Historic New England presents our award-winning school programs specifically for homeschool families

Historic New England is proud to present a wide variety of programs for homeschool families.

For each program:

• Except where noted, the program cost for each child is $25 for nonmembers/$20 for Historic New England members. One adult per group is admitted free, any additional adults pay full price.
• Unless otherwise noted, programs run from 10:00 a.m. – 12:30 p.m.
• Children MUST be accompanied by an adult; these are not drop-off programs.
• Strollers and backpack carriers are not permitted in the house museums.
• Program description includes the subject area or areas it primarily covers, as well as the suggested age range for participants.

There must be a minimum of 5 children registered for programs to run. Programs are limited to 24 people. Full payment is due at the time of registration and is non-refundable (unless program is cancelled by us due to under-enrollment). No registrations will be accepted on the day of the program. For questions or to be added to our homeschool mailing list, email [email protected]

Fall 2024 Registration Now Open!

Fall 2024 Programs:

Monday, September 23. Colonial Sampler Ages 5-12. Hands-on History. Codman Estate, Lincoln, Mass. Learn what work, education, and play in colonial times was like for children in New England through a series of hands-on activities. Participants will have a chance to try on reproduction clothing that boys and girls wore in the past; make an herbal sachet; write with quill pens and ink; and play historic toys and games. Please note: This program takes place in the Codman Carriage House and does not include a tour of the mansion.

SOLD OUT

Monday, October 28. Dirt Detectives. Ages 5-14. Archaeology. Spencer-Peirce-Little Farm, Newbury, MA. October is Massachusetts Archaeology Month! Participants become archaeologists as they excavate a mock pit with actual tools of the trade and process reproduction artifacts in a field lab. Inside the museum, they explore building archaeology via trap doors. They analyze objects to learn about daily life at the farm over the last 300 years.

SOLD OUT

Thursday, November 21. Oceania in Salem: Art and Culture of the Pacific Islands. Ages 5-14. Culture and Geography. Phillips House, Salem, MA. Disney’s Moana introduces viewers to many aspects of ancient life in the Pacific Islands, from the demigod Maui and the many uses of coconuts to tapa (bark-cloth) and outrigger canoes. Join us in Salem as we eagerly wait for the sequel to be released! While living in Hawaii in the 1800s, the Phillips family developed a passion for Oceanic culture. During this program, explore items from their collection, listen to legends of Maui, and create a tapa stamp design. Please note: This program is not suitable for younger siblings under the age of 5.

SOLD OUT

Multiple Sessions (see below). Deck the Halls: A Celebration of Christmas. Ages 5-14. Crafts and Celebration. Eustis Estate, Milton, MA. Join us and get comfortable in the lavishly decorated Eustis Estate while creating a variety of holiday crafts and enjoying seasonal refreshments. We will have the whole house to ourselves and plenty of time to explore. Don’t forget to check under the tree for something to take home! Please note: Due to the cost of materials, this program costs $30 members/$40 nonmembers.

Register for Deck the Halls, Tuesday, December 10, 10:00 a.m. – noon or 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
Register for Deck the Halls, Wednesday, December 11, 10:00 a.m. – noon or 1:00 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.