The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina, a non-profit botanical garden, is committed to improving lives and nurturing creativity through the wonders of nature. Spanning over 300 acres of land, our aspiration is to establish ourselves as a premier destination for plant and nature enthusiasts, event goers, families and people of all ages!
Description
Homeschool at The Gardens
Fall 2026 Learning Series
August โข September โข October
The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina is your outdoor classroom this fall! Join us each month for engaging, hands-on programs designed specifically for homeschool families. From creating art inspired by nature to exploring plant science and learning where our food comes from, each experience encourages curiosity, creativity, and a love for the natural world. Bring your family, make new friends, and discover all The Gardens has to offer.
๐ป AUGUST
๐พ Grain to Oven Discovery
Date: Friday, August 7th
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $25 per participant (ages 5+) making a pizza | Ages 4 & under FREE
Experience where food begins in this homeschool favorite! Learn how wheat grows, watch it transformed into fresh flour, then use that flour to create your own personal pizza. Along the way, discover the journey from grain to oven through interactive demonstrations, hands-on activities, and a guided tour of The Gardens. It's a delicious blend of agriculture, history, and science.
๐จ Art in The Gardens: A Garden Inspired Masterpiece
Date: Friday, August 21st
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $15 per child (ages 5+)
Capture the beauty of The Gardens through painting! Students will learn basic painting techniques while creating their own garden-inspired painting. All supplies are included.
๐ Bring your lunch and stay for a picnic after class!
๐ฟ Homeschool in The Gardens
Date: Wednesday, August 26th
Time: 10 AM โ 2:00 PM
Cost: $25 per family
Pack your homeschool books, a picnic lunch, and a blanket for a relaxing day of outdoor learning. Families are invited to complete schoolwork while enjoying the beauty of The Gardens. Throughout the day, we'll offer optional scavenger hunts, nature activities, crafts, read-alouds, guided garden tours, and opportunities to connect with other homeschool families.
๐ฌ STEM in The Gardens: From Seed to Plant
Date: Monday, August 31st
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $15 per child (ages 5+)
Discover the amazing journey from seed to mature plant! Students will learn about the plant life cycle, explore what plants need to grow, tour the gardens, and plant a seed or seedling to take home.
๐ Bring your lunch and enjoy the gardens after the program.
๐ SEPTEMBER
๐พ Grain to Oven Discovery
Date: Wednesday, September 9th
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $25 per participant (ages 5+) making a pizza | Ages 4 & under FREE
Harvest, mill, create, bake, and eat! Students will experience how wheat becomes flour before making their own delicious pizza while learning about agriculture, food production, and the journey from farm to table.
๐จ Art in The Gardens: Cyanotype Nature Prints
Date: Friday, September 18th
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $15 per child (ages 5+)
Discover one of the earliest forms of photography! Students will collect leaves and flowers before using sunlight to create beautiful blue-and-white botanical prints to take home.
๐ Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic afterward.
๐ฌ STEM in The Gardens: Soil, Roots & the Underground World
Date: Monday, September 21st
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $15 per child (ages 5+)
Explore the fascinating world beneath our feet! Students will investigate different soil types, discover how roots grow, learn about worms and beneficial organisms, and see how healthy soil supports healthy plants.
๐ Bring your lunch and stay to enjoy the gardens.
๐ฟ Homeschool in The Gardens
Date: Wednesday, September 30th
Time: 10 AM โ 2:00 PM
Cost: $25 per family
Bring your schoolwork outdoors! Enjoy a day learning in the gardens with opportunities for nature exploration, scavenger hunts, seasonal crafts, read-alouds, and guided tours while connecting with other homeschool families.
๐ OCTOBER
๐พ Grain to Oven Discovery
Date: Monday, October 5th
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $25 per participant (ages 5+) making a pizza | Ages 4 & under FREE
Celebrate the harvest season by discovering how wheat becomes fresh flour before making your own pizza. This interactive experience combines agriculture, science, history, and delicious fun.
๐ฟ Homeschool in The Gardens
Date: Wednesday, October 14th
Time: 10 AM โ 2:00 PM
Cost: $25 per family
Experience the beauty of autumn while learning outdoors. Bring your books, a picnic lunch, and enjoy seasonal activities, guided walks, crafts, and opportunities to explore the changing gardens.
๐ฌ STEM in The Gardens: The Physiology of a Tree
Date: Friday, October 23rd
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $15 per child (ages 5+)
Trees are incredible living systems! Students will investigate how trees transport water, grow rings, respond to the seasons, and support wildlife. Through hands-on activities and a guided tree walk, they'll gain a deeper appreciation for the giants of The Gardens.
๐ Bring your lunch and stay to enjoy the beauty of fall.
๐จ Art in The Gardens: Air-Dry Clay Leaf Impressions
Date: Monday, October 26th
Time: 10:30 AM โ 12:30 PM
Cost: $15 per child (ages 5+)
Celebrate the beauty of autumn by turning nature into art! Students will explore The Gardens to discover leaves with interesting shapes, textures, and patterns before pressing them into air-dry clay to create one-of-a-kind keepsakes. Along the way, they'll learn how to identify different types of leaves and observe the unique characteristics that make each tree special. Each participant will decorate and finish their clay creations to take home as a lasting reminder of their day in the gardens.
๐ Bring your lunch and enjoy a picnic in the gardens after class!
๐ฟ Make It a Fall to Remember
๐ป Fall Homeschool Passport
Receive a stamp at each event you attend and earn a special prize after participating in multiple programs.
๐ Nature Journal
Bring your printable journal each month to record observations, sketches, and discoveries throughout the season.
๐ Certificate of Participation
Students attending multiple events will receive a special certificate celebrating their learning journey.
PLEASE NOTE: By registering for this event, you acknowledge that registrations are non-refundable. If an event is postponed due to weather, an alternate rain date will be provided. Registrations may be transferred to another participant but are not eligible for refunds.
Date & Time
Aug 7 - Oct 26, 2026
Venue Details
The Gardens of Southeastern North Carolina
985 Johnson Nursery RoadWillard, North Carolina 28478
