Homeschool

REGISTRATION for FARM CAMP 2026 at Horse Crossing Farm is now OPEN!

Session 1: June 1-4
Session 2: June 8-11
Session 3: June 15-18
Session 4:  June 22-26

Each camp session is 4 days long from 8:00 AM-12:00 PM. The Friday of each week is reserved as a make-up day in case one of the 4 scheduled days gets rained out. Each session includes instruction on complete horse care, horse riding and farm animal care. Animals included are horses, mini horse, mini mule, pony, mini cow, goats, sheep, pig, chickens, ducks, peacocks, turkeys, guinea fowl, emu, rhea, rabbits, guinea pigs, hedgehogs, alpaca, llama, cats and a dog. Water games, yard games, crafts, and photography with animals included each day. (Children ages 6-12, select 5 year olds accepted).

$275 per child per session – Click Here to Register
It’s going to be our best camp year yet!

An archaeological park in Cayce documenting 12,000 years of continuous habitation, including Revolutionary and Civil War history, with free guided walking tours most Saturdays.

Field trip details: Free guided walking tours, mostly on Saturdays, led by NPS-trained volunteers; part of the Three Rivers Greenway trail system.

Spend your summer building new skills, sharpening your technique, or discovering your passion!
Academy of Dance Arts is proud to offer dance classes to provide both exposure and strong technical training across multiple genres

• Weekly evening class series all summer for ages 2-18
• Two-day camp series for ages 3-10
  June 15-18 & July 13-16. 

Provides an inclusive unmanned drone pilot training program for homeschoolers exploring commercial drone careers.

A history museum in a former Winter Colony mansion in Aiken, tracing county history from Native Americans to today, with free field trips for all students.

Field trip details: Free admission; offers free field trips and tours for all Aiken County students, including homeschoolers; traveling trunk program available.

A 1,067-acre state park on the South Edisto River near Aiken, built by the CCC in the 1930s, offering canoeing, fishing, hiking trails, and a swimming area.

Field trip details: Canoe/kayak rentals $20/trip; swimming area open Memorial Day-Labor Day; tackle loaner program available.

A small museum inside Hopelands Gardens honoring Aiken’s Thoroughbred racing history, with exhibits on equipment and famous Black jockeys, free with garden admission.

Field trip details: Located within Hopelands Gardens; free with garden admission.

Internet-based SC Option 3 home school accountability association serving South Carolina families statewide.

A multisensory reading and spelling curriculum designed to be easy to teach in about 20 minutes a day.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Lexington.

55k square feet of indoor trampoline park with over 15 attractions! We offer birthdays, field trips, memberships, homeschool hops, military discount, toddler time, glow nights, and more!

Birthday Party: Packages include the option to reserve a table, use a private party room, or book the entire park.

• Party sizes begin at 10 people and include water, 2 hours of party time, and jump socks.
• Pizza, ICEEs, additional jump time, and more are included in higher-level packages.
• Party packages start at $25 per person

An award-winning Charlotte Mason curriculum for homeschool families, co-ops, and schools covering grades 1-12.

Provides wraparound support for families with needs outside the norm, from a neurodivergent-affirming lens.

The official training center of Ann Brodies Carolina Ballet. CDE offers dance classes year round for infants through adults in styles such as ballet, tap, jazz and contemporary. Morning/mid-day homeschool classes also available. Summer classes available as well.

Dates: June – July
Ages: 2 – 12
Price: $105 – $275
Full and Half day available:

Balloonopolis can provide the best entertainment available in the Columbia area with experienced and professional balloon artists, face painters, jugglers, magicians, and so much more.

An online Christian high school offering full-time or supplemental courses for grades 9-12.

Provides a complete preschool-12th grade curriculum with a biblical worldview, available in textbook or video course formats.

A working livestock farm in Pomaria offering hands-on agriculture and outdoor learning experiences for homeschool co-ops.

Offers a non-medical approach to ADHD and Autism support using sensory-motor, cognitive, and nutrition strategies.

Internet-based SC Option 3 home school accountability association serving South Carolina families statewide.

A monthly bug-hunting subscription kit for kids ages 4-13 to explore outside and learn about real insects.

A secular, inclusive homeschool hybrid microschool in Newberry serving middle and high school students.

An academic, outdoor, secular homeschool co-op with a Lexington location offering diverse learning opportunities for kids.

We are an outdoor, academic, secular co-op looking to revolutionize the way our children are educated.

One and only hands on interactive and mobile gem mining experience in SC! Pan for gems, stones and fossils. We come to you!

A history museum next to Cayce City Hall featuring exhibits on the area’s earliest European settlement, including a replica 1700s trading post, near the Riverwalk.

Field trip details: Located near the 12,000 Year History Park and Cayce Riverwalk for an easy combined visit.

We teach young people about the power of entrepreneurship, innovation and leadership through experiential learning. Children rise to the challenge of deciding what to sell, creating a booth, talking to customers, and handling money.

Fine Art and Pottery studio

Classes: Art classes for kids and teens, adult classes, family events, and private art lessons.

After School: After-school program with pickup for all District 5 schools. After school helps with homework assistance and math tutoring.

Camps: Offers summer art camp, both half-day and full-day, pottery wheel camp, and teen camps.

Classes: Offers cooking and baking classes for children. Class themes change regularly.
Classes are offered at various Kroger Grocery stores.  Registration is required.

Offering kids Paint parties, tea parties, Lego parties, and science lab parties

Party packages start around $280 for 1.5-hour sessions
One Upon a Princess add-ons available (additional $135)

Summer Camp: Classy Canvas is  offering 2 art camps for ages 8-12, Summer 2026:

• June 29th-July 3rd from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• July 20th-July 21st from 9:30 a.m.-2:00 p.m.
• Summer camp registration

A national nonprofit founded by former homeschoolers offering evidence-based resources centered on children’s needs and rights.

An online private school partnering with homeschool families through live teacher-led classes and academic support.

An inclusive homeschool network in the Columbia area offering social and educational events, activities, and an annual homeschool expo.

Provides guidance for college-bound students, including expert SAT and ACT prep courses.

Chess tournaments, casual play, and chess coaching.

A puppet theater performing stories about world culture, history, and fairy tales for school, scout, camp, and homeschool groups, with field trips available any weekday.

Field trip details: Fee-based; field trips and outreach performances available; elementary through high school.

Columbia’s premier art museum featuring Renaissance, Baroque, French Impressionist, and American art, with guided tours and activities for elementary through high school groups.

Field trip details: Fee-based; guided tours and activities; elementary through high school.

Dance studio offering classes in tap, jazz, ballet, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, acro, musical theater, pointe, pom and creative movement for ages 12 months to adult!

Summer Camps: Summer dance camps for kids ages 2 to 12. Partial day camps are available at a wide variety of times, including evenings. Styles of dance include ballet, jazz, tumbling, hip-hop, and creative movement.

Dates: May – July
Ages: 2 – 12 years old 
Price: $85
Half day available

A national park south of Columbia protecting the largest intact old-growth bottomland hardwood forest in the US, with free ranger-led field trips and a Junior Ranger program.

Field trip details: Free; contact the park to plan a self-guided or ranger-assisted trip; Junior Ranger program available; a short drive from Columbia.

Children’s author Lisa Corduan partners with homeschool families through playful, meaningful books and interactive programs.

A u-pick strawberry farm open each spring, offering hands-on group visits to learn where food comes from, with u-pick and pre-picked options for families.

Field trip details: Fee-based; spring season only; all grade levels.

A South Carolina State Parks program providing outdoor classroom experiences that teach stewardship of the state’s natural resources, fusing park and State House visits with academic standards.

Field trip details: Fee-based; self-guided and guided activities; all grade levels; available at parks statewide.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Columbia.

A Columbia learning center providing educational therapy that addresses underlying causes of academic struggle.

A 348-acre state park on three islands in Lake Murray, about 30 miles from Columbia, with hiking trails, fishing, and wildlife viewing including bald eagles and osprey.

Field trip details: Day-use admission $6 adults/$3.50 children (6-15); nature trails good for birdwatching (bald eagles, osprey).

A family-owned, homeschool-friendly used bookstore near downtown Columbia, selling online and in-store.

Supports children through personalized and group tutoring plus hands-on STEAM enrichment activities.

A locally owned Columbia-area shop selling educational supplies, workbooks, flash cards, games, and hands-on learning materials.

A hands-on children’s museum in Columbia offering standards-based field trips, camps, and outreach for kids ages 0-10.

Field trip details: $8-$12 admission for SC school field trips; school/group programs run September-May only; standards-aligned lab and classroom programs.

A pediatric wellness platform created by a pediatric physical therapist to support families navigating bladder health challenges.

Enriched With Wonder hosts Tinkergarten classes, which help young children and caregivers connect to one another and nature. This summer’s focus is on our senses!

A podcast exploring the stories of homeschool alumni, covering the good, bad, and complicated sides of growing up homeschooled.

Brings science and story to life through immersive, hands-on STEAM programs, pop-ups, and kits for kids.

Foam Party Extravaganza is the newest, most exciting and unique party experience in the Midlands. We fill your event with millions of tiny bubbles in just seconds. It’s the #1 activity for the hot South Carolina’s summers. We bring unforgettable memories to each event.

A hands-on, cross-curricular STEM program for middle schoolers who design and build their own future city.

Our mission is empowering children for greatness through amazing programs, enriching faith, and providing essential support for families in the Midlands. We host a summer camp and afterschool program.

A hands-on film and television training program equipping girls with skills in directing, producing, and screenwriting.

A 2,177-acre urban state forest with 18 miles of trails, run by the SC Forestry Commission with free K-12 environmental education programs and self-guided Junior Forester kits.

Field trip details: Free K-12 programs address SC 2021 Science Standards; max 50 students/day; $5 daily parking fee; also offers Junior Forester self-guided kits.

A 400-seat performing arts venue on MTC’s Harbison Campus in Irmo, hosting touring and local music, dance, theatre, and film, with group ticket discounts.

Field trip details: Regularly hosts South Carolina Ballet and other touring companies; group/bundle ticket discounts available.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Lexington.

A drop-off K-12 hybrid homeschool academy in Irmo offering a la carte in-person classes each semester.

An Irmo-area homeschool co-op emphasizing STEAM education, green education, sustainability, and community service.

A network of five historic house museums and 14 acres of free public gardens in Columbia, including the nation’s only Reconstruction-era museum, with guided group tours.

Field trip details: Guided group tours available Wednesday-Sunday; discounted tickets for children, students, and military; already featured on kiddingaroundcolumbia.com.

One of the largest urban forests in the US, a 2,100-acre natural area in Aiken with 65-70 miles of sand trails for hiking and horseback riding.

Field trip details: Free; open sunrise to sunset, 365 days a year; no bikes or motorized vehicles allowed.

Internet-based SC Option 3 home school accountability association serving South Carolina families statewide.

Sells pre-planned science lab kits with supplies and instructions to simplify hands-on homeschool science lessons.

A virtual speech therapy company serving homeschool families with flexible-scheduling sessions from home.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Sumter.

A standards-based language arts curriculum and supplemental materials to build students’ literacy mastery.

A 14-acre former estate turned public garden in Aiken, with wetlands, an arboretum trail, and a touch-and-scent trail, hosting free HOPE environmental education field trips.

Field trip details: Free; open daily 10am-sunset; hosts HOPE environmental education field trips through USCA’s Ruth Patrick Science Center.

Farm Camp: Hands-on farm camp experience with daily instruction in complete horse care, horseback riding, and farm animal care. Campers will interact with a wide variety of animals, including horses, ponies, mini animals, livestock, birds, and small animals.

• Ages: 6–12
• Half-day available
• Price: $275 per child, per session

Birthday Parties: Parties include up to 8 children, with additional guests added for $10 each. The total cost is $350 with a $50 deposit required.

Photography Sessions: These are farm-themed photography sessions with farm or seasonal decor and live animals. Sessions cost $75, with a 50% deposit required upon booking

Check out Kidding Around’s Review of Horse Crossing Farm

Boy Scouts of America council serving the Midlands and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina.

Inspire Dance offers daytime dance classes for homeschoolers and preschoolers. Everything is fun, age-appropriate, and family-friendly. Sessions are 12-weeks on Mondays. Space is limited to maximize learning experience.

All Classes are taught by Cindy Cheek of Inspire Performing Arts 27+ years experience!

Blends equestrian training and equine science with a Christ-centered foundation in the Columbia area.

We are a mobile sports business that brings qualified coaching and the required equipment to you! Want to add a gymnastics class to your daycare or church? Give us a call!

New gymnastic and ninja classes coming to Crooked Creek Park!

A 50,000-acre reservoir bordering Lexington and Richland counties, offering boating, fishing, birdwatching, and shoreline recreation, with multiple public access points and family-friendly parks.

Field trip details: Multiple public access points and parks around the lake; Lake Murray Dam and Saluda Shoals Park are popular family destinations.

A 100% online hybrid homeschool program for grades 6-8 combining live teacher-led classes with self-paced learning.

An award-winning martial arts program helping kids build focus, confidence, and discipline through self-defense training.

Teaches children entrepreneurial skills by guiding them to start, own, and operate their own lemonade stands.

A letter subscription for kids ages 6-14, written in first person as if from historical figures, teaching American history.

A 7-acre complex of 36 historic structures in downtown Lexington interpreting county life from the 1770s through the Civil War, with 16 hands-on field trip programs.

Field trip details: 16 hands-on field trip programs for student groups; costumed guides; the Corley Log House program limits groups to 25 students.

A nature-based, secular educational cooperative near Columbia blending emergent and directed learning with social-emotional development.

Classes: Mud Club, art classes for kids after school.

Summer Camps: Mad Platter offers camps for young kids ages 3-6 and older kids age 7 and up.

We offer hands-on nature-based workshops for children of all ages.

A University of South Carolina museum exploring the culture and geography of the American South, offering free self-guided visits and guided tours for all grade levels.

Field trip details: Free; self-guided visits and guided tours; all grade levels.

A 16-inch Cassegrain telescope on the USC Columbia campus offering night-sky viewing for research and public groups, with free Monday-night public viewing when weather permits.

Field trip details: Free or fee depending on program; serves elementary through college groups.

We offer Music Together, a music and movement class for children ages 0-5 and the grownups who love them.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Augusta.

An online music curriculum for elementary, middle, and high school students using storytelling, games, and puzzles.

A national awareness campaign informing parents about the full range of K-12 education options, including homeschooling.

Offers homeschool classes and field trips year-round, fully immersed in nature, taught by experienced homeschool moms.

A comprehensive homeschool curriculum for PreK through high school emphasizing creativity, independent learning, and environmental awareness.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Columbia.

We are a campground & farm with RV camping and farm experiences.

A monthly printed science magazine for young people designed to spark curiosity away from screens.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Aiken.

Offers lessons in Great Highland Bagpipes and Scottish drumming (snare, tenor, bass) in the Columbia area.

A 460-acre Nature Conservancy and SCDNR preserve in Lexington County with unique sandstone formations, a waterfall, and longleaf pine forest, free with hiking-only trails.

Field trip details: Free; hiking only, no facilities; already featured on kiddingaroundcolumbia.com; free ranger-led ‘Hikes with a Naturalist’ offered periodically.

A video-based teaching tool that helps kids get active and learn lifetime sports.

Discover a fun, safe, and nurturing horseback riding school offering English and Western lessons, homeschool classes, and Tiny Tot programs in a family-friendly, nature-based setting.

An apparel and resource brand founded by an autism parent, dedicated to education, awareness, and acceptance for the autism community.

Provides competitive middle and high school sports for homeschooled, charter, virtual, and private school athletes in the Columbia region.

Children’s books that double as speech therapy tools, delivering Christ-centered speech and communication support through storytime.

We offer mommy-and-me music classes, group piano, voice, and ukulele lessons, and private instruction—creating fun, enriching musical experiences for children and families.

Details:
Offers: Ages 0–8; Music Together mixed-age classes, Rhythm & Roots Baby classes, preschool music and movement classes, and early childhood rhythm and song classes

Months: Classes are offered year-round, with ongoing sessions held throughout the year

Pricing: Pricing varies by class type and session length; tuition is charged per session

Gives students across Richland County and the Midlands access to resources and programs to support academic success.

A 70-acre zoo and botanical garden home to over 2,000 animals, from alpacas and koalas to penguins and kangaroos, with standards-aligned school programs available.

Field trip details: Fee-based; day and overnight trip options; all grade levels.

A 15.5-mile riverfront trail system connecting Columbia, Cayce, and West Columbia along the Broad, Saluda, and Congaree Rivers, with free paved and boardwalk trails.

Field trip details: Free; paved and boardwalk trails, picnic shelters, and river access points; check for seasonal trail closures before visiting.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Eastover.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Irmo.

A 400-acre outdoor classroom in Irmo run by the Irmo Chapin Recreation Commission, offering ranger-led science programs for K-12 plus a monthly Homeschool Adventure Learning series.

Field trip details: Homeschool Adventure Learning: monthly, ages 5-7 or 8-12, $6/student; K-12 standards-based programs $6-8/student; guided paddle field trips also available.

The statewide Option 2 homeschool association, providing educational counseling and encouragement to South Carolina parents.

Hands-on career exploration and safety education programs connecting classroom learning to real-world careers for elementary and middle schoolers.

An outdoor environmental competition for high school students to learn about the natural environment through teamwork.

Promotes learning through coin and currency collecting, connecting history, economics, and geography for kids.

A free braille and talking-book library service for South Carolinians with reading disabilities, low vision, or blindness.

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Irmo.

The Navy’s youth development program for kids ages 10-18, building character through hands-on training and activities.

A 1,400-acre Sandhills-region park in NE Columbia offering Discover Carolina nature field trips and a historic Segars-McKinney homestead site, with online and on-site options.

Field trip details: Reservations open August 1 for the school year; on-site and online field trip options; no charge for online field trips per SCPRT Discover Carolina program.

Sells homeschool planners, student journals, and self-sufficiency-focused workshops and classes, plus a cottage bakery.

A faith-based youth sports league in Columbia where coaches invest in players and families through sports and life lessons.

Columbia’s producer-only Saturday street market on Main Street, ranked the #1 farmers market in the US by USA Today in 2025, with free parking on Saturdays.

Field trip details: Every Saturday, 9am-1pm, year-round, rain or shine; free street parking on Saturdays; over 400 unique local vendors throughout the year.

Helps kids ages 6-21 improve communication and literacy skills through virtual speech therapy sessions.

Columbia’s professional ballet company (rebranded from Columbia City Ballet to South Carolina Ballet in 2023), offering curriculum-aligned Educational Outreach performances twice each season.

Field trip details: Fee-based; two Educational Outreach performances per season, aligned to SC College- and Career-Ready Academic Standards; all grade levels.

The state’s second-oldest museum, covering South Carolina’s military history from the Revolution through today, with free guided tours and self-guided activities for all grades.

Field trip details: Free; guided tours and self-guided activities; all grade levels.

The state forestry agency offering free, standards-based outdoor environmental education programs at Harbison State Forest and in classrooms, for K-12 students statewide, including homeschoolers.

Field trip details: Free; day trips, guided tours, and self-guided activities; all grade levels.

Harbison State Forest in Columbia is one of the largest greenspaces within city limits east of the Mississippi River. The forest’s 18 miles of trails offer bikers, hikers, and joggers an up-close view of the wilderness without ever leaving town. For kids, find geocaches hidden along the Learning & Discovery Trails, check out the Unbeleafable self-led tree ID guide, or participate in SC Forestry Commission’s Junior Forester program.

A 19th-century Greek Revival mansion on Arsenal Hill in Columbia offering free guided tours for school, scout, camp, and homeschool groups by appointment.

Field trip details: Free; day trips and guided tours; all grade levels.

Columbia’s professional orchestra offering educational concerts and outreach programs for school and homeschool groups, aligned with SC academic standards for elementary through high school.

Field trip details: Fee-based; elementary through high school; performances and outreach programs available.

South Carolina’s largest annual event, held each October, offering discounted school group tickets, a dedicated Physics Day, and hands-on agricultural exhibits for all ages.

Field trip details: Seasonal (October); discounted group tickets available; Physics Day is a dedicated field trip event; already featured on kiddingaroundcolumbia.com.

The seat of South Carolina’s state government, offering self-guided and guided tours of the Governor’s office and legislative chambers, free for all grade levels.

Field trip details: Free; self-guided and guided tour options; all grade levels.

Four floors of art, history, natural science, and technology exhibits, plus a digital dome planetarium and 4D interactive theater, with free admission for SC students.

Field trip details: Fee (some free options); day and overnight trip options; elementary through high school.

Provides educational therapy, tutoring, and cognitive training across the Midlands, from 2nd grade through career professionals.

Summit Academy is proud to be at the forefront of educational innovation where instruction is all virtual, provided by our Summit teachers. There are monthly in-person experiences, which include a mix of culture and relationship building activities, collaboration with peers, leadership opportunities, and regular field trips across SC.

Offers personalized tutoring in Columbia using the Sylvan Method, tailored to each child’s learning style.

A historic Lexington County farm offering hands-on school and homeschool field trips covering agriculture, sustainability, and South Carolina history, with rotating seasonal themes and crafts.

Field trip details: 3-hour field trips, Mon-Thu, 9am-12pm; $200 minimum per trip; seasonal themes change monthly (berries, pumpkins, historic crops, etc.); no charge for teachers/staff.

South Carolina’s only nonprofit art-house cinema, showing independent and classic films and offering media education programming, home to the annual Indie Grits Film Festival.

Field trip details: Home of the annual Indie Grits Film Festival; media arts education programs for students.

Advances evidence-aligned reading instruction across South Carolina, connecting families and educators with literacy resources.

A free statewide resource hub for South Carolina homeschoolers, open to families in any Option 1, 2, or 3 association.

The state’s second-oldest museum, covering South Carolina’s military history from the Revolution to today, in Columbia.

The state’s principal energy planning entity, offering education, outreach, and free lesson plans for families.

Offers hands-on, award-winning STEM programs developed by an engineer for students ages 6-16.

A University of South Carolina organic garden teaching soil health, biodiversity, and how to bring fresh local produce into daily life, with free guided tours.

Field trip details: Free; self-guided and guided tours; all grade levels.

Offers scholastic chess classes for grades K-12, teaching basic to intermediate strategy and tournament preparation.

A Christian hybrid homeschool academy in NE Columbia offering hybrid elementary classes and a la carte middle/high school classes.

An official Army museum on Fort Jackson tracing the history of U.S. Army basic training from 1917 to today, free and open weekdays with base access.

Field trip details: Free; Tue-Thu 10am-4pm; note that Fort Jackson itself requires visitors to have a military ID or be sponsored by an ID holder — coordinate access in advance.

A national co-ed football league for ages preK-8th grade aimed to empower youth, while creating an environment where they can thrive, compete, and have fun!

SC Department of Education-approved Option 3 home school accountability association based in Blythewood.

Provides optometric vision therapy services and exercises to help children and adults improve visual performance.

The YMCA of Columbia is a charitable organization working toward a better community for all. We strengthen the foundation of community through: Youth Development, Healthy Living, and Social Responsibility.

Uses certified teachers to provide 1:1 or small-group virtual tutoring across grade levels and subjects.