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

1160101 / Wild Ones

Spark the natural curiosity in your “Wild One” as we take in the beauty of the natural world. Discover snow, ice, fur and other winter wonders with free play, outdoor nature walks, crafts, songs, themed activities, and visits to the animals each week. Dress for a mess. No Class February 17.
1160101-1 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/27/2025 - 3/17/2025
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult
1160101-2 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/27/2025 - 3/17/2025
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult
1160101-3 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/27/2025 - 3/17/2025
4:00 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult
1160101-4 - Wild Ones
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/28/2025 - 3/11/2025
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
1-2 w/Adult

1160103 / Polar Pals

Go on an expedition all the way to the North and South Poles to discover our Polar Pals. Enjoy activities inspired by our cold weather friends, an animal tale, a fun craft, a visit to the Nature Center's animal room, and a short nature walk outdoors (weather permitting). Featuring polar bears, arctic foxes, and other creatures of the cold!
1160103-5 - Polar Pals
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/16/2025 - 2/6/2025
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/Adult
1160103-6 - Polar Pals
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/17/2025 - 2/7/2025
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/Adult
1160103-7 - Polar Pals
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/17/2025 - 2/7/2025
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/Adult

1160104 / Jungle Journey

Venture into the jungle to discover the animals that call this lush green place home. Enjoy activities inspired by our featured jungle animals, a creature tale, a fun craft, a visit to the Nature Center's animal room, and a short nature walk outdoors (weather permitting). Featuring anteaters, jaguars, and other jungle animals!
1160104-6 - Jungle Journey
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/13/2025 - 3/13/2025
9:30 am - 10:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/Adult
1160104-7 - Jungle Journey
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/14/2025 - 3/14/2025
9:00 am - 10:00 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/Adult
1160104-8 - Jungle Journey
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
2/14/2025 - 3/14/2025
10:30 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
2-3 w/Adult

1160201 / Nature Friends

Experience the wonders of animals, plants, and the outdoors with fun games, crafts, experiments, and activities. We're all about hands-on learning and discovery, and we venture outside every day. Different topics each season. No class on January 20, February 17, or March 24.
1160201-5 - Nature Friends Mon AM Winter
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/6/2025 - 3/17/2025
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 3-6
1160201-6 - Nature Friends Monday PM Winter
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/6/2025 - 3/17/2025
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 3-6
1160201-11 - Nature Friends Monday AM W/S Full Semester
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/6/2025 - 5/5/2025
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 3-6
1160201-12 - Nature Friends Monday PM W/S Full Semester
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/6/2025 - 5/5/2025
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 3-6

1160202 / Science Kids

See the world through science goggles. Uncover the natural, physical and earth sciences with fun experiments, observations, games, crafts, and outdoor hikes. Different topics presented each season. No class on Mar 26.
1160202-3 - Science Kids Wed AM Winter
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/8/2025 - 3/19/2025
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6
1160202-4 - Science Kids Wed PM Winter
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/8/2025 - 3/19/2025
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6
1160202-11 - Science Kids Wed AM Winter/Spring 17 weeks
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/8/2025 - 5/7/2025
9:00 am - 11:30 am
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6
1160202-12 - Science Kids Wed PM Winter/Spring 17 weeks
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
1/8/2025 - 5/7/2025
12:30 pm - 3:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
3-6

Youth Nature Programs

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

5160417 / Adventure Club

Calling together the Adventure Club – come join Wildwood’s naturalists for weekly outdoor excursions. Explore the prairie looking for creatures big and small, grab a net to find bugs in the long grass or in the water, hike the Des Plaines River trail, and discover nature through experiments, projects, and exploration. The majority of the class takes place outdoors. No class November 22nd.
5160417-2 - Adventure Club
Register
Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
10/23/2024 - 11/20/2024
3:30 pm - 5:00 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 5-11

5160419 / Work It

Use pulleys, wheels, axles, and levers to create fun machines. Test a stomp catapult and see where the load and fulcrum must be to achieve maximum flight. Use pulleys to design a cable car transport system and design and test a marble roller coaster!
5160419-1 - Work It
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Availability
Unavailable
Res/NonRes
10/22/2024 - 11/19/2024
4:00 pm - 5:30 pm
Location
Wildwood Nature Center
Ages
Ages 6-12
Prev 1 2

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
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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
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