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Asheville homeschool resource guide

Asheville· Homeschooling· Life

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Asheville homeschool resource guide

Asheville homeschool resources + Asheville homeschool field trip ideas! I started creating this list for myself informally and decided to flesh it out and make the type of resource list I wish I’d had when we first moved here. My goal is to have a comprehensive list of places with homeschool class offerings and field trip ideas.

I highly recommend signing up for the newsletter of anywhere you’re interested in, to hear about new offerings and updates! Please leave a comment with any suggestions of places I’ve missed or if you’ve had good experiences anywhere in particular. I’m using the term Asheville loosely here but looking at the larger area including what I consider suburbs or within an hour driving distance of downtown Asheville. Please know that my inclusion of any place on here does not equal any type of endorsement! I don’t have personal knowledge or experience with many of these places.

I did not include places that I consider to be purely recreational like the Retrocade, but you can find more ideas along those lines in this post about things to do with kids in Asheville (there will be some overlap but anything there that I think is a good fit for a field trip will be listed in this post as well!).

Other posts you might like while you’re here:

Sections included in this post (click to jump to that part):

Pin this list of Asheville homeschool resources with this link or image:

asheville homeschool classes

Asheville homeschool resources

asheville biltmore view

Welcome to Asheville!

Asheville is one of the most popular cities in western North Carolina and it shows! We moved here a few years ago and when I was updating my license, I got my first (of many) lectures about how people moving in were ruining the area for everyone else. Which isn’t a complaint on my part; folks moving from out of state with remote jobs (us) have played a part in driving up housing costs while the job market has not kept up – there is a real affordable housing crisis here paired with an increasingly high living wage requirement.

I certainly wouldn’t discourage anyone from moving here when we are transplants ourselves but I encourage everyone considering moving here to take a hard look at housing costs and the job market, and once you’re here, to work extra hard to shop local and support local organizations trying to bridge the gaps! A bonus of homeschooling is being able to live further out from the city, which will be cheaper, but keep in mind that wi-fi and/or cellphone signal can be real stumbling blocks in more rural areas.

With all that being said, we love living here! While the museum scene is slim, the hiking options are incredibly plentiful and the mild weather means we can soak up the mountain views and waterfalls year round. Homeschool regulations are relatively simple, you can read all of them here. There are no umbrella schools, no stipends, and no public school collaborations/hybrid options. We are secular homeschoolers and I’ve noted below anything that is NOT secular.

The library system has treated us well; once you’re here and get signed up for cards, know that you can access books and audiobooks through your local branch but also get interlibrary loan borrows for free through the NC Cardinal system. Residents can also use the Zoom pass to check out the Arboretum, Nature Center, Art Museum, Science Museum, and more for free. The libraries also regularly provide programming, lego clubs, and performances geared at kids so follow your local branch on social media to keep in the loop. I’ve indicated places that are always free, as well!

I highly recommend subscribing to the newsletter of all the organizations and places you are interested in from the lists below- I also subscribe to AVL Today and follow Family Friendly Asheville on Facebook to hear about new things.

Regional books for kids

Who Pooped in the Park? Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A fun picture book about animal poop and regional animals, a big hit with my kids!

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Amazon]

Serafina and the Black Cloak

An older elementary/middle grade thriller set at the Biltmore, this is the first book in a series, also in audiobook form for road trips!

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop]

Rockhounding in North Carolina: Rock Gathering Log Book for Local Backyard Geology Enthusiasts

A hiking journal of sorts to keep track of rocks spotted on the trails [Shop:  Amazon ]

Night of the Black Bear: A Mystery in Great Smoky Mountains National Park

A middle grade mystery set in the smokies, this is a popular series with books set in different national parks.

[Shop: Malaprop's in AVL -  Amazon - Bookshop]

Mountain Ghost Stories and Curious Tales of Western North Carolina

A local folklore and story book, not specifically for kids so pre-screen for family friendliness! We own it but haven't read all of the stories in it.

[Shop: Malaprop's in AVL - Target - Amazon - Bookshop]

The Great Smoky Mountain Salamander Ball

A sweet picture book celebrating the salamander, this has lovely illustrations.

[Shop: Malaprop's in AVL - Target - Amazon - Bookshop]

The Mystery of Biltmore House

A chapter book geared at older elementary, this is a mystery set at the Biltmore, with history woven throughout.

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop]

Great Smoky Mountains (True Books: National Parks)

Aimed at late elementary students, this is a non-fiction book about the park.

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Amazon – Bookshop]

Great Smoky Mountains National Park (Rookie National Parks)

A non-fiction book geared at early elementary, learn more about the park.

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop]

Great Smoky Mountains Activity Book (Color and Learn)

This is an activity/coloring book with area trivia and illustrations.

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL – Target – Amazon – Bookshop]

Local nature guides

There are lots of hefty, at-home reference guides for birds, mushrooms,
wildflowers, etc. but we love these little folding guides for in the
backpack. You can find them at local gift shops or order online.

[Shop: Amazon ]

Blue Ridge Babies

This is a sweet picture book focused on counting and introducing native species to the area, written by a local author.

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL  – Target – Amazon – Bookshop]

Backyard Bears: Conservation, Habitat Changes, and the Rise of Urban Wildlife

This is a pretty dense non-fiction book geared at kids and probably a middle-grade reading level, full of stories from real scientists and local Asheville bears.

[Shop: Malaprop’s in AVL– Amazon – Bookshop]

Exploring Biltmore Estate from A to Z

Exploring Biltmore Estate from A to Z is a picture book with a seek & find twist, sharing facts about Biltmore along the way, targeted at the early elementary crowd.

[Shop: Malaprop's (local to Asheville!) - Bookshop.org - Amazon]

Map of all the information below

If you’re headed out a certain way, check out if there’s something nearby of interest! You can toggle the marks by type, but keep in mind that not everything will show up on the map. I did not include, for example, all the trailheads for Blue Ridge Parkway trails, or long-distance trails like the Mountains to Sea trails, or some classes and performing arts centers don’t have a public address.


cradle of forestry schoolroom

Homeschool a la carte class offerings

I originally was going to include a map and indicate ages served, but since I started working on this list and finishing it, both of those things have changed for several locations so I’m going to say you need to click through and investigate instead of me trying to keep it up to date!

These are places that: 1. offer classes specifically for homeschoolers during the day or have part-time drop-off programs that are suitable for homeschoolers. 2. have an official website/social media presence where people can read reviews.

  • Appalachian Performing Arts- a dance studio up in Burnsville that offers a homeschool class; find more details here.
  • Asheville Homeschool Classes – a popular local program that offers a variety of short-term drop-off classes for homeschoolers; find more details here.
  • Blackberry Cove Homeschool- a small secular group drop-off program for middle & high schoolers; find more details here.
  • Brainmakr math classes- this group offers math classes, a homeschool math club, latin classes, and tutoring; find more details here.
  • Buncombe County Parks & Recreation– in the past, the county has offered a drop-in P.E. style class for homeschool students as well as other one-off classes that may be homeschool friendly; check in with their offerings quarterly here.
  • Eden Allen Wildlife Sanctuary – this is a virtual class conducted through Outschool; if you’re not familiar with that site you can get a free $20 credit with my referral link. Learn about what to do if you find wildlife, featuring live animals from Western NC; find more details here.
  • Firefly Valley Design– a local artist offering youth classes and open to working with groups; find more details here.
  • Forest Floor – this is an outdoor only program that has specific homeschool classes as well as after school programs, with different focus options; find more details here.
  • Lisa Smith Teaches – a local teacher that currently offers Zoom book club and classes for homeschoolers; find more details here.
  • Mountain Makers– a mobile makerspace that offers different workshops that homeschoolers can take advantage of, find more details about the makerspace here and the classes here.
  • North Carolina Arboretum – with miles of trails, regularly rotating exhibits, and seasonal events the arboretum is a great resource. They have drop-off homeschool friendly classes and have a robust field trip offering ; find more details here.
  • Steepside School for Wild Learning – this is a Waldorf-inspired homeschool enrichment program alongside a forest kindergarten; find more details here.
  • The Educational Garden Project- a local non-profit running STEM classes and camps for homeschoolers, find more details here.
  • Whimsical Wonderings- an art studio hosting homeschool classes, find more details here.

Homeschool co-ops/communities and Facebook groups

Co-ops/Communities

  • Biltmore Church Homeschool Ministry- NOT secular, obviously, located in Arden, find more details here.
  • Classical Scholars– this community offers drop-off classes for 4-12th grade and is Christian; find more details here.
  • Ignite Homeschool Hybrid Coop- NOT secular, they use Christian curriculum in some classes. A co-op style community with locations in Brevard & Hendersonville, find more details here.
  • Henderson County Homeschool Association– NOT secular, a Christian organization south of Asheville providing community, find more details here.
  • WNC Homeschool Co-op– this is a secular group, find more details here.
  • Thrive Community Classes- NOT secular, teachers choose their own curriculum however several listed are explicitly Christian-based and it is held at a church, located in Waynesville, find more details here.
  • ZigZag – this group is a secular agile learning community and they have an exciting new campus; find more details here.

Facebook Groups

 

Local field trip ideas

Roughly speaking, places are included in this list if they are within 1 hour of downtown Asheville; places within 1-3 hours are listed below as daytrips.

General ideas for any region:

We have not done every single one of these in Asheville but have done each either here or where we lived previously in Iowa. Call up politely, ask if they offer tours for groups, hope they say yes and organize one! I like collecting a few bucks from each family and sending a thank you card to the staff with pizza or donut money afterwards, when possible.

  • Fire station
  • Police station
  • Behind the scenes at the post office
  • Behind the scenes at the library
  • Airport
  • Recycling center or landfill

asheville museums

Museums & education centers:

Please consider donating to the museums with free admission if you’re financially able, it helps keep them free for those who aren’t!

  • Appalachian Rivers Aquarium- a small aquarium with regional fish, reptiles, and amphibians. [Click for their official website here].
  • Asheville African American Heritage Trail (coming soon!)- an in-progress trail illuminating Black history in Asheville. [Click for their official website here].
  • Asheville Art Museum- the local art museum that’s downtown! They have several exhibits shown at once, a rooftop cafe, and a dedicated child/family room for making art. See way more details and what to expect in my blog post here ‘visiting the Asheville museum of art with kids‘. [Click for their official website here].
  • Asheville Museum of Science (AMOS)– the local science museum located downtown, this is a relatively young organization in a pretty small space but my kids enjoy visiting. There is a small room dedicated to rocks, gems, & minerals, a small watersheld water table, one dinosaur skeleton model, a small indoor climbing tree/play-gym, and a small room with rotating activities; [Click for their official website here].
  • Asheville Poverty Initiative- this organization will take your group on an in-person or virtual walking tour to get a better sense of how the houseless population in Asheville has to navigate the area; [Click for their official website here].
  • Asheville Urban Trail- walk this strip of 30 stops to learn more about Asheville history, with an accompanying scavenger hunt guide and teacher’s guide. [Click for their official website here].
  • Biltmore Estate–  a famous estate and mansion, there is more to visiting than touring the house! There are permanent and temporary exhibits, extensive gardens, historical hands-on crafts and games, and farm animals to visit. See way more details and what to expect in my blog post here ‘The best tips for visiting the Biltmore Estate with kids‘; they also have an annual homeschool day. [Click for their official website here].
  • Black Mountain College Museum + Arts Center; be sure to check they have a current exhibition on, it’s not open all the time. They also host evening concerts! [Click for their official website here].
  • Carl Sandburg Home National Historic Site– visit the pastoral homesite of the late author, explore the trails, and stop in to pet goats at the historic barn; [Click for their official website here]. There is also a free junior ranger program for this location! Admission is free to the grounds and the goats (small fee to tour inside the house itself, but easy to skip that). Highly recommend making it a full day and stopping in to Flat Rock Park while you’re down there.
  • Center for Craft– this is a small exhibit space featuring a few artists at a time, located right downtown. [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • Chimney Rock State Park- this state park is a bit confusing; there are sections that are free to enter but this particular one is privately managed with an entrance fee. There is a small nature center with animals, maintained trail system, and a small cave. [Click for their official website here].
  • Cradle of Forestry- this campus introduces visitors to the history of forestry with indoor exhibits, paved trails, and several open-air museum style buildings teaching about the forestry school’s past. Don’t miss the giant locomotive engine or the loaner adventure backpacks in the visitor center! [Click for their official website here].
  • Farm Heritage Trail- cruise this self-guided 8 family farm tour that includes scavenger hunt ideas, [Click for their official website here].
  • Ellaberry Llama Farm– a small family llama farm that offers tours and the opportunity to interact with the llamas, taking them through an obstacle course after learning about them. [Click for their official website here].
  • Fly Fishing Museum of the Southern Appalachians- a small, free museum about regional fly fishing. [Click for their official website here].
  • Folk Art Center- a large gallery featuring exhibits by local artisans as well as a small shop to buy art as well. Lots of breakables here so not advised for large groups or little kids, but interesting to visit in small groups. They also host regular workshops with hands-on opportunities for kids and host a library where the public can access regional history and craft reference books; [Click for their official website here].
  • Grovewood Village– a small artisan area with galleries, artist workshops, and two museums. It hosts the Estes Winn Antique Car Museum and Biltmore Industries Homespun Museum that focuses on textiles; there are volunteer-led tours of the Homespun Museum and dye house; [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free to both museums!
  • Hands On! Children’s Museum- the closest kids museum to Asheville, this is a small museum that will appeal most to the 8 & under crowd, in my opinion. The exhibits have a heavy focus on pretend play and it is all indoors. [Click for their official website here].
  • Holmes Educational State Forest- a section of forest dedicated to teaching people about forestry management; there are well marked trails and displays, they host programming for teachers and children.  [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • Johnson Farm- a historic home and farm offering tours of the house and farm animals, they also offer field trip programming. [Click for their official website here].
  • LEAF Global Arts- a local nonprofit focused on connecting people to different cultures and the rest of the world; visit their center and check out their class offerings. Offers free printable scavenger hunt sheets on their website; [Click for their official website here].
  • Mineral and Lapidary Museum of Henderson County– a small museum that shows local minerals and has a few fossil castings like a t-rex skull and a mastodon tusk. You can buy and crack a geode while there! [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • Moogseum– this tiny museum is dedicated to educate and connect people with electronic music, in the footsteps of Bob Moog. Learn how synthetic music is made and try your hand at one of the electronic instruments. [Click for their official website here].
  • Mountain Heritage Center at Western Carolina University- this center is focused on preserving and sharing western NC culture and history, there are small seasonal exhibits as well as several programs designed for kids; [Click for their official website here].
  • Mt. Mitchell State Park– this state park has beautiful trails, a paved observation point, and a small museum that has exhibits about area geology, local animals, and other regional history. [Click for their official website here].
  • Museum of North Carolina Minerals- a small museum right off the Blue Ridge Parkway showcasing local minerals and how they fit into the region, with interactive exhibits; [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • NC State Minerals Research Laboratory– a university lab that does some outreach to younger students, they offer a small class as well as tours of the lab; [Click for their official website here].
  • North Carolina Arboretum- a huge tourist attraction; the arboretum has miles of trails, manicured gardens, and visiting exhibits that are often a perfect fit for homeschooling. Don’t miss their miniature model train, permanent bonsai exhibit, and the fun kids’ loaner explorer backpacks at the visitor center. [Click for their official website here].
  • Pisgah Astronomical Research Institute aka PARI– this research area offers guided tours by appointment and occasional open houses, introducing visitors to the interior NASA exhibit, planeterium, outdoor telescopes, and campus trails. [Click for their official website here].
  • Pisgah Center for Wildlife Education- a very small learning center with a few native animals and exhibits about Pisgah National Forest, located at a trailhead with a fish hatchery nearby; [Click for their official website here].
  • Silver River Center for Chair Caning– a small museum covering the art and craft of woven chairs, including a hands-on opportunity to try weaving for kids, also offering presentations for small groups; [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • Smith-McDowell House Museum– Asheville’s oldest mansion lets you take a self-guided tour to explore the building itself and see local history exhibits. [Click for their official website here].
  • Swannanoa Valley Museum- a small museum in Black Mountain that hosts traveling exhibits about regional history. [Click for their official website here].
  • Transylvania Heritage Museum- a small museum focused on the history of Brevard and the surrounding area, they also offer ‘traveling trunks’ for educators to check out. [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • Vance Birthplace Historic Home- this preserved plantation site teaches regional history about the dwelling of Zebulon B. Vance and the people he enslaved. There are historic buildings as well as a visitor center with exhibits, and regular educational programming. [Click for their official website here]. Admission is free!
  • Wheels through Time Museum– this museum focuses on motorcycles and unique cars from the past.  [Click for their official website here].
  • Western North Carolina Air Museum– a small museum focused on flight, you may get lucky and see someone flying while you visit and see the stationary planes. [Click for their official website here].
  • WNC Nature Center- a very popular spot, this mini-zoo showcases many of the region’s native animals along with several interactive playspaces for kids. They offer small group programming and events as well, and there is a small sluice gem “mining” spot. [Click for their official website here].

river arts district murals

Private Businesses or nonprofits with discount, tour or observation opportunities:

asheville classes for kids

Local presenters who will come to you or run classes for homeschool groups

asheville day trips

Day trip or overnight field trip ideas (within roughly 1-3 hours of downtown Asheville)

Local performing arts organizations that put on shows or have put on shows in the past

Local nature/historical organizations & outdoor areas to explore

Local nature/historical oriented organizations that hold public events of interest

western NC hikes

Nearby nature areas for hiking

A few things to consider before you go!

  • Cell phone service in most if not all of these areas is spotty at best and non-existent at worst. Please go prepared by upgrading to the “pro” version of an app with a map like Gaia or Alltrails (Gaia is less user friendly but shows more of an area, Alltrails is user generated so can be incorrect easily but easier to use and follows a specific trail) and taking a paper map/compass for backup. I hike with just my kids often and in wilderness areas so I use a Garmin Inreach as a safety measure since it can send an SOS call without cell service.
  • Many of these areas have completely unmarked trail systems, so I want to re-emphasize my first point. Some of them are very touristy and clearly marked; make sure to research it ahead of time so you know what you’re getting into.
  • Don’t forget that higher elevations mean colder temperatures, and in fall/winter they may mean snow. The Parkway will mostly close over the winter season, cutting off access to some trailheads, however you can walk and bike on it when it is closed.
  • Come prepared with the 10 essentials! Read up on Leave No Trace, waterfall safety, and bear safety before you go. It may feel like overkill for a one mile jaunt along the parkway, but getting in these habits as you explore more and further out will keep you safe, healthy, and let the Search and Rescue volunteers stay that way too.
  • Don’t stack rocks in the creek and resist the temptation to pick up salamanders; moving rocks endangers aquatic creatures’ habitats and bug spray, lotion, perfume can hurt salamanders through their porous skin.
  • There are a variety of hunting seasons in the area, sometimes overlapping public trails. Wearing bright colors (especially blaze orange) and making noise while you hike helps keep you safe!
  • Always, always check that the trail is open and safe before you leave, since cell service may be limited (also not a bad idea to have a backup plan ahead of time, just in case even after you’ve checked ahead!). Looking on the website of wherever manages the trail should give you the most accurate information. I also like to look at AllTrails if the trail is on there and read recent reviews.

Our favorite nature guides to take

Bird guide

Lots of bird in the woods, and don't miss Beaver Lake Bird Sanctuary!

Mushroom guide

My favorite thing to spot on hikes, we have lots of them spring-fall.

Plants & tree guide

Not all of these are in WNC but some good basic guidelines.

Snake guide

We also have one for reptiles and amphibians in general, but we use this the most.

Not sure what to do?

General locations to check out:

This is not an exhaustive list of trails by any means but just general areas to consider exploring! There are some popular waterfalls in singular areas that aren’t covered below, if you’re keen on those check out this WNC waterfall map!

Places to volunteer with kids

These are local organizations that I personally have volunteered with or have heard allow kids to help volunteer; you’ll need to contact them to confirm any age minimums. Also consider looking for opportunities through the local Hand On/United Way database or the nation-wide Volunteer Match site.

  • Bounty and Soul– we have helped deliver meal boxes to folks and there are other kid-friendly opportunities as well.
  • Manna Food Bank– help pack food boxes or organize a food drive
  • Meals on Wheels– deliver meals to folks at home.
  • Mountain True– take your kids and help take water samples to monitor quality.
  • Riverlink – help clean up the french broad by organizing a group clean-up or borrowing supplies to do one with your family or co-op.
  • meals on wheels

asheville kids

Other local educational opportunities & annual events to be aware of

Annual one time events to be aware of

  • Asap farm tour weekend– in fall, this isn’t during the school week but has lots of youth educational opportunities and is very popular, sign up for their newsletter so you don’t miss it.
  • Asheville Makerfest– a growing science festival for everyone, held on a weekend.
  • Biltmore homeschool day– typically in fall, you have to check back on their site for updates.
  • Blue ghost firefly tours– once a year in spring, these rare fireflies hover by the ground and Cradle of Forestry offers tours to see them, sign up for their newsletter for dates to release, these always sell out.
  • Bullington Fairy Garden Walk– a sweet ‘fairy door’ display at a small garden down in Hendersonville.
  • Caesers Head State Park raptor migration– in early-mid September, go check out the bird migration!
  • Chimney Rock State Park homeschool day– typically in fall, you have to check back on their site for updates.
  • Spring Wildflower Pilgrimage– nearby at the Great Smoky Mountains NP, an educational summit that is open to families.
  • Synchronous firefly display– in late spring at the Great Smoky Mountains NP; there are lotteries for day tickets or you can camp at Elkmont and walk over (but you’ll have to reserve a spot months in advance and guess at the prime times!
  • Wortham Center matinee series– this theater does matinee, school performances that homeschoolers can organize a group for or buy individually; the schedule releases in fall through spring of the next year, and tickets often sell out, check back on their site for updates.

Other local education opportunities & resources

  • Blue Ridge Parkway junior ranger program– stop into one of the BRP visitor centers and grab a free booklet, this program requires you stop at a few different places along the parkway, then turn it back in for a patch/badge. [Click for their official website here].
  • Career and College Promise program- AB Tech lets high school juniors & seniors take college courses to earn credit for free. [Click for their official website here].
  • Carl Sandburg Home junior ranger program– grab your free activity booklet at the gift shop and complete the activities while on site, and turn it back in for a patch/badge.[Click for their official website here].
  • ecoEXPLORE- a gamified nature initiative where kids observe nature and participate in classes to earn points and redeem them for prizes, run locally. [Click for their official website here].
  • Great Smoky Mountains NP junior ranger program– this is one of the few junior ranger programs you pay a small fee for the booklet, but then fill it out while you’re in the park and turn it back in for a badge! [Click for their official website here].
  • Haunted Asheville self-guided tour- organized by Western North Carolina Historical Association, this is a driving tour to see local haunted historical spots [Click for their official website here].
  • Kids in parks trails– this is a multi-state organization with a few different options in western NC; there are kid-friendly activity brochures at the start of certain trails and you can track them and earn prizes. [Click for their official website here].
  • NC State Park passport program- a paper booklet you can collect and get stamps for each state park; the prize-redeeming phase has ended but the stamps continue. [Click for their official website here].
  • Waterfall Keepers junior keeper program– join this local waterfall conservation agency and work on some of their nature challenges with your kids, work through a waterfall passport, or dig into some of their nature curriculum [Click for their official website here].

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