Wildwood Program Center, Park Ridge

About Wildwood Program Center

Wildwood Program Center in Park Ridge, Illinois operates a nature center where visitors explore local wildlife and natural environments. Inside, the Animal Room Exhibit houses over 35 animals including ball python snakes, corn snakes, rabbits, guinea pigs, prairie dogs, turtles, an alligator snapping turtle, tiger salamanders, ferrets, bullfrogs, and an American toad. The Nature Nook provides an interactive educational space with books, puzzles, puppets, games, and activities that change monthly by nature topic. Outside, visitors hike woodland trails, prairie paths, and walk around two ponds across five acres of restored native prairie and woodland. The prairie features 88 documented native plants and attracts migrating monarch butterflies throughout summer. General admission to the Nature Center is free. Knowledgeable naturalist staff are available to answer questions about plants and animals. The facility suits visitors interested in hands-on nature learning and outdoor exploration. Strollers are not permitted inside the Nature Center building for safety reasons.