Schedule your party

To find out more information or to book a party, please complete a Facility/Park Rental Application or contact our Wildwood party expert, Jenny Clauson, at 847-692-3570, or email our party staff.

Party Information and Themes

Looking for a ‘wild’ time? You can find it with a party at Wildwood Nature Center! The perfect solution for your child's next birthday celebration.

Our fun nature and animal-inspired parties are a unique way to celebrate your next event.

Choose from any of these "Wild" themes:

Ages 3-4
Free play with animal themed activities, create a craft, enjoy an animal story, and go on an outdoor hike. Our adventure continues as we visit the animal room to pet and feed our animal friends. Dress for an adventure.

Capacity: Max 15 children / 30 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

Ages 5-10
Have wild fun at the Animal Party as you and your guests meet two of our animals during an indoor animal show. The party also features time to eat any food, cake or drinks (non-alcoholic) you bring, an outdoor nature hike, and a trip to the animal room to visit all the rest of our animal friends. Dress for an adventure.

Capacity: Max 20 children / 30 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

Ages 4-9
Dig into our Dinosaur Party as you excavate bones and explode volcanoes. The party also features an outdoor nature hike and small group trips to the animal room to see distant dinosaur cousins and more.

Capacity: Max 15 children / 30 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

Ages 5-12
Meet Wildwood’s cool and creepy crawlers at the Incredible Insects Party. We’ll arm you and your guests with magnifying glasses and bug catchers as you search the pond and prairie for insects. Enjoy a visit from Wildwood’s insects and learn all about our 6 legged friends as you play a fun game. The party also features an outdoor nature hike and small group trips to the animal room. Dress for an adventure.

Capacity: Max 20 children / 30 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

Ages 7-12
Children enjoy playing games, hiking around the prairie, pond and woodland, and roasting food around the campfire such as hotdogs and s’mores. Party includes program leaders, firewood, and cooking sticks. Patrons are responsible to provide food to roast around the campfire.

Capacity: Max 20 children / 30 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

Availability: Available March through October

Ages 7-12
Have a “reel” good time at your Fishing Birthday Party. You and your guests will learn the parts of a pole, practice casting a line, and try your hand at catching the big one. Fisher-friends cast, reel, and catch fish for approximately one hour. Fishing poles, equipment, bait, and party leaders to remove the fish from the hook are all included. The party also features an outdoor nature hike and small group trips to the animal room.

Capacity: Max 10 children / 20 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

Availability: Available April through October

Ages 5-12
Create, concoct, and explode! Children enjoy three weird, wacky science experiments such as making sidewalk paint, magic goop, slime, soda explosions, and more. The party also features an outdoor nature hike and small group trips to the animal room. Please dress for a mess.

Capacity: Max 15 children / 25 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

All Ages
Love the animals? They can come to your Park District party! Wildwood’s animals can travel to your Park Ridge Park District indoor room rental for a 1-hour animal show that includes an animal presentation, animal interaction, and learning from animal artifacts. Animal friends vary based on feeding schedule and other factors.

Fees: $130 Resident / $155 Non-Resident

Ages 5-12
Children enjoy playing field games like Zombie Tag, a game of Clue, or Scavenger Hunts for our younger friends, and hiking around the prairie, pond, and woodland. End your celebration around the Campfire Circle (or Pavilion fireplace) roasting food such as hotdogs and s’mores. Party includes program leaders, firewood, and cooking sticks. Patrons are responsible to provide food to roast around the campfire.

Capacity: Max 20 children / 30 total people

Fees: 2-hour party, $190 Resident / $225 Non-Resident

About Your Party Package

  • Parties are typically held Saturdays and Sundays from 11:00am-1:00pm or 2:00pm-4:00pm, and during available times Monday-Friday. If these times do not match your schedule, please contact us and special arrangements can be made.
  • You are responsible for refreshments, decorations, and paper products. (No alcoholic beverages are allowed in any Park Ridge Park District open spaces, parking lots, or parks at any time.)
  • Parties should be scheduled one month in advance. Full payment is required at time of reservation.
  • Parties are held in the Maple Room inside at Wildwood with trips to the animal room and an outdoor hike.
  • Parties are geared toward engaging and educating the children attending, large amounts of adults in attendance can detract from the intended experience. If you are interested in a large family party, consider a Park District Room Rental with the Traveling Party Option.
  • The Wildwood Pavilion (if available) can be added on to your Wildwood Birthday Party package for an additional fee ($54 Resident / $108 Non-Resident for 2 hours). The Pavilion capacity is 50; however, this outdoor space is not lightning safe.

To find out more information or to book a party, please complete a Facility/Park Rental Application or contact our Wildwood party expert, Jenny Clauson, at 847-692-3570 or email our party staff.