Below is a list of educational opportunities and resources in the local tri-state area that you can use to enrich your home education program.
(Due to COVID-19, some of these resources may not be available at this time or on a limited basis. Please call before visiting to verify the extent of services available.)
Performing and Visual Arts | Fire Safety | Environmental Programs | Historical Locations/Museums | Field Trips for Families/Groups |Sports and Recreation
| Summer Programs | High School/Teens | Books/Curriculum
Capitol Theater – Chambersburg, PA
Historic Capitol Theater offers live performances, movies and events and a homeschool theatre class.
Chambersburg Community Theater
This local theater group offers lots of options for homeschool families. There are open auditions for kids and adults that want to be on stage. There are also ways to get involved behind the scenes with directing, stage crew, building, tech, and more. STAGE camp is offered over the summer for kids ages 8-18. CCT is a fun way for families to make memories together.
Chambersburg Council for the Arts
The Council for the Arts sponsors local events and offers a wide selection of classes for both adults and students.
Cumberland Valley School of Music (CVSM) – Chambersburg, PA
The school offers many choices of lessons in instrumentals, vocals and drama.
The Maryland Theatre – Hagerstown, MD
The historic Maryland Theatre, home of the Maryland Symphony Orchestra, offers performances of artists, comedians, orchestra concerts, children’s shows, musicians, recitals, stage shows, and much more.
The Maryland Symphony Orchestra – Hagerstown, MD
Students in grades K-12 can attend select classical performances for FREE. The program is restricted to seating sections priced $34 or lower. Up to two (2) free student tickets allowed per paid adult. Parents can contact the box office directly to order student tickets. High school students who would like to attend unaccompanied by an adult should contact the box office directly to make a special reservation for their student ticket.
The Walters Art Museum – Balimore, MD
Located in Baltimore’s Mount Vernon neighborhood, the Walters is free for all. The museum’s campus includes five historic buildings and a stunning panorama of thousands of years of art from around the world. The museum also offers a wide range of programs, now available in a digital realm at your convenience, including talks and lectures, performances, and activities for families and kids.
Washington County Museum of Fine Arts – CIty Park, Hagerstown, MD
The Museum’s permanent collection encompasses over 6,500 objects, including paintings, prints, drawings, sculptures, and decorative arts. Admission and parking is free (donations appreciated). The museum also offers art classes for both students and adults at various times throughout the year.
FIRE SAFETY
Most local fire departments are happy to arrange a fire safety program presentation for a co-op or field trip group. Here are some of the local fire departments who have hosted fire safety programs for MDHSA in the past:
Chambersburg Fire Department
Marion Volunteer Fire Company
Mont Alto Volunteer Fire Department
Rescue Hose Company #1, Greencastle, PA
Waynesboro Fire Department
ENVIRONMENTAL PROGRAMS
Catoctin Mountain Park/Cunningham Falls – Catoctin, MD
From a gentle stroll in the woods to a semi-rugged hike, there are over 25 miles of trails to choose from. In addition, Teachers can find lesson plans and information about field trips.
Fountain Rock Park and Nature Center – Walkersville, MD
Fountain Rock Park is an environmental park on 22.5 acres near Frederick, MD. The Nature Center is available to the public on Saturdays (10 am – 4 pm) and Sundays (1 – 4 pm). Contact the Nature Center for information on their homeschool programs.
Hawk Mountain Sanctuary – Kempton, PA
The view from Hawk Mountain offers beautiful vistas and great looks at raptors, some of the largest birds in the world. Learn about the role these predators play in the ecosystem and stay up-to-date on our local-to-global science, training, and education programs. Open year-round. Check website for hours of operation and admission fees.
Kings Gap Environmental Learning Center – Carlisle, PA
Kings Gap consists of 2,531 acres of forest on South Mountain, with hiking trails, a permanent orienteering course, and other recreational and educational opportunities. Kings Gap is one of several state parks specifically dedicated to provide environmental education programs for children, teachers, and the general public.
Shaver’s Creek Environmental Center –
We provide educational and recreational opportunities for families, schools, corporate groups, and Penn State students. Come hike a trail, see live animals up close, learn about conservation, and enjoy our programs. The Litzinger Herpetarium and Aviary are free and open to the public daily. We also offer seasonal opportunities to meet the animals through guided programs. Check the website for details.
Strawberry Hill Nature Center – Fairfield, PA
Offers trails and grounds that are open dawn to dusk, daily and year round free of charge. Check their web site for a list of children’s nature programs available throughout the year.
Wolf Sanctuary of PA – Lititz, PA
Originally created as a private rescue for gray wolves and wolf-dogs, Wolf Sanctuary of PA has grown into an educational facility. Schedule a visit to this 80-plus acre woodland home of the Wolves of Speedwell. Guides lead guests around to several of the packs, providing information about the wolves here as well as information about their biology and conservation
HISTORICAL LOCATIONS/MUSEUMS
American Helicopter Museum – West Chester, PA
The museum has over 35 helicopters on display inside and outside and offers a hands-on experience of rotary flight for visitors of all ages. The museum’s regular open hours are Thursday, Friday and Saturday, 10 am-5 pm, and Sunday, noon-5 pm.
Antietam National Battlefield – Sharpsburg, MD *Good for field trips!
Open Year Round. Visitor Center Open 7 Days a Week from 9:00 a.m. – 5:00 p.m. Park and Visitor Center closed Thanksgiving, December 25, and January 1. The Battle of Antietam is known as the bloodiest day of the Civil War with 23,000 soldiers killed, wounded or missing after twelve hours of savage combat. Park ranger programs provide additional learning opportunities; contact the visitor center for more information.
B&O Railroad Museum – Baltimore, MD
Experience two centuries of American railroading history throughout the museum’s campus of historic buildings, exhibitions, interactive displays, and rolling stock (locomotives, passenger cars, freight cars, and maintenance vehicles).
Conococheague Institute – Welsh Run, PA *Good for field trips!
Hands-on regional learning center headquartered within Rock Hill Farm, a well-preserved historic farmstead that was established in the early 18th century. Grounds are open Daily for visiting the 30 acres of Natural Resource with several historic structures, and a selection of school programs are available for field trips, varying from Colonial Lifeskills to Nature Walks.
Fort Frederick State Park – Off I-70 between Hancock & Hagerstown
A massive stone fort built in 1756 as a defense during the French & Indian War. Reenactments the last full weekends of June, July, August and September. Admission fee on the weekends of the military pageants.
Gettysburg National Military Park and Museum and Visitor Center – Gettysburg, PA *Good for field trips!
⇒The battlefield park grounds and roads are free of charge. The park is open daily from 6 am – 10 pm, April 1 – October 31, and from 6 am – 7pm,
November 1 – March 31. Comfort Stations located throughout the park are open for visitors during regular park hours. These stations are closed for the winter from mid-November through March.
⇒The Museum and Visitor Center is open throughout the year (except for the following exceptions: Closed on Thanksgiving Day, Christmas Day, New Years Day – Early Closure on Christmas Eve – 1 pm) Check the website for details on hours of operation, admission prices, and for availability of ranger programs.
Landis Valley Museum – Lancaster, PA *Good for field trips!
Landis Valley Museum, a Pennsylvania German living history village, invites you to visit a place where the present meets the past. The museum contains a diverse collection of artifacts and historic buildings. It tells a simple story with a common theme–Pennsylvania German Life–the historical identity of the 18th and 19th century German population in Pennsylvania and Lancaster County.
Living History Encampment – Gettysburg, PA
On special weekends, May through November, the Gettysburg Heritage Center hosts complimentary Living History Encampments. Visitors are welcomed to actively learn by strolling through the camp, viewing drills and demonstrations, and engaging in conversation with historians.
Museum of the American Revolution – Philadelphia, PA
Located in the heart of Historic Philadelphia, the Museum uncovers and shares compelling stories about the diverse people and complex events that sparked America’s ongoing experiment in liberty, equality, and self-government.
National Museum of Civil War Medicine – Frederick, MD
Follow in the footsteps of soldiers and surgeons to discover the harsh conditions, personal sacrifices, and brilliant innovations of Civil War medicine. Online resources are also available. See website for hours/prices.
Old Bedford Village – Bedford, PA *Good for field trips!
This living history village brings the past into the present. Old Bedford Village offers a rich variety of educational and entertainment activities. Visitors of all ages will enjoy our military and civilian re-enactments, colonial crafts, exhibits and instructions, festivals, murder/mystery evenings, old fashioned Christmas celebrations and more!
Renfrew Museum – Waynesboro, Pa
The park is open dawn to dusk year-round and is free of charge; visitors are encouraged to explore its historic grounds and miles of nature trails. Renfrew Museum features a Pennsylvania-German farmstead, an extensive collection of John Bell Pottery, and Nicodemus collection of American decorative arts. Contact Renfrew for admission hours and prices. (For educational programs and community events, please check out the Renfrew Institute which is also listed in the field trip section below.)
Rose Hill Manor Park – Frederick, MD *Good for field trips!
The property features a manor house, icehouse, log cabin, blacksmith shop, carriage collection, and two barns. In a child-friendly, hands-on environment the museums present the daily life of Thomas Johnson, Maryland’s first Governor, and the individuals who lived on the property as well as the history of agriculture and transportation in Frederick County. See website for hours and prices.
Rural Heritage Museum – Sharpsburg/Boonsboro, MD
Antique farm equipment, country store, 19th century post office, Conestoga wagon, Victorian era rooms, and much more. Open 1-4 pm Sat & Sun. Museum closed December 7, 2020 – April 9, 2021. Phone: 240-420-1714; Address: 7313 Sharpsburg Pike, Boonsboro, MD (7 miles South of Hagerstown at Washington Co. Ag Center)
Spruce Forest Artisan Village – Grantsville, MD
Village features working artisans inside authentic and historic log cabins, Bear Hill School and plank houses. Buildings date back to pre-Revolutionary War era. Open year round, Mon – Sat., 10-5. Various festivals and music concerts throughout the year.
State Museum of Pennsylvania – Harrisburg, PA *Good for field trips!
Located in Harrisburg across from the capital building (which is also open for tours), the State Museum has artifacts and exhibits which illustrate the Commonwealth’s history. The museum typically hosts homeschool days in March. A planetarium is also located at the museum. See website for hours, prices and programs.
FIELD TRIPS FOR FAMILIES/GROUPS
Are We There Yet? — The Ultimate Field Trip Resource
This is a must see site if you are planning a field trip! It features museums, nature centers, historic sites, farms, zoos, aquariums and many other attractions for families and groups in Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Delaware and Connecticut.
Catoctin Wildlife Preserve – Thurmont, MD
Hundreds of exciting exotic animal friends await you in this 50-acre park! Up-close exhibits and optional safari rides add to the fun. Check the website for days/hours of operation and admission prices.
Crystal Grottoes Caverns – on Md Rt. 34 near Boonsboro, MD
This natural phenomenon has more formations per square foot than any cave known to man. It is also the most naturally kept cave in the world. Open Fri, Sat, Sun: 11AM-3:30PM, tours on the hour. $20 – Adults, $10 – Kids 11 and under
(CASH ONLY)
Hands-On House, Children’s Museum of Lancaster – Lancaster, PA
Also known as Hands-On House, has lots of neat things that kids can touch. In fact that’s the whole point! Featuring interactive exhibits for children ages 2 to 10, this great museum encourages kids to learn by playing. And they’ll learn things they can really use in the future.
Hershey’s Chocolate World – Hershey Park, PA
Indulge your senses at Hershey’s Chocolate World, the official visitor’s center of Hershey Foods Corporation. Take a free chocolate-making tour ride, watch the 4-D Chocolate mystery movie (fee), create your own chocolate bar (fee), or take a tour on the Hershey Trolley Works (fee).
Hershey’s ZooAmerica® – Hershey, PA
Open year-round. The more than 200 animals that call ZooAmerica® home are native to five regions of the North American continent – from the dry deserts of the southwestern United States and Mexico to the expansive forests and tundra of Alaska and Canada. November and December hours are 10:00 a.m.-4:30 p.m. Check their website for details and ticket prices.
Indian Echo Caverns – Hummelstown, PA
The tour is 45 minutes in length. A professionally trained interpretive guide explains the caverns’ geology, history, and shows the beautiful formations of the caverns. Consult the website for hours and admission prices.
Land of Little Horses – Gettysburg, PA
Famous for our performing Falabella Miniature horses, our park has much to offer the animal lover of ANY age. We are dedicated to promotion and educating the public about alternative and exotic farm animals. Enjoy an up-close and touchable experience during our hands-on exhibits and demonstrations.
Maryland Zoo – Baltimore, MD
During your visit to the zoo, check out the variety of events (included with admission) going on every day including penguin feedings, keeper chats, and more. Check the website for hours, admission fees and cost of additonal, optional programs.
National Aquarium – Baltimore, MD
Learn about animals from all over our blue planet—from the depths of the ocean to the canopy of the rain forest—and discover the connection they all share with water. Check the website for hours and admission prices.
National Zoo – Washington, D.C.
Open year round (see website for hours) and with free admission, the National Zoo is a favorite with many families.
Planetarium: Dibert-Roddick Planetarium, Franklin Science Center, Shippensburg University, Public and Private Programs
Public: See website for dates and program titles. All shows start promptly at 7:30 p.m. Reservations are encouraged. Tickets are $1 (children half-price).
To make suggested reservations for any show, email your name and the number in your party to dibert-roddick@ship.edu. We’ll confirm and send directions to the Dibert-Roddick Planetarium. You may also call 717-477-1491 and leave a message.
Private: A limited number of private shows are available to school groups and civic organizations for $40 per show. For reservations or to schedule special shows, email dibert-roddick@ship.edu or call 717-477-1491.
Planetarium: William Brish Planetarium – Hagerstown, MD Public and Private Programs
Public: The planetarium offers programs available for public viewing twice a month with two different shows per date. Shows are generally on the 2nd and 4th Tuesday of the month unless noted otherwise and start at 5:30 and 7:00 p.m. 5:30 programs aimed at younger audiences. See website for prices and program details.
Private: You may reserve the planetarium during school hours or the evening. The cost for groups coming to the Planetarium during the day is $1.50 per student and $2 per adult with a $30 minimum. Evening prices are $2/student and $3/adult. The Planetarium can seat 64 people. Check the website for a list of available programs.
Pennsylvania Renaissance Faire School Days – Mt. Hope, PA
Experience the excitement and adventure of jousting knights and royal delights with colorfully costumed villagers and merrymakers. Musical, stunt and theatrical performances, magic acts and comical mud beggars are just a few of the many shows! If you attend the Renaissance Faire during a public day, you may find many of these programs to be too “mature” for your family. These programs are “cleaned up” for School Days.
School Days are divided into Elementary, Junior High or High School student days. An online study guide/handbook provides information about the various competitions that are open to any schools attending the faire. Check the website for details about registration and cost. A Summer Youth Day is also available in August.
The Renfrew Institute – Waynesboro, PA
Renfrew Institute provides an array of cultural history and environmental K-12 school programs, youth programs, and lectures and workshops for adults and teens
Shenandoah Valley Discovery Museum – Winchester, VA
With 4 levels of exhibits and 19,000 square feet, this Discovery Museum features a variety of interactive exhibits and fun ways to learn through hands-on PLAY! See website for hours and fees.
STAR Community’s Equestrian Center and Therapeutic Farm – Hagerstown, MD
STAR offers field trips that allow you to interact with horses and farm animals at their Hagerstown, MD location.
Whitaker Center – Harrisburg, PA
The Whitaker Center welcomes its guests to a unique educational and entertainment experience! Here you will find The IMAX® Theater, The Harsco Science Center, and The Sunoco Performance Theater.
Sports and Recreation
Antietam Recreation Annual Homeschool Field Day – Hagerstown, MD Antietam Recreation is a family owned and operated facility designed to provide exciting, active, and educational fun in a Christian atmosphere. Each year they host a Homeschool Field Day that is filled with outdoor activities, including a petting zoo, pool, slip-n-slide, boat slide, cable ride, canoeing & kayaking, horse rides, moon bounce, creek activities, tennis and game room. Check website for dates and details.
Frederick Warriors Christian Basketball Ministry – Frederick, MD
The Frederick Warriors Christian Basketball Ministry fields Varsity, Junior Varsity, and Middle School Boys and Girls teams that compete against local Christian schools. The age range for the teams will be those players entering 6th – 12th grades (with younger players eligible if needed). The Varsity team plays up to 30 games, the Junior Varsity team and the Middle School team plays up to 20. The winter season starts the first week of November and concludes the second week of March. In general, there will be two practices and one game a week each week during the season. Practices and games will generally be played on Mondays, Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Fridays. The Warrior not only have a competitive team, but they also conduct basketball clinics open to anyone held at different times of the year. For more information on the Warriors please contact Philip Passarelli at philip.a.passarelli@gmail.com
NOTE: The Warriors also have a homeschool cross country team that competes in a combination of 5K events and cross country meets. Events are typically in the Frederick/ Washington County area or the tri-state region.
NCCA (National Collegiate Athletic Association)– Future Eligibility requirements
Hagerstown Sports and Ice Arena
Cost for public skate sessions (check website for times) is $6.00 for admission and $3.00 to rent skates per person. (All ages) “Learn to Skate” lessons are offered on Mondays at 11:00am, Wednesdays at 6:00pm, and Saturdays at 11:00am. Cost: $120 for the 7-week session. See website for lesson details.
Roll ‘R’ WAY Family Skating Center – Chambersburg, PA (Facebook page)
Homeschool Skate on 4th Thursdays, 10:00 AM-12:00 Noon skating; 12:00-12:30 smaller children playtime; $4 per skater (there is no family rate minimum). Feel free to reach out to Will through FB Messenger @ Roll R Way Chambersburg or (717) 264-9916.
Summer Programs
Camp Joy El – Greencastle, PA
Camp Joy El is a nondenominational Christian camping and conference facility located near Greencastle, PA. In addition to holding their own programmed summer camps and retreats for children and youth, they also hold Home School Retreats designed especially for home schooled children and their families.
Cove Valley Christian Youth Camp – Mercersburg, PA
Cove Valley Christian Youth Camp is 169 acre camp located in a beautiful wooded setting. In addition to their annual summer camps, they also host winter youth retreats and family camp (a favorite of many homeschooling families).
Rhodes Grove Camp – Greencastle/Chambersburg, PA
Rhodes Grove offers an annual family camp, multiple weeks of day, elementary and teen camps. In addition if offers several weeks of equestrian camp, the only camp of its kind in the area.
HIGH SCHOOL/TEENS
City on the Hill (COTH) – Lancaster Bible College, Lancaster, PA
COTH is a unique one-week experience offered by the PA Family Institute for high school students that is designed to teach worldview principles and develop leadership skills. The action-packed week incorporates top-notch speakers who challenge the young people to think critically and be able to defend their viewpoints in the public square. COTH also provides the unique experience of using the political process as a means of cultivating leadership skills.
Hagerstown Community College – Hagerstown, MD
Local community college that offers dual enrollment for high school juniors and seniors (Essence Program)
Patrick Henry College Teen Leadership Camps – Purcellville, VA
PHC offers a wide variety of week long summer camps for teens: Strategic Intelligence, Constitutional Law, Leadership and Worldview, Literature and History, Moot Court, Entrepreneurship and Economics, Speech, Debate, WJI Multi-Media Journalism, Drama and Theater.
Worldview Academy Leadership Camp – Grove City College, Grove City, PA
This is a leadership camp that is designed to train Christian Leaders of tomorrow. Teens participate in a variety of workshops including topics on worldviews, servant leadership, and apologetics and Evangelism.
TeenPact – Harrisburg, PA
TeenPact ‘s goal is to train today’s youth to passionately and effectively impact government and culture for Christ. It is a one week class during your state’s legislative session where teens are able to interact with legislators and see how our government works close up.
Books/Curriculum
2nd & Charles – Hagerstown, MD
This store carries a very large selection of used books, videos, video games, etc. as well as some new merchandise. You can also sell your used books, videos, video games, etc. to 2nd & Charles for either cash or store credit.
Booksavers of MD, Used Books & Educational Materials – Hagerstown, MD
⇒Open Wed-Sat 10am-4pm. Children’s Books, Young Adult Books, Adult Books, Fiction, Non-Fiction, Religious, Classics, Books in Spanish, Audio Books, Vinyl Records, Magazines, Collectible Books, Local History, Clearance Items, Textbooks, Leveled Readers, Homeschool Resources, Manipulatives, Encyclopedias, and much more are sold onsite in their retail store.
⇒They also sells books on AbeBooks.com, Amazon, eBay, and Alibris.com.
⇒Three large inventory reduction sales are held each year (April, August, December). The warehouse is open to the public and is filled with large boxes full of books, most priced at $1 or less.
The Pennsylvania Curriculum Exchange – Dillsburg, PA.
This converted garage-into-homeschool-bookstore has over 38,000 books (new and used) and educational manipulatives providing a multitude of curriculum choices. Since everything is sorted by subject, you can easily compare different texts in science, math, language arts, etc. Visit their website for directions and business hours.
Wonder Book – Hagerstown & Frederick, MD
Wonder Book carries a very large selection of used books, videos, video games, etc. a. Wonder Book also buys used books, videos, video games, etc. Check their website for recently added books, book blogs, or ongoing sales.
If you know of a community resource that is not on the list, please email office@masondixonhomeschoolers.org to share that information with other homeschooling families.
Related:
Printable Homeschool Forms
Helpful Homeschool Links
Virtual Field Trips & Video Resources