Homeschool Field Trips

YMCA of Greenville’s Homeschool PE program provides a place where children can exercise and participate in sports in an instructor-led setting. The program is designed to show participants how much fun exercise can be and is offered at YMCA Program Center in Simpsonville.

YMCA Program Center
100 Adams Mill Road
Simpsonville, SC 29681
Age: 6-15
Day: Monday and Wednesday
Time: 12:30 – 2:30 pm
Registration: Month prior to session
Member rate: $35/month and $15 for each additional student or $50/day and $20 for each additional student
Non-member rate: $45/month and $20 for each additional student or $60/day and $30 for each additional student
The program runs from September through May.

Contact Erica Snyder or Tyree Mathis

In addition to the PE program, YMCA of Greenville offers a diverse array of programs for all families including youth sports,  aquatics lessons and family camps.

Wilderness Survival Classes specifically designed for home school students. Just for 6 to 9 year olds and 10 to 14 year olds. Each month attend a class where you learn important survival skills such as shelter building, food and water procurement, staying safe, and much more!

For more information call us at (864) 263-3850 or to sign-up today!

During the school year, Big Air Greenville has $15 for 2 hours of jump time ($12 if homeschool status shown) on Wednesday and Thursday from 1-3 pm. Don’t forget your socks!
Big Air Trampoline Park is full of unique attractions that won’t be found anywhere else in the upstate.

Visit the Zentrum Museum and learn about the history of BMW and view examples of BMW’s vehicles throughout their history.

Zentrum museum hours are Monday through Friday, from 9:30 am to 5:30 pm

Guided plant tours are available and students will have the chance to see how the cars are built.

• Age: Plant Tours are limited to age 12 and up
• Subject: Science and Engineering, History
• Closed toe shoes must be worn on the plant tour

Tours and group reservations are currently limited in number, so please contact the farm before submitting a form to visit.
Carl Sandburg Home also offer online virtual lessons. These are not live presentations, but rather virtual lesson plans. Students can learn about the Sandburg family and the significance of Carl Sandburg’s writing. Here are the virtual lesson plans.

This historic estate of poet Carl Sandburg in nearby Flat Rock, NC offers a 1-2 hour educational tour for groups that include writing activities, house tour, and farm visits.

• Age: Kindergarten through high school
• Subject: Writing, poetry, language arts, history, social studies, science
• Homeschool trips are also available.

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Indoor Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites Finalist: Educational Family Fun

The Greenville County Library System offers a large variety of virtual and in-person programs for babies, preschoolers, children, and adults! Some programs include take-home kits that can be requested online. Topics include history, art, and science.

The Greenville Library offers field trips including story times, a look-and-find tour, reference tours, and more.

• Age: Programs available for multiple age groups
• Subject: English, Reading, Literature
• The library can also bring programs to your location for groups.

Monthly homeschool classes. Grade levels may fluctuate based on the exhibit. Topics vary from month to month. Registration is online only. Classes meet on the third Friday of each month at 1:3o pm.

Additionally, the Upcountry History Museum offers tours for school-age children that immerse the kids in a period of history through exhibits, discussion, and hands-on activities.

Email [email protected] for more information.

The Biltmore offers group tours for homeschool and school groups, as well as educational programming in their barn.

• Age: A wide variety of programming is available for different ages
• Subject: Program can include: Social Studies, Science, Math, English Language Arts, Information Skills, Healthy Living, Visual Arts

WNC Nature Center currently offers self-guided tours for school groups (registration required), as well as virtual small group programs, virtual auditorium programs, and recorded programs on various topics that include a live animal guest.

View 60 species of native animals at the WNC Nature Center! Programs are available for groups as small as 10.

• Age: all ages
• Subject: science
• Guided as well as self-guided and in-school programs are available.

Learn about amazing raptors at the Carolina Raptor Center. They offer variety of field trip options with educational programming for groups, as well as homeschool days. See our review of one program here.

• Age: All grade levels, and programs vary to suit each age group
• Subject: Science
• See these amazing birds up close!

Homeschool Days are offered. Please contact Carolina Raptor Center for specific dates and times.

Lake Conestee Nature Preserve offers a wide variety of science and nature field trips and programs.

• Age: Preschool through high school
• Subject: Science and Nature
• Programs include a variety of topics depending on age. Topics include plants, bees, ecology, water quality, and more!
• Programs available include Field Trips, Nature Discovery After School Program (February – May), Knee-High Naturalists (Ages 2-4), and more.
• Field trips for 2022 are FREE of charge for public schools.

Learn about agriculture at Stewart Farms. Enjoy the pumpkin patch and the corn maze.
Offers field trips and occasional special events for homeschoolers.

Homeschool Days for fall 2022 are September 27 & 28. 

With Lowes Foods’ From the Field Trips, learn about healthy food, local food, exercising and healthy living.

• Age: Programs available for Pre-K through 6th Grade
• Subject: Science, Health/PE
• These field trips are free!

Homeschool groups can book a field trip full of learning, engagement, and play–at both museum locations in Greenville and Spartanburg.  TCMU-Spartanburg field trips are available for kids grades 3K, 4K and 5K and TCMU-Greenville field trips are available for kids grades K4-Grade 5. Children can explore museum exhibits and participate in additional STEAM based programming led by TCMU staff and educators.

TCMU Greenville– 864.233.7755
Must include 15 or more students to qualify for educator pricing, with 1 adult per 5 children.

TCMU Spartanburg– 864.553.7952 or email at [email protected] for more information

Originally based in South Carolina, this group offers fun adventures for homeschool families around the United States (a spin-off of Carolina Homeschooler).

At the Sigal Music Museum, explore the exciting world of music through exhibitions, concerts, and music classes for both children & adults.

This group on Facebook facilitates the planning of homeschool field trips for families in the Oconee, Pickens, Anderson and Greenville areas and shares information and opportunities for area homeschoolers.

The South Carolina State Museum offers a free day of lessons for SC homeschoolers on the third Thursday of each month. Registration prior to the event is required and the programs fill early.

The South Carolina State Museum offers free admission for homeschoolers to explore their 4 floors of Carolina history, art, natural history and science. Homeschoolers receive discounted admission for planetarium shows and 4D theater films

Visit the Downtown Greenville Airport and/or Runway Park! Learn about aviation, meet a pilot, see aircraft up close, and more!

• Age: 6th grade and up can meet a pilot, visit the control tower, see an aircraft, and more. All ages can participate in a field trip hosted by Runway Park which includes climbing inside a real plane.
• Subjects: social studies, science, careers
• Groups can add on lunch at Runway Cafe with special group pricing.

Spartanburg County Historical Association offers tours and living history activities at several historic sites one Friday per month.

• Age: Programs are modified to serve the age group
• Subject: Social Studies/History and English Language Arts
• Sites include Walnut Grove Plantation, Regional History Museum and Seay House

Offers homeschool theatre classes.

Additionally, homeschool students can attend school performance shows (which run during the school day).

Paris Mountain offers group hikes and educational programs about nature and the history of Paris Mountain State Park. Find our review of one guided hike here.

• Ages: School Age, plus family programming
• Subjects: Science, History
• Families can enjoy Creek Ranger Hikes in addition to other educational events.

2023 KABOOM Family Favorites First Place: Educational Family Fun
2023 KABOOM Family Favorites First Place: Field Trips

Located just minutes from downtown Greenville, Roper Mountain Science Center is one of the nation’s most unique learning experiences. As a pinnacle of innovative learning, an engine for community engagement, and a national leader in science education, Roper Mountain’s mission is to ignite the natural curiosity of all learners to explore and shape their world.

The beautiful 62-acre campus contains an array of state-of-the-art educational facilities including a Planetarium and Observatory, Marine and Ecology labs, a Rainforest, a Living History Farm and a new Environmental Science and Sustainability Center.

Each year, more than 50,000 students, 6000 teachers and 30,000 families experience the latest in explorative STEM education through these interactive exhibits and hands-on learning opportunities. Families can attend numerous events throughout the year including Friday Starry Nights, Afternoon Explorations, Summer Adventure, Laser Days of Summer, Summer Exploration Camps, and seasonal holiday laser shows. Regardless of age, Roper Mountain provides everyone the opportunity to explore, discover, imagine and grow.

Big Air Spartanburg’s Homeschool Jump is offered when local schools are in session. On Wednesdays and Thursdays from 1-3 pm, you can jump for $15 ( $12 if proof of homeschool provided). Don’t forget your socks!

This National Park offers field trip experiences. A range of curriculum materials are also available on the Cowpens National Battlefield web site, as part of the Parks as Classrooms initiative.

Offers hands-on educational programs for homeschoolers of all ages.

• Homeschool Day Winter (February), Spring (April), and Fall (September).
• Event costs cover admission to the park, supplies, and all programs and activities. Check the website for costs and registration info.
• Programs can also be arranged year-round. Contact them for more information.

The 7,000-acre Croft State Park offers miles of hiking, biking, fishing, and even equestrian trails. You can read more about Croft State Park here.

Offers various grade level field trip programs in all major fields of science.

Book a multi-day field trip through their Adventure Guides program, Family Camp program, and other programs that allow children to learn about nature while learning how to work together as a group.

• Ages: Depends on programming
• Subject: Nature, PE, problem-solving