Homeschooling isn’t new. Families have been teaching their children at home for generations, long before public schools became the norm. The modern version—where parents intentionally design or curate a child’s education—started gaining momentum in the 1970s and has continued to grow steadily ever since. Today, homeschooling shows up in nearly every corner of Michigan, including right here in Washtenaw County.
Why homeschooling?
Local families choose this path for flexibility, learning differences, health needs, academic customization or simply wanting more time in nature, museums or community settings.
Whatever the motivation, this area is an exceptional place to homeschool. There are thriving support groups, long-running co-ops, hybrid programs, outdoor schools, university-run museums, arts organizations, makerspaces and youth sports programs that welcome homeschoolers.
Homeschooler support
Michigan’s homeschooling laws give parents a lot of freedom, but families here aren’t doing it alone.
Washtenaw County has an unusually robust network of community partners—libraries, nonprofits, parks, cultural institutions and faith-based organizations—that round out a child’s educational life. Many places offer daytime programs specifically because homeschoolers can attend when schools can’t.
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Washtenaw County Homeschooling Resources
Homeschool support groups and networks
Homeschoolers of Ann Arbor
Local Facebook group for homeschool families in Ann Arbor; strong social and meet-up orientation.
Homeschoolers of Washtenaw (HOW)
Inclusive, non-religious group for homeschoolers and unschoolers across Washtenaw County.
Michigan Christian Homeschool Network (MiCHN)
Statewide Christian homeschool network with local activity in southeast Michigan.
4405 Airwest Dr SE, Kentwood
Secular Homeschoolers of Southeast Michigan
A large, inclusive, non-religious Facebook community for homeschooling families offering curriculum discussion, park days, co-op opportunities and field trip ideas.
Homeschool co-ops / academic communities
Explorers Homeschool Association
Ecumenical Christian co-op in Ann Arbor offering structured academic classes and enrichment across age groups.
2450 S State St, Ann Arbor
Home School Connection (HSC)
Co-op in the Ann Arbor area offering academic and elective classes for homeschoolers from elementary through high school.
2450 S State St, Ann Arbor
United Learning Academy
Ann Arbor-based program offering elective-style classes taught by professional teachers, designed for homeschoolers.
3300 Lohr Rd, Ann Arbor
Washtenaw Christian Academy – Homeschool Partnership
A hybrid program that lets homeschool students enroll part-time in electives, athletics and school activities.
7200 Moon Rd, Saline
Tutoring and academic support
Family Learning Institute
Volunteer-driven nonprofit in Ann Arbor/Ypsilanti offering free academic tutoring (grades 2-5) that homeschoolers can use.
1954 S Industrial Hwy, Ann Arbor
Wyzant – Washtenaw County Tutoring Network
Online directory of private tutors in Washtenaw County who list homeschool-friendly services.
Outdoor & nature-based learning
Ann Arbor Forest School
Outdoor immersion program for children, including homeschoolers, focused on nature play, seasonal learning, and forest-based exploration.
3400 Berry Rd, Ann Arbor
Leslie Science & Nature Center
Offers daytime nature programs, bird-of-prey encounters and ecology lessons ideal for homeschool science units.
1831 Traver Rd, Ann Arbor
Matthaei Botanical Gardens
Free gardens and trails at U-M; excellent for botany, environmental science and self-guided field studies.
1800 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor
Nichols Arboretum
Riverfront nature area at U-M, open to all; supports ecology, plant science and trail-based study for homeschoolers.
1610 Washington Heights, Ann Arbor
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Field trips, museums & cultural experiences
ASTC Passport Program
Gives free or reciprocal admission to hundreds of science centers and museums when you hold a membership at a participating location. There is a rule that your home museum must be at least 90 miles away (as the crow flies) from the museum you want to visit.
Washtenaw County location eligible for pass – Ann Arbor Hands‑On Museum
Museums throughout Michigan and nationwide
Kelsey Museum of Archaeology
Free U-M museum of ancient art and artifacts; excellent for history and culture units, self-guided homeschool visits.
434 S State St, Ann Arbor
UM Museum of Art (UMMA)
Free admission art museum on U-M campus; family programs and homeschool-friendly tours.
525 S State St, Ann Arbor
UM Museum of Natural History
Free-admission science museum with wildlife, dinosaur exhibits, planetarium; great for homeschool science units.
1105 N University Ave, Ann Arbor
University Musical Society (UMS) K-12 School Day Performances
World-class performing arts series during weekdays that homeschool groups often attend.
825 N University Ave, Ann Arbor
Yankee Air Museum
An aviation and engineering museum offering immersive STEM programs and historic aircraft experiences, perfect for history or science units.
47884 D St, Belleville
Libraries and community centers
Ann Arbor District Library (AADL)
Large public library system running homeschool-friendly maker labs, curriculum kits, STEM labs, daytime homeschool programs, and museum-pass program.
Various locations
Ypsilanti District Library
Makerspace, teen coding clubs, robotics labs, homeschool‐friendly daytime programs.
Various locations
Life skills, vocational & teen programs
Community Action Network – YouthWorks
A youth-driven work-readiness program that helps teens build confidence, job skills and leadership through real-world projects in their own neighborhoods. Designed for under-resourced youth but open to local families seeking stronger pathways to independence.
809 Taylor St, Ann Arbor
Michigan Works! Youth Programs
Free/low-cost job skills, apprenticeship and teen‐employment readiness programs open to homeschoolers with parental support.
1201 E Ellsworth Rd., Ann Arbor
Zingerman’s BAKE! for Kids & Teens
Culinary and baking-school workshops in Ann Arbor that homeschool teens often join for project-based learning.
3711 Plaza D, Ann Arbor
Youth leadership opportunities
Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation Youth Council
A leadership council for high-school students where they grant over $100,000 in youth-led funding each year and engage in community service and grant-making.
301 N Main St, Ste 300, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor Police Department – Community Engagement & Youth Volunteer Program
Provides youth internship/volunteer opportunities and programs that build leadership, civic awareness and engagement.
301 E Huron St, Ann Arbor
Growing Hope Teen Leadership Program
Teens manage garden plots, seed libraries and food-security initiatives to help build project leadership skills, participate in community action and witness real-world outcomes.
1100 N Dixboro Rd, Ann Arbor
Neutral Zone
A teen-driven community space in Ann Arbor where youth explore creativity, leadership, and social justice; strong peer-led and project-based opportunities.
310 E Washington St, Ann Arbor
Washtenaw County Sheriff’s Office – Junior Police Academy / Police Explorers
Offers middle/high school students interactive leadership and public-service training in law enforcement settings.
2201 Hogback Rd, Ann Arbor
Kid-friendly community service
Food Gatherers – “Kids Fight Hunger” Activities
Kids can help decorate bags, pack pantry boxes with families, or run mini food drives at home or on-site.
1 Carrot Way, Ann Arbor
Humane Society of Huron Valley – “Little Paws Storytime”
Kids can read books to animals, help with small tasks, and join age-appropriate kindness/animal-care programs.
3100 Cherry Hill Rd, Ann Arbor
Peace Neighborhood Center – Youth Helpers
Older elementary-aged kids can volunteer at community events when accompanied by a parent.
1111 N Maple Rd, Ann Arbor
Washtenaw County Parks – Family Workdays / Habitat Restoration
Monthly events, such as removing invasive species and planting pollinator-friendly plants, are specifically designed to welcome younger children with supervision.
Various locations
Science, STEM & robotics
Ann Arbor Hands-On Museum
Interactive science and discovery museum with homeschool-friendly daytime options and rotating STEM exhibits.
220 E Ann St, Ann Arbor
FIRST Robotics Teams (Ann Arbor Area)
Community and school-based robotics teams where students learn engineering, coding, teamwork, project management and public outreach while preparing for FIRST competitions. Homeschoolers can join existing community teams or form their own
Hosted at various Ann Arbor and Washtenaw County middle/high schools
The Future Innovators Academy
Empowers kids ages K–12 of all schooling backgrounds to explore science, technology, engineering and math through hands-on, project-based learning while building problem-solving, teamwork and innovation skills.
4130 Varsity Dr, Ann Arbor
iD Tech Camp (University of Michigan)
A summer STEAM camp offering weeklong sessions in coding, game design, AI, robotics, and digital arts for ages 7–17, including homeschoolers. Camps are hosted at U of M with small class sizes and hands-on, project-based instruction led by trained student mentors.
Various locations on the University of Michigan campus, Ann Arbor
Maker Works
Makerspace offering teen/young-adult programs in robotics, 3D printing and engineering; homeschool students are welcome.
3765 Plaza Dr, Ann Arbor
Secret Lab
A creative makerspace offering hands-on access to tech tools like 3D printing, sewing machines, screen-printing, audio gear and coding stations.
343 S Fifth Ave, Ann Arbor
Yankee Air Museum
Aviation museum offering STEM-focused programs, hands-on workshops, historic aircraft, and engineering lessons for homeschool groups.
47884 D St, Belleville
Community music programs
Ann Arbor Symphony Orchestra (A2SO)
Learning & community programs that include youth chamber ensembles, instrument petting zoos and school-based programs that homeschoolers can join.
734 N Main St, Ann Arbor
Michigan Philharmonic Youth Orchestra (MPYO)
Offers three orchestras and a wind ensemble for young musicians in southeast Michigan, including homeschoolers.
650 Church St, Plymouth
Michigan Youth Ensembles (MYE)
Run by the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre & Dance which offers a full orchestra, string-only ensemble and other groups for students in grades 6-12, with applications, auditions and scholarships.
1100 Baits Dr, Ann Arbor
National Homeschool Music Ensembles (NHME)
A nonprofit that has served homeschool families in Washtenaw, Lenawee and Monroe Counties for over 20 years, offers affordable group ensembles, band, strings and choir just for homeschoolers.
909 Burt St, Tecumseh
Ypsilanti Youth Orchestra (YYO)
A tuition-free youth orchestra program for strings (and other ensembles) in Ypsilanti with a focus on access, diversity and community for young musicians.
510 Emerick St, Ypsilanti
Athletics & physical education
Ann Arbor Rec & Ed
Offers sports, fitness classes, art and enrichment; homeschoolers can join many daytime or evening offerings.
1515 S Seventh St, Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor YMCA
Youth sports, swimming, and gymnastics with many programs allowing homeschool scheduling or alternative enrollment.
400 W Washington St, Ann Arbor
CTK Jaguars
Multi-sport homeschool‐friendly athletics program in the Ann Arbor area serving homeschoolers across sports seasons.
Various locations
Social & interest-based clubs
4-H Clubs (Washtenaw County)
An extension program offering clubs in robotics, animals, gardening and leadership open to homeschool youth.
705 N Zeeb Rd, Ann Arbor
Boy Scouts of America – Michigan Crossroads Council
Co-ed scouting program for grades K–12 focused on outdoor skills, leadership development, service projects and merit-badge learning across hundreds of topics. Homeschoolers can join local troops, packs or independent patrols.
137 S Marketplace Blvd, Lansing (serving Washtenaw County troops)
Girl Scouts Heart of Michigan — Ann Arbor Regional Center
Girls-only leadership and community-building organization offering badges, outdoor adventure, STEM programs, and year-round activities. Many homeschool families participate for its flexible troop schedules and hands-on learning.
1671 Plymouth Rd, Ann Arbor
