PROGRAM NEWS:
Winter registration is now open!
The winter session is $198 for all 11 classes. Drop-in registration is not available.
WONDER BUGS IS FOR YOUNG CHILDREN, AGES 2 TO 4
Wonder Bugs is designed for preschool-aged children and their parent or caregiver. We’ll learn to use our senses to explore the flora and fauna of the nature center, as well as investigate seasonal changes in the weather and landscape. Sessions may include songs, stories, movement, games, crafts, and science experiments. A light snack will be provided during each class. Every week will be a unique adventure!
Program Objectives
To use nature as a teaching tool to:
- Provide opportunities for young children to engage with their parents and caregivers in a natural setting
- Build on physical abilities and cognitive skills, sparking curiosity and better preparing children for school
- Foster a sense of wonder and appreciation for the natural world, leading to admiration and respect for the environment
An adult must accompany all children to the program. Weather permitting, Wonder Bugs programs are held mostly outdoors (with access to the indoor restrooms).
WHEN DOES WONDER BUGS MEET?
Join us for our weekly program! Sessions are offered six times a week on weekdays (twice on Tuesdays and Thursdays and once on Wednesdays and Fridays), as well as every other Saturday.
Registration is by the season! Sign up for a block of programs. Individual dates are not available.
Tuition assistance and payment plans are available. Contact our Early Childhood Program Coordinator at wonderbugs@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org or (608) 216-9383 for information on eligibility.
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Contact our Early Childhood Program Coordinator at wonderbugs@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org or (608) 216-9383 with any questions.
“We had a wonderful experience with Wonder Bugs. Our daughter still sings the Wonder Bugs song all the time and asks us to join in. She also has taken more of an interest in the natural world, especially when she sees something we talked about directly in the program (spiders, butterflies, frogs, etc).”
– Wonder Bugs Parent
Registration Policy
Pre-registration is required as there are a limited number of spots available. If you have a question about bringing a sibling to the program, please send us an email. If you are registered and will not be attending, please call to inform us of your child’s absence. For questions, please contact wonderbugs@aldoleopoldnaturecenter.org or to register by phone, call (608) 221-0404 x 1.
Cancellation Policy
Please notify ALNC of any cancellations at least 14 days prior to the start of a program.
If informed at least 30 days before, ALNC will issue a refund to the original payment method for the paid cost of the program minus a 15% administrative fee OR issue a credit to a loyalty account* for the paid cost of the program minus a 15% administrative fee OR move your registration to a different program of equal value. If informed less than 30 days, but at least 14 days before, ALNC will issue a credit to a loyalty account* for the paid cost of the program minus a 15% administrative fee OR move your registration to a different program of equal value.
If ALNC cancels more than one class for any reason, you will be given the following options:
- A FULL REFUND for canceled classes to the original payment method
- A CREDIT for canceled classes to a loyalty account*, good for future programming at ALNC
- A TRANSFER of the cost of canceled classes into a tax-deductible donation to ALNC
Any non-attendance or cancellations within 14 days of the start of a program will result in a charge of the FULL class fee – there are no refunds for missed programs.
If you do not respond with your preference within 14 days of the canceled program, ALNC will issue a credit for the paid cost of the program minus a 15% administrative fee to a loyalty account*.
*The balance in a loyalty account is considered forfeit or abandoned if there are no transactions involving the loyalty account for over 12 months.
Wonder Bugs On the Road
Learn about our partnership with MMSD’s Play & Learn Program!
“If a child is to keep alive his inborn sense of wonder, he needs the companionship of at least one adult who can share it, rediscovering with him the joy, excitement and mystery of the world we live in.”
– Rachel Carson
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