Homeschool Education

Homeschool Open House

The Virginia Museum of Natural History in Martinsville is hosting its annual Homeschool Open House on Wednesday, August 12 from 10 a.m. to noon for homeschool parents and families! The open house will also be the first opportunity to register for the 2026-27 Homeschool Science & Engineering Academy sessions! Online registration will open on Thursday, August 13 at 10 a.m.

Click or tap here to learn more about Homeschool Open House!

About VMNH Homeschool Education

The Virginia Museum of Natural History is dedicated to providing engaging science and engineering programming to homeschool students throughout the Commonwealth. Currently, the museum offers the Homeschool Science and Engineering Academy, a series of bi-monthly programs from September to May designed to supplement students' learning and knowledge of science, technology, engineering and math (STEM) based topics. Additionally, the museum will work with homeschool groups individually to design and provide programming relevant to students' needs.

Homeschool Science and Engineering Academy

From September through May, VMNH offers engaging science and engineering programs for homeschool students ages 6 to 18! Programs take place on the 1st and 3rd Wednesday of each month from 10 to 11:15 a.m. and repeated from 1 to 2:15 p.m. The first opportunity to register for programs will be in-person during the Homeschool Open House on Wednesday, August 12 from 10 a.m. to noon. Online registration will open on Thursday, August 13 at 10 a.m. Registration for each session will end once capacity is reached. The program fee is $10 per student. For more information, please contact us via email or phone at 276-403-8501.

2026-27 Academy Schedule

• September 2, 2026
  Get Outdoors Day
• September 16, 2026
  Weather and Climate
• October 7, 2026
  Paleontology
• October 21, 2026
  Nocturnal Creatures
• November 4, 2026
  Environmental Science
• November 18, 2026
  Microbiology Part 1
• December 2, 2026
  Microbiology Part 2
  (Part 1 not required, but highly recommended)
• December 16, 2026
  Atoms, Elements and Compounds
• January 6, 2027
  Dissections
• January 20, 2027
  Entomology
• February 3, 2027
  Engineering
• February 17, 2027
  Geology
• March 3, 2027
  Soil Science
• March 17, 2027
  Ocean Exploration
• April 7, 2027
  Aquatic Biology
• April 21, 2027
  Reptiles and Amphibians
• May 5, 2027
  Botany
• May 19, 2026
  Art in Nature
  (End of Year Certificates)

Registration begins in-person during Homeschool Open House from 10 a.m. to Noon on Wednesday, August 12, 2026. Online registration will open at 10 a.m. on Thursday, August 13.

Registration for Ages 6-8
(Not currently open)

Registration for Ages 9-11
(Not currently open)

Registration for Ages 12+
(Not currently open)