Early Childhood Nature Programs
1160201 / Nature Friends
Priority registration begins November 17th and participants will have received an email with further information. Registration for new students begins December 8.
Experience the wonders of animals, plants, and the outdoors with fun games, crafts, experiments, and activities. All about hands-on learning and discovery, we venture outside on nice days. Different topics each season. No class March 27 or April 3. WPC
1160202 / Science Kids
Priority registration begins November 17th and participants will have received an email with further information. Registration for new students begins December 8.
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 session.
No class Jan 19, Feb 16, or Mar 23
1160206 / Wild Child
Priority registration begins November 17th and participants will have received an email with further information. Registration for new students begins December 8.
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 March 25.
1160210 / Valentine's Party with the Animals
Show your love for the animals! Create handmade Valentines for our cuddly friends, and receive a Valentine from the animals to you! Spend time with our critters - feeding, petting, playing with them - and learn about animal bodies and animal care.
1160212 / Nature's Two-Riffic
Find out just how terrific nature is as you prepare for preschool! Discover animals, nature, and seasonal topics through songs, art, activities, games, stories, and walks outside at Wildwood.
1160215 / Toddler Tree School - Winter/Spring
Does your toddler miss the cutoff for Nature Preschool or Nature PlaySchool? Toddler Tree School is an introductory class for two and three year olds. Tots explore nature through hikes, outdoor exploration, sensory activities, dramatic play, songs, stories and art. No class March 24 or 26.
Priority Registration for students currently enrolled in the Fall session from Nov 17-Dec 7. New registration begins Monday, December 8th for residents and December 12th for nonresidents. Payment plan option available until December 14.
1160342 / Preschool After Care
Preschool After Care extends your preschooler’s day by an additional 1.5 hours. Classes are held at the Maine Park Leisure Center. We look forward to a WILDLY fun time!
Class must meet a minimum of 5 students per day in order to run. Classes subject to be cancelled prior to the start of the semester.
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 November 24 and 25.
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 26.
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.
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. Different activities are covered each day. Sign up for one day or both. No class Nov 26
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.