Conner Prairie is a living history museum that has a long-standing reputation of educating children about our rich American history; and that includes the many homeschoolers that visit every year. There are so many things for families to do at Conner Prairie–immerse yourself in 19th Century life, experience prairie living, roam the more than 800 acres, and explore all that Conner Prairie has to offer.
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 $6.50 per student, and the primary educator is admitted for free in each family. Additional adults are only charged the chaperone pricing of $8.50. 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 to prairie town, 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 that live and work in Prairietown. This hands-on exhibit teaches kids some handy new skills, and they get to really experience life in the 1800’s.
1863 Civil War Journey
Over the covered bridge towards the back of the grounds, there is a Civil War reenactment that will take your breath away. Step into history and learn about Indiana during the Civil War. Come prepared to participate in military drills and arm your students to defend the land alongside the residents following the raid on July 8, 1863.
For younger children, there is also a great splash pad located in the Civil War area.
We love to take field trips to Conner Prairie, because the residents change each time you visit. Every day is a new experience and 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.
Discovery Station | Perfect for Elementary & Younger
The outdoor grounds close each winter, but that doesn’t keep us away from Conner Prairie! The indoor areas of the museum are some of our favorite spots to visit. Discovery Station is a great learning space for elementary-aged students and younger. The natural play space encourages learning through play and engaging the body. Build a fort, run a grocery store, nestle up with a good book in their reading hut, or create something new at their craft station.
We love utilizing the craft area to reinforce what we learned on our visit to Conner Prairie. You can expect to find engaging crafts, often set to an educational theme, that the kids can take home at the end of the day. They provide all crafting supplies, which sets you up to dive straight into learning and creating.
Makesmith Workshop | Perfect for Older Kids
Another awesome thing to do inside the Conner Prairie Museum is the Makesmith Workshop . This area is geared towards older children, and is a hands-on creating space. The projects available here rotate, and can consist of sewing and needlework, to woodworking with a hammer and saw. The projects will change to offer opportunities to work with pottery, metal, wood, and more materials. This is a great opportunity to allow your homeschooler to explore different skills and see if they are interested in learning a new craft.
This is just a taste of all there is to learn about at Conner Prairie. The entire museum encompasses the values that many homeschoolers share, and that is 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.
