Fun Outdoor Kids Classes in Illinois

Educational outdoor activities in Illinois for toddlers, preschoolers, and young kids. Enjoy play-based learning in local greenspaces, year-round!

Tinkergarten’s outdoor, play-based classes and curriculum were designed by experts and loved by families in Illinois. Kids ages 1-8 have learned through outdoor play all year round in Tinkergarten local classes, schools, homes, and more.

When kids learn outside, they develop critical early learning skills like creativity, empathy, and problem solving. Families can use our free, DIY activities to help kids learn following the Tinkergarten curriculum and way of teaching.

Try any of our hundreds of easy DIY learning activities, or learn more about how young kids learn and how to support that process on our blog.. Then, head outside and join the other families in Illinois today to play and learn outdoors together!

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How are people using Tinkergarten?

Teaching in a classroom or homeschool

Amanda, Flagstaff, AZ

Amanda gets inspiration from Tinkergarten’s blog to inspire outdoor learning in their classroom.

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Bringing it home

Courtney, Durham, NC

Courtney supplements their child's preschool experience with outdoor, play-based learning.

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Brain-Boosting Outdoor Play

Over the past decade, we've honed our unique approach to help kids become healthy, curious, creative and caring learners.
Our unique approach

  • Nature at the core

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    Creatures are our teachers. Mud and sticks are our tools, and every lesson deepens kids’ connection to nature.

    Stimulating and calming in equal parts, the outdoors provides a perfect environment for kids’ sensory systems, activating their focus and joy for learning.

    In a world of uncertainty, I have been blessed to be reminded each week of the amazing power of wonder. To see children experience the natural world around them with such joy gives me hope. The hours that I spend outside as a Tinkergarten teacher are some of the best, week after week.

    ~ Tinkergarten Teacher

  • Irresistibly playful

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    Each lesson is engineered as an invitation to play that kids simply can’t refuse!

    Each class I observed how engaged the kids were in the explorations and could tell that they were so immersed that they could've continued happily for much longer.

    ~ Tinkergarten Parent

  • Open-ended, child-led

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    Kids learn best when they lead the way. Plus, we help grown-ups support their child’s unique process.

    I learned to be more patient and child-led in my interactions. I have changed my perspective around how to initiate an idea and let the kids run with it.

    ~ Tinkergarten Teacher

  • Part science, part wisdom

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    Every lesson combines early learning science with timeless wisdom about nature and childhood. It’s a magic combination.

    We learned another way to play with them, to approach nature, and to ask them things like 'What do you think? What do you see?'

    ~ Tinkergarten Parent
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