Homeschool Day
September 23 @ 10:00 am – 1:00 pm EDT
Homeschool Day
These programs are for homeschool students in Kindergarten through 5th grades and their caregivers.
We’ve planned something for everyone for this special Homeschool Day – kids and parents. From tackling pesky germs or learning to manage stress, kids participate in a fun and engaging program tailored just for them, while parents take a little time for themselves during our adult nutrition program. Bring the whole family!
“Homeschool Day” at the Poe Center is designed exclusively for homeschool students providing opportunities to interact with peers and other co-ops, while engaging in the Poe Center’s effective and immersive health-science programs. This unique, interactive, and affordable experience offers engaging learning for a range of ages.
When you attend Homeschool Day with the Poe Center, you also get exclusive access to our virtual field trip website, the Poe Universe. The Poe Universe is an immersive online experience designed to supplement programs with additional health-science content.
The Poe Center offers multiple Homeschool Day programs and other parent/child experiences throughout the year. Visit our Upcoming Events page for additional opportunities.
Space is limited to 40 participants per age group.
Date:
September 23, 2026
Time:
10:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
Location:
Poe Center for Health Education
224 Sunnybrook Road
Raleigh, NC 27610
Who:
Kindergarten – 5th Grade Homeschool Students & Parents/Caregivers.
What:
Educational programs for children and parents, along with exclusive access to our brain-science Cranium Connection presentation, followed by playtime at PlayWELL Park.
Cost:
Registration is $14.50 + registration fee per participant
(non-refundable).
Space is limited to 40 participants per age group.
Contact:
For questions and additional information, please email Amanda Bodenheimer.
Programs
Germbusters, Junior (Kindergarten – 2nd Grades)
Germs, germs…they are not ALL bad, but they are tiny, and they are everywhere! Are you ready to become a Germbuster? In this program participants will learn: where they can find various kinds of germs, how to prevent spreading germs, and how to have fun washing their hands. Join us and take the Germbuster pledge!
Decisions… Decisions… (3rd-5th Grades)
How do I deal with my stress? What do I say to my friends who are pressuring me to cheat? How do I get my turn on the computer when my sibling is always hogging it? Decisions… Decisions… is designed to help kids with these every-day situations by teaching a decision making framework for dealing with stress, conflict and peer pressure. Participants will travel into their future and recognize how decisions today will help them achieve their dreams. Making difficult decisions ahead of time will help participants plan for plenty of rest, negotiate win-win solutions, and take an assertive stand against peer pressure among other empowering strategies.
Nourish & Thrive (Adults)
Have you ever wondered about the connection between your physical health and mental wellness? Nourish & Thrive uncovers the mystery of nutrition, physical activity, the gut biome, and mental wellness. This program promotes brain development with activities focused on healthy habits, self-care tips, neurotransmitter function, and nutrition. Nutrition topics include food groups, hydration, and foods to prioritize a healthy gut.
Cranium Connection
Kids learn about the inner workings of the brain in the Poe Center’s 4D Cranium Connection exhibit. Located in the lobby, the “brain theater” features a 20-by-20 foot cave-like space with decorative lighting to simulate veins and nerves. Visitors enter the Cranium Connection behind the ear to view a brain health education program through two large monitors at the front of the theater, which are located where the eyes would be. Nerf balls are gently launched at the audience during the program to demonstrate the reactions of the nervous system to stimuli.
PlayWELL Park
Following the programs, kids will enjoy exclusive access to the Poe Center’s body-systems themed playground. Our 1.5-acre shaded and fenced playground offers children a safe place to learn about health and engage in imaginative educational play. Climb a giant rib cage, zip between two ears, and rest and reset in our MindWELL Garden. Picnic shelters are available for lunch.
Visit the Poe Center’s Upcoming Events page for additional Homeschool Day events.
Schedule of Events
10:00 a.m. – 10:45 a.m.
K-2nd grades: Germ Busters Jr.
3rd-5th grades: Decisions… Decisions…
Adults: Nourish & Thrive
10:50 a.m. – 11:15 a.m.
Cranium Connection: Brain-Science Presentation
11:15 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
PlayWELL Park
(Visitors are welcome to bring a lunch to enjoy at our covered picnic areas during this time).
No. Adults should plan to remain on campus for the duration of Homeschool Day
Yes. Adults are encouraged to stay with their child(ren) during programming or to register for the adult program scheduled for the same time as the youth program(s).
Yes. Children under 5 are welcome to accompany adults but may want to play in the atrium or at the park during programming if they become restless.
No. Since younger children will not be actively participating in programming, there is no fee for them to attend.
If you plan to attend the adult program, you need to register for the program, and the fee is $14.50 plus the registration fee. If you plan to stay with your child(ren) during their program, there is no fee.
You are welcome to park in the bus lanes on both sides of the driveway directly in front of the building. Additional parking is available across from the park, in the lower lot just beyond our building, and along Kidd Road.
You are welcome to bring water bottles, snacks, and/or lunch with you. Our PlayWELL Park has two covered picnic areas in which families are welcome to use to enjoy lunch on site. Please note that we do not have vending machines. Sun protection for outside time is also recommended.
Yes. The Poe Center offers multiple Homeschool Day events throughout the year, along with many other parent-child programs. Visit our Upcoming Events page for more information.
