IN State Homeschool Organization
Indiana Association of Home Educators (IAHE)
IAHE was founded in 1983 to protect the homeschool freedom for families in Indiana.
IN Homeschool Law
Parents in IN must provide instruction to their children in English, teach the required number of days, keep attendance records, and provide information to the state (if required). More information can be found at the Indiana Department of Education, Homeschool Legal Defense Association, and Indiana Association of Home Educators.
IN Homeschool Events
Homeschool conferences provide a unique opportunity to connect with a community that shares the unique challenges and rewards of homeschooling. Don’t feel lonely in this labor of love! Come together with a community of like-minded families for support, encouragement, and practical tips.
Midwest Homeschool Expo – An exciting new event on the Indiana homeschool scene, this 2-day secular homeschool conference in June features a moms’ conference, dozens of unique presenters, kids’ workshops offering new experiences, teen summit, and a plethora of learning-focused exhibitors.
IAHE Parenting and Homeschool Conference – Indiana Association of Home Educators’ annual 2-day homeschool convention boasts amazing speakers, a flush exhibit hall to explore a range of curriculum options, and special children’s programming, including high school workshops.
IAHE Annual Day at the Capitol – Families from all over Indiana gather in January for a day of learning, meeting new friends, speakers, and activities, a great educational field trip day with hands-on learning and a chance to build meaningful connections with legislators and homeschoolers from all across the state. Homeschool freedom matters and this day at the Capitol shows your support.
Indiana Field Trip Destinations
Children’s Museum of Indianapolis
This fun destination encourages you to purchase your tickets in advance online. Your ticket gives you access to both the Riley Sports Legends Experience® and the museum’s five floors of fun! So hold onto your ticket to move throughout the entire museum complex. Closed toe shoes are recommended and children must be accompanied by an adult at all times. There are family restrooms and nursing facilities to make your family’s visit easier.
Field trip participants can ride the carousel, become a team of scientists, piece a mummy back together, and more! The greater the group, the more extraordinary the memories. Laugh, play, and team-build all in one day. To purchase group rate tickets for your group of 20 or more, call 1-800-820-6214.
There is also a page of educator resources you’ll want to explore.
ETHOS Innovation Center, located in Elkhart, Indiana, provides innovative hands-on STEM programming to kids, families, and homeschool groups. Innovative hands-on STEM labs connect to everyday life through problem-solving, inquiry, and critical thinking.
This state-of-the-art facility serves as the go-to place for all things STEM. Field trip options include Rockets & Flight, Motion & Design, Slime Summit, Let It Grow, Creative Circuits, and Lava Lamps.
One of Fort Wayne’s treasures, this children’s zoo offers keeper chats, animal experiences, rides, and more in addition to the African Journey, Australian Adventure, Central Zoo, and Asian Trek. Parking is free and within easy walking distance of the zoo entrance. Check their calendar for current special weekend programming like Wild Zoo Wonderland.
Field trips ignite curiosity with geography, science, language, and culture — very Montessori! Register at least 2 weeks in advance online. A chaperone to student ratio of 1:5 is recommended. There are also mini classes for groups of up to 20 for pre-K through 5th grade students.
Explore their FREE online lesson plans for great printables and STEM activities.
Indiana State Museum and Historic Sites
This Indianapolis destination offers something for the whole family with three floors of pop culture, excavation of ginormous bones, and curated one-of-a-kind rarities with the power to reframe big discussions about the world. Like what you see? The museum also hosts a blog and wonderful free online educator resources.
This site also links to 12 additional historic sites across the state.
Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum
The Indianapolis Motor Speedway Museum is undergoing a major renovation and will be closed until April 2025.
Check the website for info on special programming like Animals and All That Jazz, Christmas at the Zoo, various animal chats and feedings, and zoo camps.
Field trips can be scheduled for groups of 15 or more students in pre-K through 12th grade, August through May. To reserve your field trip, have your date, your student, staff, and chaperone numbers, and a method of payment on hand.
South Bend, Indiana
Engages your child’s imagination through hands-on environments and provides fun ways to discover history with experiences like growing up in a log cabin, attending a one-room schoolhouse, bargaining at a trading post, and journeying through the wilderness in a Conestoga wagon.
There are a ton of field trip options, plus they offer Cabin Days in October and May. They also offer a variety of free online history resources as well as curriculum guides.
In this 24,000 square feet of the Horizon Convention Center, you’ll find interactive educational opportunities for children of all ages in a safe, creative environment. Field trip topics include Animal Families and Learn Not to Burn.
National Auto and Truck Museum
Automotive history was made in these buildings! Nestled in Auburn, Indiana, the National Auto and Truck Museum buildings, vehicles, artifacts, and literature bring the heritage of the transportation industry to today’s kids.
These original factory buildings represent over 130 years of transportation manufacturing. Call to arrange your guided or self-guided field trip.
South Bend, IN Group rates are available for K-12 field trips with 20 or more paid admissions. Payment must be received two weeks in advance. The train, carousel, or picnic grove can be added to field trips for a nominal per person charge. You can also add an additional 30-minute animal program to meet and learn about 3 animals (additional charge for the group, rather than per person.)
There is also Zoo Camp (K-6th grades) and Youth Classes (K-12th grades).
A must-see in Fort Wayne, IN, Science Central built on the 1908 history of the first publicly-run electric utility to become an exciting mix of inspiring science programming and fun hands-on learning! Allow 2 to 3 hours for your visit.
Science Central hosts field trips (booked at least 2 weeks in advance–15+ paying attendees for discounted pricing), demonstrations, labs, Coding Club (FREE ages 9-14), birthday parties, camps, workshops, scout programs, overnights, adult programs, early learners, themed festivals, and homeschool activities.
Also check out their weekly radio and television segments and educational interactive video programs.
Science Central was voted 4th Best Indiana Museum in 2018 and Top 20 Museum in 2020 by the Indiana Department of Tourism, and 4th Best Indiana Science Museum by Tripadvisor in 2023 and is a 4-time national award winner for interactive virtual learning.
Nestled in Winamac, IN, Tippecanoe River State Park is not just a big attraction for canoers and kayakers. There are 23 miles of trails, 9 miles of which are for hiking only, and 14 miles of which are a combination of hiking/horse trails. All are rated as easy to moderate.
There are a variety of camping opportunities that include primitive, electric, camper cabins, horse sites, and youth tent areas. Tippecanoe also has several historic structures built by the Works Project Administration (WPA) in the 1930s. One of these structures is a 90-foot fire tower that offers visitors an outstanding view of the surrounding countryside. Another is Tepicon Recreation Hall, which is a popular location for family events.
Located in Bloomington, IN, WonderLab offers fun field trips (minimum of 10 paid individuals with one free adult chaperone) that deliver the joy of hands-on science and learning through play for all grades, including adults, and people of all abilities. The basic Field Trip is a self-directed exploration of the exhibit galleries facilitated by museum staff and volunteers. Allow at least 90 minutes for your group to explore the museum. If you add demonstrations, science labs, or lunch, add additional time.
Reservations must be confirmed at least two weeks prior to the visit. Lunchroom facilities are free but only available by reservation.
Check the calendar for current special programs like BubbleFest, Dinosaurs at WonderLab (choose beginner or advanced), and the Family Dinosaur Dig.
Regularly occurring programs include Science Sprouts (infant-age 3), Science StoryTime (ages 3-6), Discovery Time (ages 3-6), Dive Deeper (all ages), STEM Saturdays (all ages), Tech Saturdays Hybrid (all ages), and Animal Hour (all ages) where you can meet snakes, lizards, insects, arachnids, and more up close and out of their habitats (yikes!).
Mom and Dad, there are also after-hours events for the over-21 crowd.
Is homeschooling for you?
The community of homeschool families is diverse. One study reports that 41% of homeschool students are Hispanic, Black, Asian, or other non-White/non-Hispanic groups (2). Homeschoolers come from all faiths – Christians, Jews, Muslims, agnostics, atheists. Teaching parents have a range of formal education, from high school diplomas to graduate degrees, and cover the array of household incomes.
How do you homeschool?
While laws regulating home education vary from state to state, homeschooling IS legal in all 50 states. Many states offer more than one option. One of the first steps in your family’s homeschool journey is to become familiar with the laws in your state. Then the fun begins!
Click on your state below for resources on homeschool regulations, state homeschool organizations, homeschool conventions in your area (here’s why these are amazing for new and experienced homeschool parents), as well as other homeschool perks in your state.
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Disclaimer: Please note that the information on this page is provided for your convenience as a research tool and resource as to where to find the information you need to homeschool in your state. The team at 3 Moms Blog are not attorneys. This content has not been reviewed by an attorney. It is not legal advice.
Brian D. Ray. (2017) A systematic review of the empirical research on selected aspects of homeschooling as a school choice, Journal of School Choice, 11:4, 604-621, accessed April 7, 2023 at https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/15582159.2017.1395638
US Department of Education. (2019) Homeschooling in the United States: Results from the 2012 and 2016 Parent and Family Involvement Survey (PFINHES: 2012 and 2016). Accessed 4/7/2023 at https://nces.ed.gov/pubs2020/2020001.pdf