Homeschool hub: Washington DC

Hands-on nature mornings at the Clifton Institute field station. Dec 16: Grasslands! Jan 13: Winter Waterfowl! Feb 10: Winter Trees! Adults must stay with their kids (adults are free).

• Ages: Ages 5–18 with an adult
• Cost: $5 per participant ages 5–18; adults free
• When: Wed Dec 16, 2026; Wed Jan 13 and Wed Feb 10, 2027 · 10 a.m.–noon

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Self-paced homeschool day activities. Nov 20: Sounds of Freedom: The Bible in American Music (includes 50% off Silent Star tickets). Dec 18: The Bible in Our Community. Start any time from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.; the activity takes about 2–3 hours.

• Ages: Homeschool families
• Cost: Discounted admission $16.99 plus a $4.99 Homeschool Day add-on
• When: Fri Nov 20 and Fri Dec 18, 2026 · 9 a.m.–5 p.m. (start by 3 p.m.)

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Fairfax County Park Authority homeschool science classes. Dec 3: Vertebrate Classification (1 seat left when checked). Dec 15: Intro to Planetary Astronomy. Jan 12: Intro to Mammalogy.

• Ages: Ages 6–12
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Thu Dec 3, Tue Dec 15, 2026; Tue Jan 12, 2027 · 1–3 p.m.

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Fairfax County Park Authority homeschool history class about colonial life. The Nov 13 session had a waitlist when checked.

• Ages: Ages 6–12
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Fri Nov 13, 2026 (waitlist); Wed Jan 6, 2027 · Nov 13: 1–3 p.m.; Jan 6: 10 a.m.–noon

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Fairfax County Park Authority history class for homeschoolers on historic letter writing.

• Ages: Ages 7–13
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Thu Jan 21, 2027 · Not listed on source

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Outdoor nature class for homeschoolers at Burke Lake. Two age groups; the ages 4–6 group had a waitlist when checked.

• Ages: Ages 4–6 and 7–10
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Tue Oct 27, 2026 · Ages 7–10: 10–11:30 a.m.; ages 4–6: 10–11 a.m. (waitlist)

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Weekly daytime swim lessons for homeschool students at Fairfax County rec centers. Current sessions run Oct 27–Dec 15 and Oct 28–Dec 16 (weekly).

• Ages: Ages 6–17
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Weekly sessions Oct 27–Dec 15 and Oct 28–Dec 16, 2026 · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Weekly homeschool classes on the county calendar: Get Up And Move! and Pottery (Thursdays), STEM Lab: Physical Science (Thursdays and Fridays), Farm and Forest Homeschool Enrichment (Fridays) and Destination Imagination for school age, middle school and teens (Tuesdays).

• Ages: School age (one Destination Imagination group is school age/teen)
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Weekly through the fall (see the county calendar for each date) · Thu: Get Up And Move! 10 and 11 a.m., Pottery 1 p.m., STEM Lab 2 p.m.; Fri: Farm and Forest 10 a.m., STEM Lab 10:30 a.m.; Tue: Destination Imagination 10:30 a.m., 12:30 p.m. (middle school), 2:30 p.m. (school age/teen)

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Self-paced, hands-on program about Marines and STEM, with curriculum for all grade levels. Dates are posted on the museum's calendar of events.

• Ages: All ages
• Cost: Free
• When: See the museum calendar for dates · Museum open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Request a ranger-led program for your homeschool group (send the request at least 30 days ahead). The park also has a Kids in Parks TRACK Trail, a Children's Discovery Area and a Junior Ranger program.

• Ages: School groups
• Cost: Most programs $5 per student
• When: By request (30 days' notice) · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Mount Vernon's homeschool page has learning resources and field trip information. The fall 2026 homeschool days are over and no spring 2027 date was posted when checked.

• Ages: K–12
• Cost: Not listed on source
• When: Any time · Estate open 9 a.m.–5 p.m.

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Check out a Virginia State Parks parking pass for 7 days (one renewal). One per household.

• Ages: Checkout by any adult cardholder
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Library open hours · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Borrow a nature backpack with a free Virginia State Parks day pass, binoculars, board games, American Revolution and Civil War history kits (the library says they're great for home schools), Launchpad learning tablets and Dark Skies kits.

• Ages: All ages
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Library open hours · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Borrow a Virginia State Parks pass (call for availability). Homeschool teachers who live or work in Loudoun can get an educator card (up to 50 items) with proof of homeschool status, renewed yearly by Oct 1.

• Ages: All ages
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Library open hours · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Participating Virginia public libraries lend a parking pass good at any Virginia state park (except Natural Bridge and the Southwest Virginia Museum), including Sky Meadows and Leesylvania.

• Ages: All ages
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Library open hours · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Homeschool teachers can get an educator account with 9-week loans by bringing the state's homeschool approval letter. Free MCPL cards are open to Maryland and DC residents and to Alexandria, Arlington, Fairfax, Loudoun and Prince William residents.

• Ages: All ages
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Library open hours · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

DC children get a free book by mail every month from birth to age 5. Cardholders can stream Kanopy Kids videos and borrow eBooks and audiobooks on Libby.

• Ages: All ages (books by mail: birth to 5)
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Any time · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Free online homework help through BrainFuse and the 1000 Books Before Kindergarten reading program.

• Ages: All ages
• Cost: Free with a library card
• When: Any time · Not listed on source

See the full card on our Washington DC page →

Michaels' own policy lists "teachers who work in ... home schools" under who qualifies for its 15% teacher discount. Many items are excluded (for example clearance, books, classes and some brands), so check the list on the policy page.

• Ages: For the parent-teacher
• Cost: Free to join (Michaels Rewards)
• When: Year-round
• Proof needed: Verify as a teacher in Michaels Rewards (checked by a third-party service) with a document showing your name, your school or organization, and your status. Michaels says a valid educator ID lets you make 3 purchases while verification finishes.

Apple's Education Sales Policy says any K-12 employee is eligible for education pricing, "including homeschool teachers."

• Ages: For the parent-teacher
• Cost: Education prices (vary by product)
• When: Year-round
• Proof needed: Apple may ask for extra qualifying information before it accepts an order, and it audits education purchases, so keep documents that show you homeschool. Yearly limits apply (for example one MacBook and two iPads per year).

Library science program for homeschool students.

• Ages: Not listed on source
• Cost: Free
• When: Tue Oct 27, 2026 · 3 p.m.

See the full card on our Washington DC page →