Plan Your Maryland Homeschool Days
Every September – and then periodically throughout the school year – more than 2 dozen Maryland museums, zoos, nature centers, and other community-based organizations host Homeschool Days. These exclusive weekday learning opportunities for families who educate their children at home vary from museum to museum, but they’re basically a pre-planned field trip. Some Homeschool Days offer a single day hands-on learning class and time to explore exhibits, while others offer a multi-week course that explores a topic in-depth.
Some important reminders when signing up for Homeschool Days:
Pre-registration is required – and many programs fill up fast, so don’t wait till the last minute.
Parents are not usually allowed to stay in the class.
- Classes start on time, so plan your driving and parking time accordingly.
Check on sibling policies. Museums understand homeschool families travel together, but siblings are often expected to be supervised by parents outside of the homeschoool class area.
Most classes are split into 2 or 3 age groups, rather than grade-levels. Some museums have strict policies about age-placement, so ask ahead of time if you’re hoping to skip your child up to a higher level.
| Baltimore Metro Area | Organization | Description | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Baltimore City | Maryland Science Center | Sept 10 – 27, 2019 Astronomy, outer space, paleontology, anatomy, physics, more |
www.mdsci.org/learn/homeschoolers/ |
| Baltimore City | National Aquarium | Homeschool Days: Sept 10 – 12; Dec 17 – 19, 2019; and Mar 10 – 12, 2020 Monthly Thematic Homeschool Programs: October – February Marine biology |
www.aqua.org/Visit/Homeschool-Programs |
| Baltimore City | Baltimore Symphony Orchestra | Oct 29-30 and Dec 5-6, 2019; Feb 19-20 and Apr 1-2, 2020 Daytime classical music concerts |
www.bsomusic.org/education-community |
| Baltimore City | Maryland Historical Society | Oct 16 and Dec 11, 2019 Mar 11 and May 13, 2020 Maryland history |
www.mdhs.org/education/mdhs/homeschool-days |
| Baltimore City | Baltimore Museum of Industry | Sept 18, Oct 2, & Nov 6, 2019 Industrial revoultion, technology, Maryland history |
www.thebmi.org/visit/school-field-trips/ |
| Baltimore City | The Walters Art Museum | 3rd Thursday of every month Art, history |
thewalters.org/experience/programs/families/homeschool |
| Baltimore City | Port Discovery | Check for dates Creative free play |
www.portdiscovery.org/educate/group-visits-field-trips |
| Baltimore City | Ripley’s Believe Or Not | Sept 5 – Oct 15, 2019 Social studies |
www.ripleyentertainment.com/educator-days-coming-back/ |
| Baltimore | Benjamin Banneker Museum | Check for dates. US History, astronomy, math, etc |
friendsofbenjaminbanneker.com/events-and-programs |
| Baltimore | Jump Zone | 2nd Friday of each month P.E. |
www.skyzone.com/timonium/programs/homeschool-hop |
| Howard | Robinson Nature Center | 1st Thursdays and Fridays each month. Environmental science, wildlife animals | www.howardcountymd.gov/RNC/education |
| Carroll | Day’s End Farm Horse Rescue | 2nd or 3rd Tuesday of each month. Animal husbandry | www.defhr.org/learn/educational-programs/homeschool-education-series |
| Harford | Eden Mill Nature Center | Check dates. Nature-art classes |
www.edenmill.org/Programs.html |
| Eastern Shore | Organization | Description | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Caroline | Adkins Arboretum | Thursdays, Sept – Nov Environmental science, botany, biology |
www.adkinsarboretum.org/programs_events |
| Talbot | Chesapeake Bay Maritime Museum | Sept 9, 2019 Marine science, biology, boating, history |
cbmm.org/event/homeschool-day/ |
| Wicomico | Salisbury Zoo | Check for dates Animal science, environmental science |
www.salisburyzoo.org/maryland-salisbury-zoo-events-news |
| Southern Maryland | Organization | Description | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Anne Arundel | Historic London Town & Gardens | 2nd Wednesdays each month US History |
www.historiclondontown.org/homeschool-programs |
| Calvert | Anne Marie Sculpture Gardens | Check for dates Nature & art |
www.annmariegarden.org/annmarie2/node/273 |
| Calvert | Flags Pond Nature Park | First Fridays Environmental science, biology, paleontology, fossil collecting |
www.calvertparks.org |
| Calvert | Calvert Marine Museum | Check for dates. Environmental science, marine biology, Maryland history, fossil collecting |
www.calvertmarinemuseum.com/182/Homeschool |
| St. Mary’s | Sotterly Plantation | Sept 18, 2019 Maryland History |
www.sotterley.org |
| St. Mary’s County | Historic St. Mary’s City | Sept 25, 2019 Native American & Maryland History |
hsmcdigshistory.org/programs-tours/programsevents |
| Western Maryland | Organization | Description | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Frederick | Fountain Rock Park & Nature Center | Check for dates Environmental science, biology, Native American history |
www.recreater.com/377/Home-School-Programs |
| Frederick | Rose Hill Manor Museum | Tuesdays or Thursdays, weekly from Sept to Dec 2019 Maryland History, farming, STEAM |
www.recreater.com/647/Home-School-Programs |
| Frederick | Catoctin Creek Nature Center | Check for dates Environmental science, wildlife biology |
www.recreater.com/170/Home-School-Programs |
| Frederick | Historical Society of Frederick County | 2nd Thursday each month Maryland History |
frederickhistory.org/programs/school-group-programs/homeschool-days |
| Capital Region | Organization | Description | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Montgomery | Sandy Spring Adventure Park | Sept 13, Oct 4, & Nov 1, 2019 Team building, environmental learning |
sandyspringadventurepark.org/homeschool-days |
| Montgomery | Woodlawn Manor Cultural Park, Kingsley Schoolhouse, & other sites | Check for dates Maryland History |
www.montgomeryparks.org/search/homeschool |
| Montgomery | Kid Museum | Check for dates Engineering, science |
kid-museum.org/programs/homeschool |
| Montgomery | Badlands Playspace | Check for dates Elementary science, creative playtime |
badlandsplayspace.com/homeschooldays |
| Prince George’s | College Park Aviation Museum | Oct 22, 2019 Aeronautics, history |
www.collegeparkaviationmuseum.com/1625/Programs |
| Prince George’s | Montpelier Mansion | Check for dates Maryland History |
www.pgparks.com/3068/Educational-School-Programs |
| Prince George’s | National Colonial Farm | Check for dates US History, animal science, farming, environmental science |
accokeekfoundation.org |
| Prince George’s | Patuxent Wildlife Refuge Center | Check for dates Environmental education, animal science |
www.fws.gov/refuge/Patuxent/visit/PublicPrograms.html |
| DC & Virginia | Organization | Description | Web Site |
|---|---|---|---|
| Washington DC | Smithsonian Museum of Natural History | Paleontology, early human history, bugs, etc | qrius.si.edu |
| Washington DC | National Zoo | Biology, animal science | nationalzoo.si.edu/education/classes |
| Washington DC | National Building Museum | Architecture, engineering | www.nbm.org/learn/schools-teachers/homeschool |
| Washington DC | Dumbarton House | US History | dumbartonhouse.org/home-school |
| Washington DC | Spy Museum | History, math, science & technology | www.spymuseum.org/education-programs/educators |
| Fairfax County | George Washington’s Mt Vernon | US History | www.mountvernon.org/plan-your-visit/calendar/events/homeschool-day |
| Albermarle County | Thomas Jefferson’s Monticello | US History | www.monticello.org/site/visit/events/home-educators-day |
| Orange County | James Madison’s Montpelier Mansion | US History | www.montpelier.org/events/homeschool-day |
| Wallops Island | Chincoteague Bay Field Station | Marine biology, environmental science | www.cbfieldstation.org/homeschool.html |
| Williamsburg | Colonial Williamsburg | Colonial History | www.colonialwilliamsburg.com/plan/homeschoolers |
| Williamsburg | Jamestown Settlement | Colonial History | www.historyisfun.org/learn/homeschool-scouts/homeschool-program |
| Page County | Luray Caverns | Geology | luraycaverns.com/events/home-school-week-at-luray-caverns |
| Virginia Beach | Virginia Aquarium | Marine biology | www.virginiaaquarium.com/learn/Pages/School-Programs.aspx |
Last modified on September 4, 2019
