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.

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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!

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See the world through science goggles. Uncover the natural, physical and earth sciences with fun experiments, observations, games, crafts, and outdoor hikes. No class July 5.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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 hands-on session. No class July 4.

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Camp out with your family in the Park District’s backyard, outside at the Wildwood Nature Center. Enjoy a campfire dinner and s’mores on Friday night and breakfast on Saturday morning. Before and after dinner, say hello to the Wildwood critters, borrow a fishing pole or net and visit the pond, and then enjoy a family friendly movie before turning in for the night. Participants are required to bring their own tents and bedding. Fee is per person. Please let us know if you have any dietary concerns/allergies.

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Enjoy a summer night of s'mores, stories, and songs around a campfire with your family. Sit around Wildwood's campfire circle to sing songs, listen to stories, cook yummy s'mores, and head out around the pond for a nighttime stroll. Fee is per family, please register only one member of your family.

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Camp out with your family in the Park District’s backyard, outside at the Wildwood Nature Center. Enjoy a campfire dinner and s’mores on Friday night and breakfast on Saturday morning. After dinner, say hello to the Wildwood critters, borrow a fishing pole and visit the pond, and enjoy a family friendly movie before turning in for the night. Participants are required to bring their own tents and bedding. Fee is per person. Please let us know if you have any dietary concerns/allergies.

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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, and dress for a mess. Fee is per family, please only register one member of your family.

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Ready for Wildwood’s twist on the classic tag? A popular Nature Camp and Discovery Crew game, Zombie Tag is a prairie wide invasion to escape and evade getting tagged by the group of Zombie players. Zombies are marked with an X, and getting tagged by a zombie player will result in one stripe across your own shirt (with tape) or face (with washable paint). A second stripe makes you a full fledged ”Zombie" and you join the rest of the mob. Fee is per family, please register only one member of your family.

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