Homeschool Programs
Lutherlyn has been offering environmental education programs to homeschoolers for over 25 years. The Lutherlyn Environmental Education Program is excited to host another homeschool program series.
Families and groups can sign up via Lutherlyn's Online Registration Portal. Registration will open on September 1st.
Our programs are appropriate for grades 1-12. The cost is $10 per person. Siblings under grade 1 are welcome to come with their family at no extra cost. Each session runs from 9:30 AM to 12:00 PM. (If a minimum of 10 people are not registered for a session, it will be cancelled and registered participants will receive a full refund.) An adult must register along with the student or students. In the event of inclement weather, some activities may be adjusted or substituted as needed.
Thursday, October 30th, 2025: Sustainable Living – Join us while we tour Pennsylvania’s first ever straw bale homestead and learn about organic gardening:
- Terra Dei – The Terra Dei Homestead was designed to demonstrate ways that people can conserve energy and resources in daily lifestyles. Students begin by participating in a game that focuses on fossil fuels and alternative energy sources. They then explore Terra Dei Homestead and the many ways that energy and resources can be conserved in a home environment.
- Organic Gardening – This activity will include a tour of the gardens at Terra Dei, a discussion of the practice of organic gardening, and the opportunity for the students to participate in planting garlic for next year’s harvest!
Registration Deadline: October 23
Monday, November 3rd, 2025: Dig It! – The ultimate hands-on field trip experience where students really "get their hands dirty” and delve into the exciting world of archaeology:
- Archaeology – This activity takes place on an actual, registered archaeology site! The current dig site has been the site of human activity for hundreds of years. There is evidence of Native American, as well as pioneer, activity. Students learn the basics of setting up an actual archaeological dig and how to carefully excavate a site. Western Pennsylvania history comes alive as students unearth artifacts, clean what they have found, and try to identify these clues to the past.
Registration Deadline: October 27
Thursday, November 13th, 2025: Survival Skills – This introduction to survival skills teaches students the basics of survival in a forest. Students learn how to construct a debris shelter, find water sources, practice safe fire-building skills, and investigate sources of wild food and medicine. This hands-on experience pairs well with the novel Hatchet by Gary Paulsen.
Registration Deadline: November 6
Monday, November 17th, 2025: Awareness of the Natural World – Nature and natural places can awaken your senses and provide inspiration for creating art! Students will make nature bookmarks or journals and actively use their senses to come to a better understanding of life around them:
- K to 4th Grade
- Sensory Exploration – There is much more to the natural world than most people perceive. Students will actively use their senses to come to a better understanding of life around them.
- Botanical Bookmarks – Let Lutherlyn’s wonderful natural spaces inspire your creativity! Using a combination of art supplies and natural materials like leaves, twigs, or flowers to create unique bookmarks.
- 5th Grade and up
- Nature Journals – Using a combination of art supplies and natural materials like leaves, twigs, or flowers, students will create nature journals. They will then hike to Chapel Rock (1 mile total round-trip) where they will engage their senses and follow a series of writing prompts that will inspire them to write creatively about the natural world around them.
Registration Deadline: November 10
Additionally, most of the activities that are available in our Program Options Guide can be part of a customized homeschool field trip experience for your homeschool group. For more information, to talk to our Environmental Education Director, or to make a reservation, please contact the Lutherlyn Environmental Education Office at leep@lutherlyn.com or 724-865-9079.
