around our body, and test your breath capacity with different experiments. Trick your brain with fun smell and taste experiments, make your own optical illusions, and test your memory against your friends. See how tendons and muscles work with your bones to move your body by engineering a hand model.
1160401-2 - Inside Your Insides: A Human Body Investigation
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/20/2025 - 3/20/2025
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 6-11

1160407 / Rangers in Training

Interested in being a ranger at Wildwood? Get a hands-on taste of what it’s like to be a Wildwood ranger. Learn how to clean, feed, and care for the animals during this fun training session.
1160407-1 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/10/2025 - 2/7/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 10-14
1160407-2 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/14/2025 - 3/14/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 10-14
1160407-3 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/27/2025 - 3/3/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 10-14

1160412 / To The Troposphere and Beyond!

Escape Earth's gravity to explore sky and space! Meteorologists, don your lab coats and rain boots. We're off to watch the weather! Explore the wild side of weather as you generate static electricity lightning and twisting tornadoes in water. Create a homemade anemometer, rain gauge, and wind vane to take home. Then pop into your spacesuit for some fun amongst the stars! Use telescopes to see the night sky and build a telescope to take home. Learn how to locate constellations, planets, and other fun astronomy finds.
1160412-1 - To The Troposphere and Beyond!
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/16/2025 - 2/20/2025
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 6-11

1160417 / Adventure Club

Calling together the Adventure Club – come join Wildwood’s naturalists for weekly outdoor excursions. Explore and discover nature through experiments, projects, and exploration. Class takes place outdoors as much as possible. Please pack a water bottle and dress to be comfortable outdoors.
1160417-5 - Adventure Club
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/15/2025 - 2/12/2025
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 6-11
1160417-6 - Adventure Club
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/19/2025 - 3/19/2025
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 6-11

4160407 / Rangers in Training

Interested in being a ranger at Wildwood? Get a hands-on taste of what it’s like to be a Wildwood ranger. Learn how to clean, feed, and care for the animals during this fun training session.
4160407-1 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
6/9/2017 - 6/30/2017
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
4160407-2 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/7/2017 - 7/28/2017
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
4160407-3 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
6/19/2017 - 7/17/2017
3:30 pm - 4:30 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1 2 Next

Family Nature Events

1160503 / Science Night

Turn your family into scientists and explore fun science concepts with us! Make cool discoveries through experiments, projects, and play. Different activities each month. Please register only one member of your family. January: CSI Science - Examine fingerprints, analyze chemicals, and follow the clues to have some forensics fun! February: Bath Bomb Explosions - design and dissolve bath bombs as you explore what makes them fizz and foam.
1160503-3 - Science Night: CSI Science
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/20/2025 - 1/20/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1160503-4 - Science Night: CSI Science
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/20/2025 - 1/20/2025
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1160503-5 - Science Night: Bath Bomb Explosions
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/17/2025 - 2/17/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1160503-6 - Science Night: Bath Bomb Explosions
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/17/2025 - 2/17/2025
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages

4160501 / Playdate with Nature

Join us on a Playdate with Nature. The family will enjoy games, crafts, and educational activities based around the seasonal nature theme of the day. Program is free, but registration is required.
4160501-1 - Playdate with Nature
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/8/2017 - 7/8/2017
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
4160501-2 - Playdate with Nature
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
8/5/2017 - 8/5/2017
9:00 am - 9:45 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages

4160502 / S'more Stories and Songs

The entire family will enjoy the peaceful night air while sitting around a fire listening to stories, singing songs, and making everyone’s favorite - s’mores! Enjoy a night hike around the pond. Flashlights are not needed, but feel free to bring a blanket or chair to sit on. Fee is per family.
4160502-1 - Family Campfire
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/21/2017 - 7/21/2017
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
4160502-2 - Family Campfire
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
8/11/2017 - 8/11/2017
7:00 pm - 9:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages

4160503 / Science Night

Turn your family into scientists and explore fun science concepts with us! Make cool discoveries through experiments, projects, and play. Different activities each class.
4160503-1 - Science Night
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
6/14/2017 - 6/14/2017
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
4160503-2 - Science Night
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/27/2017 - 7/27/2017
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages

4160505 / Pond Dippers

Have fun as a family discovering what lurks beneath the surface of the pond. Dip and scoop with nets to catch lots of critters and maybe a few tadpoles! Learn all about life in the pond.
4160505-1 - Pond Dippers
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
6/7/2017 - 6/7/2017
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
4160505-2 - Pond Dippers
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/19/2017 - 7/19/2017
6:00 pm - 7:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1 2 Next