GIVE YOUR HOMESCHOOLER A UNIQUE LEARNING EXPERIENCE!
Conner Prairie’s homeschool programs are a dream come true for homeschool families, offering self-guided adventures, hands-on history, and nature programs that perfectly complement your home curriculum. From exploring Prairietown to diving into multi-week experiences like nature journaling, it’s a fun, immersive learning playground where curiosity leads the way.
HOMESCHOOL DAYS
Dates: April 21, May 28, August 25, September 23, 2026
Give your learners a full day to connect with history and nature through unlimited discovery. Homeschool Days at Conner Prairie are designed for families who want engaging, inspiring, and self-paced learning.
Explore a deep sense of history through tree-lined pathways and discover nature in new ways as you participate in programs that encourage observation, deep listening, and thoughtful questioning.
Each Homeschool Day features unique partners and engaging activities (past collaborators have included American Cricket, Utopia Wildlife, and Boxx the Artist), so every visit offers something to spark curiosity.
Homeschool Days invite students to “step into the story” as we also strive to step into theirs. Come for the full day or drop in for a few hours — either way, you’ll leave with inspired learners and plenty to talk about on the ride home.
Homeschool Days Programming
- May 28
- August 25
- September 23
-
Poetry Workshop with Michelle Banks
1 p.m. and 3 p.m.
Prairietown GroveHome is…
Is home a place or a feeling? In this interactive workshop, students will use the five senses to write a poem that explores their notions of home. No prior experience writing or reading poetry is necessary.
Dr. Michelle A. Banks is a cultural worker and transdisciplinary scholar whose work explores the nexus of memory, place-making, and sustainability. A curator with the Smithsonian Center for Folklife and Cultural Heritage in Washington, D.C., she co-curated the following Smithsonian Folklife Festival programs: Youth and the Future of Culture (2025) and Creative Encounters: Living Religions in the U.S. (2023).
This storytelling workshop was developed as a companion to the Making History, Making Change Lecture Series, organized by Smithsonian Affiliations.
There is a limited capacity for this storytelling workshop.
Sign up in the Clowes Commons when you arrive!
Indiana Department of Environmental Management
10 a.m.–1 p.m.
Treetop Outpost Picnic TablesBirds need clean water too! Learn how protecting our water resources helps birds with the Indiana Department of Environmental Management!
Guided Nature Walk: Black Birders Week
11 a.m.
The Trails at Conner PrairieLet's enjoy a mid-morning stroll to find birds. Black Birders Week is a national, week-long program dedicated to uplifting Black nature enthusiasts while highlighting the visibility of Black birders in nature. This walk will be co-facilitated by Nicole O'Neal of Outdoor Afro Indy.
19th Century “Gross” History
Throughout the day
PrairietownJoin residents of Prairietown to discover some of the "grosser" sides of history! Learn about 19th Century medicines and medical practices. Are there things we do today that have their roots in these "gross" practices?
-
Games in Prairietown
Throughout the day
PrairietownJoin residents throughout Prairietown as they welcome in the warmer weather by enjoying games and other Summertime activities.
Play American Cricket!
11 a.m.–3 p.m.
The JunctionJoin in a game of American Cricket! Come and discover what "play ball" meant to the people of Indiana before there was baseball!
Dance Like a Crane
10:30 and 11:30 a.m.
The JunctionJoin the International Crane Foundation to learn about crane behaviors. Show off your best crane dance moves as you practice communicating like cranes! Please note that there is limited capacity for this program. Sign up in the Lilly Entry Hall when you arrive!
-
Water Quality Testing
11 a.m.–1 p.m.
River Canoe OutpointJoin us anytime between 11am and 1pm as we partner with Hoosier Riverwatch to learn strategies for testing water quality in a community science project. Learn how to collect water samples and perform chemical tests to assess the quality of water. Explore macroinvertebrates, the small aquatic animals who live in the White River, and how they provide clues into the health of our water. The data we collect will be added to a statewide database tracking the health of Indiana waterways. Be a part of this important community science program and learn how to tend to our shared water resources.
Lunch on the Lawn
11:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m.
Prairietown GroveBring your own lunch and join citizens of Prairietown as they enjoy lunch in the Prairietown grove! Learn about seasonality, recipes, and styles of food.
Curious By Nature
Join us for an exciting homeschool program designed to enhance your current home studies by offering your children the time, space, and freedom to let their innate curiosity for the natural world around them thrive!
We are excited to invite you and your homeschool community to join us as we spend time together in nature’s classroom, exploring over 1,000 acres of beautiful, natural and historical spaces here at Conner Prairie.
Classes are held on Monday mornings when Conner Prairie is closed to the public. This allows us greater access and freedom to explore the prairie’s beauty and ignites your child’s curiosity by giving them a new perspective of the spaces we’ll discover. Classes are available for a variety of ages, beginning at age 5 years through teens. For safety reasons, we kindly ask that younger siblings do not attend. Please always dress for the weather, outdoor exploration, and for the specific experience you have registered for.
Note: Most classes require a lot of walking and physical activity. If your child has accessibility needs, please call our Guest Relations department at 317-776-6000, and we will do our best to accommodate and provide the best experience for your child.
Ages: Please note age recommendation for each program.
Student Prices:
Price varies per program. Children must be accompanied by an adult throughout the program._(1).jpg)
2026 Curious By Nature Dates:
- February 23: Stick Season Winter Walk, ages 5 years and older, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- March 23: Pizza & Ponderings, ages 9 years and older, 10 a.m.
- April 6: Foraging for Beginners, ages 8 years and older, 10 a.m.
- April 20: Investigate: Woods & River, ages 5 years and older, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- May 18: All About Birds, ages 6 years and older, 10 a.m.
- June 8: Family Friendly Forest Bathing, ages 5 years and older, 10 a.m.
- June 22: Animal Love & Care, ages 5 years and older, 10 a.m.
- July 6: Civics and Community Responsibility, ages 7 years and older, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- July 13: Let’s Go Creek Stomping!, ages 5 years and older, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- July 20: The Science Behind Flight, ages 7 years and older, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- August 3: Canoeing Down the White River, ages 8 years and older, 10 p.m.
- August 24: Watercolor Wanders, ages 7 years and older, 10 a.m. and 1 p.m.
- September 14: The Art of History, ages 9 years and older
- September 28: What's Weather Got to Do with It?, ages 7 years and older
- October 5: Simple Machines in Action, ages 6 years and older
- October 19: Favorite Kid Spot, ages 5 years and older
- November 9: Trails for Kids, ages 4 years and older
- November 16: Thriving in the Winter and Living off the Land, ages 5 years and older
- December 21: Winter Solstice Celebration, ages 5 years and older
Please Note:
- Please read each class description carefully and note the recommended ages as a few classes are designed specifically with our older learners in mind.
- Due to the nature of these programs, the experience will not be easily accessible for strollers or wagons. We highly suggest if younger siblings need to attend with you, that baby backpacks/carriers are used instead.
- Please always dress for the weather and outdoor play and exploration.
- If your child has accessibility needs, please call our Guest Services department, and we will do our best to accommodate and provide the best experience for your child.
.jpg)
Homeschool Series
- Hand-Built History
- World of Foraging
- Community Science
Dates: March 12, 19, and 26, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
Price: $60 Members, $70 Nonmembers, One adult free, Additional adults $10
Conner Prairie’s Homeschool Series serves to complement your home studies with the addition of programs focused on nature, science, history, or the arts.
With our Hand-Built History Homeschool Series program, discover the meaning and purpose of historic trades in the 19th century as you spend time with our potters, carpenters, and tinsmiths behind the scenes in their working shops.
Each class in this three-class series will focus on a specific skill. Experience hand building in the pottery shop, build a simple wooden treasure box in the carpenter's shop, and create a tinsmith project.
Students will gain insight into the world of historic trades, its history, and the value and importance of its preservation. This series is designed for children ages 8 and up.
Dates: April 27, May 4 and 11, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
Ages: 8+
Price: $40 Members, $50 Nonmembers, One adult free, Additional adults $10
Conner Prairie’s Homeschool Series serves to complement your home studies with the addition of programs focused on nature, science, history, or the arts.
Whether in your backyard or deep in the backwoods, foraging is a timeless skill that has helped people supplement and survive throughout history. Join us for this introductory class to learn the basics of and take your first steps into foraging as we explore lesser-known spots along Conner Prairie’s scenic trails.
Develop valuable skills, make new “foraging friends,” and reconnect with nature as we venture into the forest with curiosity and a shared passion for discovering more about The World of Foraging.
Dates: August 26, September 2 and 9, 2026
Time: 10 a.m. – Noon
Price: $40 Members / $50 Non-Members, One adult free, Additional adults $10
Ages: 8+
Build real scientific skills in this three-week, multi-age series focused on observing and data collection. In this homeschool series, we will explore the environment through hands-on activities throughout Conner Prairie and share our discoveries with each other, as well as with local and national scientific communities.
Each week we will focus on a different topic: water quality testing, finding birds, and using mobile apps for identification. Sessions meet once per week and are designed for mixed ages, making it simple for families and co-ops to learn together.
Classes
Enhance your homeschool journey with our historic skills classes that spark curiosity and build connections to the past for stronger perspectives of today's innovation. Our classes are a great way to bring history to life by immersing your students with skills that inspire and teach creativity, discovery, and stewardship of important skills.