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

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)
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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
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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
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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

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)
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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
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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

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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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
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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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