Local Resources

Some people wonder if they homeschool, how will they or their children ever meet anyone else? No, you don't have to join a co-op  - although you can. And, no, you don't have to stay isolated - although you can. The longer you homeschool, the more you will find you have to actually struggle to keep the "home" in homeschool. There are more opportunities around this area than you will have time, money, and energy to do.  It is also perfectly fine to participate in none of these opportunities. Staying home is valuable! Here are some of our favorite opportunities, not all are exclusively homeschool opportunities.  If you know of something not listed, please email us.

Arts

• William King Museum art classes, camps, changing exhibits in the museum, docent led tours and storytimes are available, museum is free to enter and has rotating new exhibits several times a year
• Holtston Mountain Artisans - classes  
• Sewing Classes Bristol, VA

Bible Study

• Community Bible Study - Ladies Bible study, homeschool groups for elementary through high school, meets on Thursday mornings. Contact GRACEd for update info on registration.   
• Bible Bowl - local group 
• Highlands Fellowship has a "Kids Small Group" Bible study on Wednesday nights for 1st through 6th graders (and other programs for older kids). This is not just for homeschool children. The link to attend is at the bottom of the page.
• Camp Evangel - offers summer camps, fall and spring weekend retreats for teens and middle schoolers - run by member of our group
• AWANA - a few churches offer this evening Bible study for kindergarten through teens including Abingdon Bible Church and Rosedale Baptist - This is not just for homeschool children. 

Clubs

• Trail Life - Christian Boy Scout type club, meets weekly in Abingdon - not exclusively homeschoolers, although homeschoolers are involved
  • Another Trail Life group, meeting in Kingsport on Monday nights at Bloomingdale Baptist Church, Kingsport
• American Heritage Girls, unofficial troop, local group
• 4-H - Washington County  Call the local office (276) 676-6309, Crystal Peek
• Speech and Debate Club - In Johnson City, TriCities TN area

Co-ops/Classes in Area

• HELP - Blountville, TN
• TEACH - Johnson City, TN
• KACHEA - Kingsport, TN
• KCA - Kingsport Christian Academy - 2 day a week, school model
• Bristol Academy - classes for high school homeschoolers
• Charlotte Mason Book Discussion group for parents, contact Living Books Library for dates/times. 
• Charlotte Mason Soiree Society - focused on the study of Charlotte Mason's Volumes 
• Overmountain Academy - Former school teacher/homeschool mom offers science intensives - Also, find out more on Facebook
• Oak Cottage - a Charlotte Mason enrichment program in Kingsport, TN
• Southwest VA homeschoolers - a Marion area co-op
• Classical Conversations Johnson City, TN
• Westminster homeschool classes - Kingsport

Driver's License 

• Virginia Homeschool Laws and PDF
• Defensive Driving Class at Bristol Motor Speedway - Offered once a year. Get on the mailing list to get the information. This is just an extra, but very beneficial. 

Dual Enrollment/College

• Virginia Highlands Community College 
• Blue Field College - Online courses 
• Get Unbound An online resource to help plan a unique college experience for your high schooler or graduate - online, in-person, CLEP, AP... They have connections with over 750 institutions.

Farms/Zoos

• Fern Valley - farm animals/garden tours for children (540) 273-9137
• Dreamland Alpacas - tours 
• Brights Zoo 
• Creation Kingdon Zoo

History

• Rocky Mount Museum - lots of special days, plus homeschool days in September
• Muster Grounds - Abingdon summer day camps and events during the Abingdon Festival week
• Exchange Place in Kingsport, TN  offers a homestead apprentice training program for young people
• Crab Orchard - in Tazewell, VA offer apprentice training program
• Sycamore Shoals - Elizabethton, TN - several interesting festivals including a Native American festival and Christmas around the world. 
• Davey Crocket State Park - TN - Lots to learn on Davey Crocket days in summer
• President Andrew Johnson's house - Greeneville, TN
• Tipton-Haynes Historic Site - they are happy to set up group events and tours
• Daniel Boone Wilderness Trail - site near Natural Tunnel State Park has living history events - Wilderness Road Blockhouse
• Birthplace of Country Music Museum - Bristol, TN

Libraries

• Living Books Library - a private, membership library in Bristol, specializing in out-of-print books, owned by a local homeschool family.
• Bristol Public Library - story time, book clubs, 
• Washington County Libraries  - special homeschool activity days 

Music

• Kindermusik
• Children's Choir: Emory Virginia Children's Choir (EVCC) Highlands Youth Ensemble (HYE) (Mountain Empire Children's Choral Academy)  - EVCC is fantastic younger choir opportunity. They meet at Emory and Henry college on Thursdays from 4-5:30 - grades 1 to 8. HYE is for high school and meets in Bristol. 
• Junior Appalachian Musicians
• TriCities Homeschool Band
• Celebration Church Worship Arts ministry - many classes from arts to dance to music 
• King University offers a summer Choral Camp - rising 4th through 12th
• Bristol Academy of Music voice, instruments, camps, theater, glee club - in group and private settings
• Private Music Lessons - There are many wonderful music teachers in the Abingdon Area. Those listed with an * are GRACEduacator graduates and either have or are pursuing a music degree. These teachers may not have openings or times that work for you, but it is a place to start. If you'd like to add another teacher for the group to know about, please email us:
  
  • Piano - * Eva King, Tess and Cosette Moorman
  • Cello - * Bethany Dawson
  • Violin - * Bethany Dawson
  • Voice - * Tess and Cosette Moorman
  • Sign Language (not music, but not sure where else to put this)  - Tess and Cosette Moorman

Nature

• Steele Creek Nature Center - monthly nature walks, camps, nature center - will set up programs for groups on request
• Warrior's Path State Park - summer nature programs, Weekly Outdoor Wanders, also check their facebook page
• Roan Mountain - quarterly naturalist rallies, great events for children 
• Rooster Front Park - check with Friend's of Steele Creek for events sometimes held here
• The Creeper Trail - walking, running, biking 
• Lake Estanoa Wetlands - St. Paul - offers nature programs upon request
• Blue Ridge Discovery Center - offers nature programs,  naturalist rallies, and summer camps. 
• Other places for exploring include - Backbone Rock, Natural Tunnel, Bristol Caverns, Appalachian Caverns, Bay's Mountain and hunting for the wild horses on Mt. Rogers. 
• Natural Tunnel State Park 
• Barefoot University - Nature based clubs, with a curriculum and weekly group outings, registration needed. Sign up or Waitlist here 
• Wild and Free groups - Popular nature adventure group for youngest to oldest. Email for the local contact info 

Podcasts/Audio

A few GRACE families have national podcasts.

• A Delectable Education, focusing on the Charlotte Mason Method of education

Science

• Lego League
• Hayters Gap Library and Glade Spring library are hosting weekly STEAM days. Please check with them for the details.
• Hands on Museum in Gray, TN offers homeschool programs 

Sports 

This is not an exhaustive list for the larger VA/TN region. A few other co-ops have sports teams, but the following listings are those closest to the Abingdon area. If the Abingdon area does not have an opportunity, then a farther away option is listed for those who are interested. 

• Upward Football and Cheer
• Basketball - ACTS (Appalachian Christian Team Sports) has a homeschool league in Abigndon for boys and girls, ages 5-18, contact through GRACEd 
• Local Soccer - Soccer for older students may be available through KACHEA sports in Kingsport
• Little League or in Lebanon, VA through Appalachian Soccer Association
• Swim Team, both year round and a summer league - Coomes Center
• Golf - First Tee - has had an exclusively homeschool group
• Golf and Tennis - Glenrochie offers some kids classes,  you do not have to be a member
• Gymnastics - Mountain Empire Gymnastics - Abigndon  now, Hart Gymnastics has had homeschool classes, contact for current info. 
• Bristol Ballet
• Grace Studio of Motion and Dance  
• Highlands Ballet
• Kingsport Ballet offers a Spring and Winter school performance for a low fee 
• Lacrosse - contact Bristol Rage LAX 
• Skiing/Snowboarding - great homeschool day deals, French Swiss Ski School offers the lessons/deals at Appalachian Ski Mountain. Besides homeschool days, SkiWee School during the week can be an excellent way for your 12 and unders to learn to ski. 
• Celebration Worship Arts ministry - dance, art, music - all in one place - great for families with several children. They can take classes all on the same night and time. You don't have to be a member of this church to participate
• Volleyball - ACTS in Abingdon has teams for elementary, middle and high school homeschool students - contact through GRACEd
• Cross Country - ACTS in Abingdon
• Cycling Team in Abingdon
• Wolf Hills Running Club - local homeschool group, email us for information
• Football with Tri Cities Christian Academy email  - Flag Football - Grades 1-6; Tackle Football- Grades 7-12

FUN

• Kingsport Waterpark
• Saltville Wavepool
• Steele Creek Park splashpad
• Roller skating - Bristol Skateway has a homeschool time on Wednesdays which is popular. It also includes a pool table, games and food is available. 

• Theatre Bristol - has opportunities for all of the community - young and old
• Lamp Light Theater Kingsport
• Appalachian Performing Arts Academy - Burnsville, NC
• Bristol Music Academy - some musical theater options