Last updated: April 5, 2024
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Fall Homeschool Day 2022
NPS Photo/B. Dhunjisha
Oct. 11 - 10 AM to 3 PM
Come learn with us from 10 AM to 3 PM on Tuesday, October 11, 2022 as we delve into the many subjects that can be explored right here at Valley Forge National Historical Park!
What is Homeschool Day?
A free event with no registration required.
With the help of friends and partner organizations, this unique event brings together Revolutionary War, early industrial, and even Civilian Conservation Corps (CCC) histories, along with science and art.
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.
On the day of the event, participants are invited to park near the Visitor Center at Valley Forge then make the 1/4 mile walk up to Muhlenberg's Brigade (Encampment Tour Stop #2) on a paved path. If the weather doesn't cooperate, the event will be held in various locations throughout the visitor center.
***Important Note: If the CDC Community Levels tool reports that Montgomery County, PA has moved to high COVID transmission levels on Thursday Oct. 6th, the event will be cancelled. If this happens, it will be announced on Valley Forge’s website and Facebook page.
Check out the list below for descriptions of all the Fall Homeschool Day programming!
Alternative Text for Map Graphic Below
Illustrated map showing a bird's eye view of the Muhlenberg's Brigade area. Title text in the upper right of the image next to an illustration of a log hut reads "Fall Homeschool Day Activities at Muhlenberg's Brigade."
Below the title is an illustrated and labeled Redoubt 2 with three activities indicated by red stars. Activity labels read "Camp Life - Reenactors from Spencer's Aditional Continental Regiment," "Women in the Revolutionary War - Museum of the American Revolution," and "Join or Die - Independence National Historical Park"
An arrow pointing to the right is labeled with text that reads "Mown path to visitor center."
On the left side of the image, nine illustrated huts are accompanied by ten red stars indicating activity locations. Activity labels read, "Historic Building Tools and Techniques - Historic Preservationist, Valley Forge National Historical Park," "Iron Master Challenge - Pottsgrove Manor," "Iron: Industry and Revolution - Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site," "Life of a Collier - Chester County Parks and Recreation," "What is a Muster Roll - Valley Forge Park Alliance," "Be an Archeologist - Archeologist, Valley Forge National Historical Park," "Colonial Art - Artist Ed Kane," and "CCC Traveling Trunk, Colonial Games, and The Way of the Quill - First State National Historic Site and First State Heritage Park."
Above the illustrated huts is an area labeled Firing Range and a text box that reads "Black Powder Demonstrations - 12 PM and 2:30 PM, please be aware of sudden loud noises."
Near the huts are additional four red stars labeled 1 through 4. A text box near the top of the image reads "1. Wildlife of Pennsylvania Fields and Forests - Montgomery County Conservation District," "2. Schuylkill Explorers: Learning about the Schuylkill Watershed - Schuylkill River Greenways," "3. Bird Beak Bonanza - Audubon Society," and "4. Sheep to Cloth - Peter Wentz Farmstead."
On the far left near an illustration of a tree is a single red star indicating an activity with label text that reads "Ned Hector: Soldier and Teamster - Reenactor Noah Lewis - 10:45 AM, 11:15 AM, 11:45 AM, 12:45 PM, 1:15 PM, 1:45 PM, 2:15 PM."
To the right of the illustrated huts is a red star indicating an activity with label text that reads, "What's That Job? - Valley Forge National Historical Park staff - 10 AM: Visual Information Specialist, 11 AM: Law Enforcement Ranger, 12 PM: Park Superintendent, 1 PM: Arborist & Historic Architect, 2 PM: Arborist & Historic Architect."
Below that is a black dot and three rectangular icons. One icon depicts a badge, one a medical cross, and one an adult and child holding hands. Text reads, "Junior Ranger Station, First Aid, and Family Meetup Spot."
Below the black dot is an illustrated paved pathway running across the length of the image. The path is labeled Joseph Plumb Martin Trail.
Below the trail is a roadway with arrows indicating one-way traffic and a label that reads "North Outer Line Drive (one-way traffic.
Below the roadway is an illustrated parking lot with a label that reads "Parking Lot (closed to public during the event)." A restroom icon is labeled "Temporary Restrooms."
In the bottom left of the image is a red star indicating an activity location and text for four activities with labels "Reading with a Ranger - Park Ranger, Valley Forge NHP," "Butterfluff - Ecologist, Valley Forge NHP," "Oh Deer! - Ecologist, Valley Forge NHP," and "Steuben Says - Park Guide, Valley Forge NHP." These activities are weather-dependent.
NPS Graphic/G. Purifoy
Fall Homeschool Day Activities
What's That Job?
Various staff of Valley Forge National Historical Park
Meet with a different ranger each hour to learn more about what it takes to do their job.
Camp Life
Reenactors from Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment
What exactly did the soldiers do at Valley Forge? Members of Spencer's Additional Continental Regiment will show you! Experience the daily life of the enlisted men, their officers, and women attached to the army. You will learn what they wore, what they ate, see them performing drill, guard duty, and learn how they experienced the winter encampment at Valley Forge.
Ned Hector: Soldier and Teamster
Reenactor 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.
Colonial Art
Artist Ed Kane
Ed Kane, a living history colonial artist, will demonstrate the use of quill for writing and drawing. He will also demonstrate painting watercolor scenes using only the three primary colors. During these demonstrations he will discuss the source of his pigments and how paint was/is made using natural ingredients. Learn about inks and how they were also made using natural ingredients. He will also cut an occasional quill and discuss how brushes were made.
Life of a Collier
Chester County Parks and Preservation
Join a “collier” (charcoal maker) to learn about their trade and how they would have lived while working in the forests to make the fuel for iron industry forges and furnaces and the American Revolution.
Join or Die
Independence National Historical Park
Enjoy family-friendly activities and discussion about the origins and meanings of Benjamin Franklin's famous political cartoon.
Wildlife of Pennsylvania Fields and Forests
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. Students will 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.
Women in the Revolutionary War
Museum of the American Revolution
Join the Museum of the American Revolution as they explore the roles women played in Washington's Camp.
Iron Master Challenge
Pottsgrove Manor
Do you have the business know-how to make it in the nation’s first industry? Learn about how an iron furnace was operated and some of the obstacles that could arise. Pottsgrove Manor will have copies of primary source documents to explore and interactive game elements to play to have students of all ages test their skills to see if they could make it in the 18th century Iron Industry!
Sheep to Cloth
Peter Wentz Farmstead
Ever wonder how sheep's fur can be transformed into wool yarn? Come learn how sheepskin can be turned into wool cloth and sheep fur can be transformed through picking and carding.
Schuylkill Explorers: Learning about the Schuylkill 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. In addition, participants will have an opportunity to take home the new Schuylkill River Heritage Area Junior Ranger activity booklet.
CCC Traveling Trunk
First State National Historic Site and First State Heritage Park
Travel back in time and learn about the many hard working Americans that assisted with environmental conservation projects.
Colonial Games
First State National Historic Site and First State Heritage Park
Race your family and friends with hoop-rolling or play solo to see how many times you can get the ball in the cup within 1-minute.
The Way of The Quill
First State National Historic Site and First State Heritage Park
Ditch the modern pen and step back in time to practice your numbers and letters with a quill pen and ink!
Iron: Industry and Revolution
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site
Hopewell Furnace National Historic Site will introduce families to the iron industry of southeastern Pennsylvania. Families can learn why the industry was so prevalent in this area, where the resources were coming from, and what impact the iron industry had on the Revolutionary War and beyond.
Bird Beak Bonanza
Audobon Society
Investigate the difference in bird beaks and see which beak is best suited to eat which food!
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?
Historic Building Tools and Techniques
Historic Preservationist, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Get hands-on experience working with traditional tools and learn about how buildings were constructed in the 18th century. Hint: Home Depot was not just around the corner.
Reading with a Ranger
Park Ranger, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Join Ranger Dan as he reads a book out loud.
Butterfluff
Ecologist, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Come play a fun interactive game to learn what makes a species invasive and how can it spread so quickly. Weather dependent.
Oh Deer!
Ecologist, Valley Forge National Historical Park
During this interactive game families will quickly learn how habitat can affect animal populations. Weather dependent.
Steuben Says
Park Guide, Valley Forge National Historical Park
Learn and practice the basic drills Von Steuben taught the troops at Valley Forge and test your skills in this follow the leader game of Steuben Says. Weather dependent.
What is a Muster Roll?
Valley Forge Park Alliance
Learn how the Continental Army kept track of all the soldiers at Valley Forge. Search the Muster Roll website to see if your ancestor was at the Encampment!