Last updated: October 3, 2024
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Valley Forge Homeschool Day 2024
NPS Photo
Two Sessions
Morning session from 9 AM to 11 AM.
Afternoon session from 12 PM to 2 PM.
Programming and activities are the same for both sessions.
NPS Photo / B. Dhunjisha
What is Homeschool Day?
Valley Forge Homeschool Day is a free two-hour event on Tuesday, October 8, 2024 hosted and coordinated by Valley Forge National Historical Park with the help of friends and partner organizations. The morning session runs from 9 AM to 11 AM, and the afternoon session runs from 12 PM to 2 PM.
Each session features the same hands-on activities and programs about science, art, American Revolutionary War history and the history of the early iron-making industry.
Homeschool Day is geared towards homeschool families with kids between the ages of 5 and 15, though it is also open to the general public.
NPS Graphic / G. Purifoy
Plan Your Homeschool Day
Event parking is located in the lower lot near the Visitor Center at Valley Forge. You'll walk 1/4 mile from the parking lot to the event location where stations will be set up along North Outer Line Drive and at the log huts at Muhlenberg's Brigade (stop #2 on the Encampment Tour).
In the event that the main event parking near the visitor center is full, overflow parking is available at the Chapel parking lot. A shuttle will carry you from the Chapel parking lot to the visitor center and back at the end of the event.
Please wear closed toe shoes. Some of the stations will be set up in the recently mowed meadow where there could be some small sticks or grasses that could poke sensitive feet. Also, if you would like to participate in the Historic Tool Station, closed toe shoes are required.
If you are planning to make a day of the event and pack food for a picnic, please carry out your trash.
Check out the list below for descriptions of all the 2024 Valley Forge Homeschool Day programming!
NPS Graphic / G. Purifoy
2024 Valley Forge Homeschool Day Activities
1. Event Information, Junior Ranger Program, Family Meetup
Staff and volunteers of Valley Forge National Historical Park
Get more information about the event, ask questions, and participate in the Junior Ranger program.
2. What’s that Job?
Various Staff of Valley Forge National Historical Park
Park rangers do lots of different things to help preserve and protect the park! Meet with Valley Forge rangers, play games, and learn more about what it takes to do their jobs.
3. Be an Archeologist
Archeologist, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Archeologists try to figure things out that happened a long time ago. Can you figure out what people did in the past based on the garbage they left behind?
4. Geology of Valley Forge
Natural Resource Management, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Learn about the rocks of Valley Forge and how they made this spot the perfect place for George Washington and the Continental Army to camp for the winter. Also, did you know Valley Forge has FOSSILS??
5. The Mighty Quill Pen
First State National Historical Park
Do you know how to write in cursive? Not to fear, stop by for a chance to write a letter to your favorite person, a crush, a BFF, or your pet! While at the station we can help teach you some basic cursive and seal that letter with some wax.
6. Wildlife of PA Fields and Forest
Montgomery County Conservation District
This session will introduce students to common Pennsylvania wildlife, with particular emphasis on mammals. Students will learn about the types of habitats that wildlife need for food and shelter and have opportunities to view and identify wildlife species from furs, skulls, tracks, and scat replicas, while also learning about activities/impacts that pose threats to such species.
7. Learning About the Watershed
Schuylkill River Greenways
Join Schuylkill River Greenways in learning about the significance of the Schuylkill River’s history and the importance of keeping the river healthy. Participants will identify what watershed they live in and demonstrate how rain water moves across land using a landscape model.
8. Colonial PA Farmstead: Farmer’s Choice
Colonial Pennsylvania Farmstead
What was life was like on a colonial Quaker farm? How did farms support the expansive, hungry armies that camped in the area? Learn the main crops grown, their uses, and the decisions Quaker farmers made to provide for their family while perhaps supporting the Revolutionary or Loyalist cause.
9. Cooking with a Collier
Chester County Parks
Valley Forge was know as an iron works long before it was known as an encampment site. Learn about the iron industry and the life of the colliers who made charcoal to fuel the industry.
10. Living History & Black Powder Demonstrations
Park Rangers of Valley Forge National Historical Park
Living history interpreters will answer all of your questions throughout the day! Musket firing and soldier drill demonstrations will take place at 10:45 AM during the morning session and at 1:45 PM during the afternoon session.
11. Leatherworking in Washington’s Army
Montgomery County Conservation District
Learn about the significant impact leatherworkers and shoemakers had in keeping Washignton's Army on their feet at Valley Forge. From cartridge boxes and musket slings, to shoes and even breeches, leather workers had their hands full in keeping the Continental army prepared for the next campaign. Ongoing leatherworking demonstrations will take place throughout the day along with interactive activities.
12. Historic Tools & Building Techniques
Historic Preservationist, Valley Forge National Historical Park
How do you build a hut or a bridge with no power tools and limited access to nails? Our historic building specialist will show you some of the techniques the soldiers used to create the structures of the encampment.
13. The First Oval Office
Museum of the American Revolution
Explore handsewn, full-scale replicas of General George Washington’s sleeping marquee, baggage tent, and common tents that served as his mobile headquarters while on campaign. Meet costumed living history interpreters portraying the people who would have been there.
14. Was My Ancestor at Valley Forge?
Valley Forge Park Alliance
Learn how the Continental Army kept track of all the soldiers at Valley Forge. Learn more about the Muster Roll website where you can search to see if your ancestor was at the Encampment.
15. Meet the Sheep
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Sheep-themed crafts and a hands-on historic wool demonstration. Hopewell Furnace's Animal Caretaker will discuss the various breeds of sheep, how we care for them, and the way this animal would contribute to everyday life.
16. Soldier & Teamster Ned Hector
Living Historian Noah Lewis
Come listen to short talks on a variety of fascinating topics presented by reenactor Noah Lewis portraying Ned Hector, a teamster and Black soldier in the Revolutionary War local to this area.