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

3200219 / Summertime Lunch Bunch

Extend your preschool aged camper’s day at Lunch Bunch. Eat your lunch then enjoy free play indoors and outdoors after your meal. Children are escorted to and from lunch and their camps by staff. Lunch must be peanut/tree nut free. No pull-ups, or diapers. MP
3200219-1 - Summertime Lunch Bunch MWF Jul 14-18
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/14/2025 - 7/18/2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
3200219-2 - Summertime Lunch Bunch T/TH Jul 15-17
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/15/2025 - 7/17/2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
3200219-3 - Summertime Lunch Bunch MWF Jul 21-25
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/21/2025 - 7/25/2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
3200219-4 - Summertime Lunch Bunch T/TH Jul 22-24
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/22/2025 - 7/24/2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
3200219-5 - Summertime Lunch Bunch MWF Jul 28-Aug 1
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/28/2025 - 8/1/2025
12:00 am - 12:00 am
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99
3200219-6 - Summertime Lunch Bunch MWF Jul 229-31
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
7/29/2025 - 7/31/2025
11:30 am - 12:30 pm
Location
Maine Park
Ages
3.00-5.99

5160101 / Wild Ones

Spark the natural curiosity in your “Wild One” as we take in the wonders of the outdoors. Inside our classroom, we'll discover leaves, pumpkins, seeds, and other autumn surprises with sensory play and exploration, stories, and themed activities. Then we'll head out for a nature walk around the pond and prairie, and over to visit the animals in the Nature Center. Dress for a mess. No class November 11, 25 and 26.
5160101-5 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
10/21/2024 - 12/2/2024
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult
5160101-6 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
10/21/2024 - 12/2/2024
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult
5160101-7 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
10/21/2024 - 12/2/2024
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult

5160103 / Desert Dwellers

The hot sun may bake the sand, but many critters still live in this wild land! Learn about the desert and the creatures that live there through stories, animal crafts, short hikes, and many fun activities. Featuring hump-backed camels, stinging scorpions, and more! No class Nov 28 or 29.
5160103-11 - Desert Dwellers
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
11/14/2024 - 12/12/2024
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3y w/Adult
5160103-12 - Desert Dwellers
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
11/15/2024 - 12/13/2024
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3y w/Adult
5160103-13 - Desert Dwellers
Register
Availability
Waitlist
Res/NonRes
11/15/2024 - 12/13/2024
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3y w/Adult

5160201 / Nature Friends

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 Oct 14 or Nov 25.
5160201-1 - Nature Friends Monday AM (Full Semester)
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
9/9/2024 - 12/16/2024
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult
5160201-3 - Nature Friends Monday AM Session 2
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
11/4/2024 - 12/16/2024
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult
5160201-11 - Nature Friends Monday PM (Full Semester)
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
9/9/2024 - 12/16/2024
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult
5160201-13 - Nature Friends Monday PM Session 2
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
11/4/2024 - 12/16/2024
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult

5160202 / Science Kids

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 Nov 27
5160202-1 - Science Kids Wednesday AM (Full Semester)
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
9/4/2024 - 12/18/2024
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult
5160202-2 - Science Kids Wednesday PM (Full Semester)
Register
Availability
Waitlist
Res/NonRes
9/4/2024 - 12/18/2024
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult
5160202-4 - Science Kids Wednesday AM Session 2
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
10/30/2024 - 12/18/2024
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult
5160202-6 - Science Kids Wednesday PM Session 2
Register
Availability
Waitlist
Res/NonRes
10/30/2024 - 12/18/2024
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6y w/o Adult

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 - 2/13/2025
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 5.5-11
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 5.5-11

5160407 / 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. No class November 29.
5160407-5 - Rangers in Training
Register
Availability
Full
Res/NonRes
11/15/2024 - 12/13/2024
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 10-14
1

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
1