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

5160206 / 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 Nov 29.
5160206-1 - Wild Child Friday (Full Semester)
Register
Availability
Available
Res/NonRes
9/6/2024 - 12/20/2024
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6 w/o Adult

5160212 / Nature's Two-Riffic

Find out just how terrific nature is! Discover animals, nature, and seasonal topics through songs, art, activities and games, stories, and short walks at Wildwood. Children do not need to be potty trained: guardians will be contacted for urgent diaper changes. No class Nov 22
5160212-22 - Nature's Two-Riffic W Ses2
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Availability
Waitlist
Res/NonRes
10/30/2024 - 12/18/2024
9:30 am - 11:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3yr w/o Adult

5160215 / Toddler Tree School

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 26 and 28.
5160215-1 - Toddler Tree School Tu/Th
Register
Availability
Waitlist
Res/NonRes
9/3/2024 - 12/19/2024
9:15 am - 11:15 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 2-3 as of Sept

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
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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