Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center

10/21/2026

We're busy getting ready for Halloween Haunt tomorrow! 🎃👻

Slither on over to tackle the spooky obstacle course, climb the wall in your costume, carve a FREE pumpkin, decorate cookies, and enjoy even more Halloween fun!

Register today to reserve your pumpkin and cookie kit, as quantities may be limited. Visit the website linked in our bio for details and to sign up!

10/19/2026

Looking for a place to show off your costume and carve a pumpkin? Come out to Prairie Woods for Halloween Haunt this Thursday night from 4:30-7:30pm!

Activities:
🦇 Halloween games
🌙 Enchanted trail
👻 Spooky obstacle course
🧗 Indoor climbing wall
🍪 Cookie decorating
🎃 Pumpkin carving is back! Big thank you to Damhof Farms Fresh Produce for supplying the pumpkins! We'll bring the tools and supplies, you bring the creativity! Best part, leave the mess with us instead of cleaning up pumpkin guts at home!

Register before Thursday to reserve a cookie and pumpkin! Go to the website in our bio and navigate to the event calendar to find all the details about Halloween Haunt. Registration is $10 per child.

See you there!

10/03/2026

October is finally here, which means it's time to start planning those costumes!

Join us for our Halloween Haunt on Thursday, October 22 from 4:30-7:30 PM. Dress up to walk the enchanted trail, play themed games, eat Halloween treats, climb the indoor wall, and more!

Tickets are $10 per child and can be purchased through our website linked in our bio. Go to the Event Calendar to learn more and register.

09/25/2026

Love kids + love being outside? We’re looking for you!

We’re hiring a Long-Term Substitute Nature Preschool Director to join our team!

Our current Director will be on maternity leave January–May 2027, and we’re looking for someone to start in December so there’s time for training and overlap before she leaves.

The details:
-$23-$26/hour (dependent on experience)
-30–35 hours/week
-December 2026–May 2027
-Work with children ages 3–5
-Included in our ratio of up to 15 children
-Help with opening/closing shifts as needed
-Lead and support staff
-Help with scheduling, tuition, timesheets, enrollment, and daily preschool operations

We’d love someone who:
-Has preschool experience (required)
-Has some staff leadership/management experience
-Is comfortable with scheduling, enrollment, tuition, and timesheets
-Has Brightwheel child management experience (preferred)
-Loves being outdoors and spending time with young children
-Is flexible, dependable, positive, and willing to learn!

This is a hands-on leadership role where you’ll get to spend your days supporting teachers and parents, playing with kids, exploring outside, and helping our preschool run smoothly.

Interested? Send us your resume and a little bit about why you think you’d be a great fit for this position!

Send Application to Nature Preschool Director Hannah Senf at [email protected]. Applications due by November 1, 2026.

Full job description available here: https://drive.google.com/file/d/1S7yEyRyMa7ehvN4Ft7YtBNxW0vB5OBkA/view?usp=sharing

Know someone who might be a great fit? Please share!

09/07/2026

In honor of the 2026-27 school year starting this week, here’s a photo dump of all our Nature School adventures from the summer ☀️🌱

09/03/2026

What!? Only 1 week away!?

Get your tickets now: https://prairiewoodselc.org/event/music-under-the-prairie-stars/

Save the Date - ✨ Prairie Stars is almost here! ✨

Thursday, September 10
5:30pm - 8:30pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating environmental education, community, and the natural beauty of Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center.

Reconnect with friends, enjoy a delicious dinner, live music, and an inspiring evening that supports hands-on learning for all ages.

Reserve your seat today—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Follow the link here: https://prairiewoodselc.org/event/music-under-the-prairie-stars/

08/19/2026

✨Save the Date:
Thursday, September 10
5:30pm - 8:30pm

We’re putting the finishing touches on another memorable Prairie Stars, and we hope you’ll join us! It’ll be a great chance to reconnect with friends, enjoy a beautiful evening at the PWELC pavilion, support environmental education and celebrate our community.

Dinner: Chicken Kyiv with rosemary red potatoes, vegetable blend, salad and bread. A vegetarian roasted stuffed red pepper entree will be available. Dessert is fruit pie served with coffee.

Live Music: Lilly Waters Jazzy Jubilee

Florals: Rustic Design Flower Farm, with a little help from nature preschoolers

Auctioneer Mark Ziemer returns to help lead this year’s fundraising paddle raise

Get your tickets here: https://prairiewoodselc.org/event/music-under-the-prairie-stars/

08/12/2026

Save the Date - ✨ Prairie Stars is almost here! ✨

Thursday, September 10
5:30pm - 8:30pm

Join us for an unforgettable evening celebrating environmental education, community, and the natural beauty of Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center.

Reconnect with friends, enjoy a delicious dinner, live music, and an inspiring evening that supports hands-on learning for all ages.

Reserve your seat today—we can’t wait to celebrate with you!

Follow the link here: https://prairiewoodselc.org/event/music-under-the-prairie-stars/

07/10/2026

Join us for a half day of paddling and fun on the Mill Ponds! The Middle Fork Crow River Watershed District (MFCRWD) and Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center (PWELC) are once again partnering to get people out on the Crow River in New London. Participants will meet at the New London Boat Access at 9:00 a.m., paddle up through the Mill Ponds, and return by noon. We will provide canoes, life jackets and river knowledge for the paddle! Afterward, everyone is welcome to join us for lunch at Goat Ridge Brewing Co. (lunch not included).

Date: Saturday, July 25
Time: 9:00am-12:00pm
Location: New London Boat Access
Cost: $10 per person or $25 family maximum (all participants must be registered so that we bring the proper amount of equipment)
Ages: All (minors must be accompanied by an adult)

07/09/2026

Join us tomorrow, July 10th from 8:30-11:30am to spend a morning at Prairie Woods helping to plant native prairie plants and bring back the wildflowers at Prairie Woods! These prairies will become outdoor classrooms and wildlife havens for years to come. By lending a hand, you’ll help create thriving prairies for generations.

Meet at Prairie Woods Environmental Learning Center in the parking lot just past the main building by the maintenance building.