Early Childhood Nature Programs
4160101 / Wild Ones
Spark the natural curiosity in your “Wild One” as we take in the beauty of the natural world. Discover water, fish, flowers, and other surprises with a visit to the animal room, stories, songs, themed activities, and nature walks. Dress for a mess.
4160104 / Dino Discovery
Children will go on your own fossil dig, analyze and assemble skeleton pieces, just like a team of paleontologists. They’ll learn about dinosaurs and the techniques used in extracting fossils as we make many discoveries in this hands-on class. To wrap it up, they’ll create a documentary about your findings!
4160210 / Party w/ the Animals
Dress in your favorite PJs and head over to Wildwood to spend some one-on-one time with our animal friends. Venture into the animal room to see them preparing for bedtime. Enjoy snacks, drinks, and activities as we discover what animals do at night.
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 October 13, November 24, and November 25.
5160104 / Forest Friends
Take a journey through trees and into the forest in search of our Forest Friends. Greet the Wildwood animals, enjoy an animal tale about our forest creatures, create a craft, enjoy themed activities, and explore on a short nature walk outdoors (weather permitting). This session of Forest Friends features cardinals, porcupines, and more!
5160120 / Creatures of the Night
Shine your flashlight into the dark, and see who is awake when you are sleeping! Lots of different animals all over the world love the night. Through games, experiments, and crafts discover their unique adaptations, where they hide during the day, and why they love the dark. Greet the Wildwood animals, learn about our night time creature of the week, create a craft, enjoy themed sensory and play activities, listen to a story, and head outside and explore on a hike. No class November 27 and 28.
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 Nov 28.
Registration for Fall 2025
When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a current charge of $1R/$5NR for each section, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, and 11/15.
Registration Dates
- February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool, Nature PlaySchool, Science Kids, Nature Friends, and Wild Child currently enrolled students are able to register for Fall 2025
- February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool, PlayTime Pals, and Toddler Tree School families.
- March 10 at 12:00 pm– Open Registration for all new students
Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.
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 Oct. 13 or Nov. 24.
Registration for Fall 2025
When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a current charge of $1R/$5NR for each section, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, and 11/15.
Registration Dates
- February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool, Nature PlaySchool, Science Kids, Nature Friends, and Wild Child currently enrolled students are able to register for Fall 2025
- February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool, PlayTime Pals, and Toddler Tree School families.
- March 10 at 12:00 pm– Open Registration for all new students
Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.
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 24.
Registration for Fall 2025
When you register you can select to pay in full or select the payment plan option. If you choose the payment plan option, it will show a current charge of $1R/$5NR for each section, and they remaining fee is split into 4 equal payments on 8/15, 9/15, 10/15, and 11/15.
Registration Dates
- February 10 at 12:00 pm- Nature Preschool, Nature PlaySchool, Science Kids, Nature Friends, and Wild Child currently enrolled students are able to register for Fall 2025
- February 24 at 12:00 pm – Registration open to current Maine Park Preschool, PlayTime Pals, and Toddler Tree School families.
- March 10 at 12:00 pm– Open Registration for all new students
Registration for the program is online. If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.
5160210 / Party w/ the Animals
Dress is disguise for this Costume Party with the animals. Learn about animal disguises and play camouflage games as you party with our sneaky animal friends!
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
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 25 and 27.
Registration for Fall 2025
Registration Dates
- March 3 - Resident Registration 7:30am online and 8:30am in person
- March 7 - Nonresident Registration 8:30am online and in person
If you have never registered for a Park District program, you will need to set up your Household account with the Park Ridge Park District to create an account. Please reach out to the Registration Office at 847-692-5127 for more information about setting up an account.