Conner Prairie is a living history museum that has a long-standing reputation for educating children about our rich American history. Those children include the many homeschoolers that visit every year. There are so many things for families to do at Conner Prairie–experience 19th-century life, get a taste of prairie living, roam the more than 800 acres, and explore all that Conner Prairie has to offer. These Conner Prairie homeschool programs, events, and self-guided experiences will immerse your students in nature and history for an educational day they won’t soon forget!
Homeschool Opportunities at Conner Prairie
Homeschoolers are welcomed year-round, however, Conner Prairie offers special homeschool days each year where there are special discounts on tickets. Usually, there is a 15-person group minimum to get discounted pricing, but on homeschool days there is no group requirement. Admission drops to only $8 per student, and the primary educator is admitted for free in each family. Additional adults are only charged the chaperone pricing of $8. These prices make for a great opportunity for families to plan a field trip at a great value.
Lenape Indian Camp
The Indian village at Conner Prairie is an immersive experience where you walk into a recreated Lenape Village. You learn about their homes, how they lived, what they ate, and life in the village. This is a great opportunity to explore another culture and learn about the rich Native American history right here in Indiana.
My kids love visiting and checking out the wood-carved canoe! You can also test out your hunting skills with axe throwing in the village.
1836 Prairietown
Step back in time in Prairietown, where your homeschoolers learn all about how people lived in the 19th century. Visit the doctor’s home, help in the garden, explore the different houses, and speak to many residents who live and work in Prairietown. This hands-on exhibit teaches kids some handy new skills, and they get to really experience life in the 1800s.
We love to take field trips to Conner Prairie because the residents change each time you visit. Every day is a new experience and an opportunity to learn something different from the previous visit. It keeps students engaged and eager to learn and, as a homeschool mom, I love that they are excited to learn about such an important subject.
Habitat and Trails
While history has always been the main focus at Conner Prairie, the museum also leans into educating visitors about the natural environments surrounding them. The Habitat exhibit is naturally integrated throughout the outdoor areas as a series of small, educational wayside stops packed full of art and information about animal homes.
Keep an eye out for these signs and displays, particularly near the Treetop Outpost, where several are clustered. The Habitat exhibit is perfect for enriching any visit to Conner Prairie but is particularly helpful if you are currently studying nature, biology, or Indiana wildlife.
Dive even deeper into nature by setting off on the 2-mile journey on the Conner Prairie Trails. If you’re visiting with a stroller or wheelchair, or just prefer a smoother walk, take the paved Prairie Trail. For a more rugged adventure, try the R.B. Annis Vista Trail. Both options follow roughly the same route and have trailheads near the Treetop Outpost and behind the Symphony Bowl. Don’t forget to ask for an Adventure Backpack at the Treetop Outpost and pick up a self-guided program packed full of info about the environments you’ll pass through.
Treetop Outpost | Perfect for Elementary & Younger
There is so much to explore at the Treetop Outpost! With a focus on creative play in nature, this stop will entertain and educate your younger kids for hours. Get some energy out by climbing to the top of Fort Hoosier. Use magnifying tools to get up-close views of rocks, shells, leaves, and more. Play in the sand or build in the nature-inspired construction area. While your preschoolers might not be ready to pick up on all the historical information presented in Prairietown or the Lenape Camp, you can bet they’ll be learning through play at the Treetop Outpost.
Conner Prairie Homeschool Programs and Events
As mentioned before, Conner Prairie’s Homeschool Days are popular times to visit at a discounted rate and tickets sell out fast. However, these events are just the start of the educational offerings just for homeschoolers at Conner Prairie.
Check the Conner Prairie Homeschool Programs page on the museum’s website for current classes. At the time of publishing, homeschooled teens can register for 4-week long wheel-thrown pottery classes. School-age children can check out Curious by Nature, a monthly program on varying topics ranging from STEM themes to nature to farm animals.
Families with preschoolers and elementary kids will want to try Stay and Play. These open house days are held throughout the colder months in the Prairie House and include creative art and play invitations. Each child must be pre-registered and paid, but adults accompany children for free.
Coming Soon: A New Welcome Center and Promised Land as Proving Ground
Conner Prairie is growing and adding new experiences and learning opportunities all the time. In the winter of 2024, the museum closed its former Welcome Center, which housed the popular Discovery Station, to make way for a brand-new building with indoor exhibits. The projected opening for this new space has yet to be announced, but will likely be sometime in 2025.
Promised Land as Proving Ground is set to be fully open in 2025, but you can experience portions of the exhibit now. Woven throughout Prairietown, this exhibit aims to use audiovisual, augmented reality, and hands-on elements to teach about African American history in Indiana.
This is just a taste of all there is to learn at Conner Prairie. The entire museum encompasses the values that many homeschoolers share, including hands-on learning and individualized education. The museum offers many opportunities to meet the needs of all students and teachers alike. Conner Prairie has always been dedicated and passionate about providing a space to learn. You can find the most up-to-date homeschooling information on the Conner Prairie website.
Find out when you can visit Conner Prairie and other museums for free!
Hungry for more history? Visit these presidential locations around Indiana.
