Add-on Workshops
Children & Teens
Add-on Programs
Something for Everyone at the Convention!
Make this convention an unforgettable experience for the whole family.
There are add-on events to suit every age and interest.
Pre-registration is closed. Please join us onsite to register!
Music Competition
Thursday, June 5
1:30 p.m. – 4:30 p.m.
Ages 5 – 19
$49/student ($39 HEAV members)
Homeschool musicians come to compete in three categories: piano, vocal, and instrumental. The winner in each category will be recognized at one of the three keynote sessions. We hope you will make time in your busy convention schedule to drop in and enjoy the music.
Music Competition Page Click Here.
*Pre-registration is required
Children’s Program
Thursday, Friday, & Saturday, June 5, 6, & 7
Ages 5 -12
$30/day/child
Children’s Program theme coming soon!
The Children’s Program is offered to attendees of the convention and is open all day Thursday, Friday, and Saturday, concurrently with most convention workshops. Children are the ages of 5 to 12.
Parents will drop off children before workshops begin. They must pick up their children over the lunch break each day and pick them up promptly after the last workshop.
NOTE: Children must be picked up during lunchtime break and promptly after daily workshops end please.
Children cannot be escorted to and from workshops by staff.
Questions? Contact the director at childrensprogram@heav.org
Dissection: Discover the Amazing Anatomy of Sharks
Thursday, June 5
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
Ages 11+
$69/student; $/parent add-on
STEM: Hands-On Dissection Lab Page
Presented by Sherri Seligson of Apologia
Dive into the exciting world of sharks as we cover the fascinating design of these animals! In this group dissection with Sherri Seligson, we will learn about shark behavior as well as their external and internal anatomy. We’ll discover the amazing complexity of sharks’ ability to identify electromagnetic fields to hunt and the organs that help them do it. We will cover sharks’ unique body structures that are perfectly designed to help them swim, capture and digest their food, and thrive in an ocean environment.
Pre-registration is required.
Chess Championships
Friday, June 6
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$39/student
Ages 7 – 19 (currently homeschooled)
Presented by the Virginia Chess Federation.
In this course, students will learn the basics of the game of chess including terminology, board orientation and setup, piece movements including castling and en passant, basic defense and calculations, opening principles, basic checkmate patterns, and a brief introduction to tactics.
Register here [link to come]
Location: Exhibit Hall
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Beginner Coding: Guess the Number and Balloon Pop in Scratch
Thursday, June 5
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$49/student $/parent add-on
Ages 11+
Beginner Coding Page
Presented by Rob Walsh of Excalibur
Scratch is a block-based programming language developed at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to simplify learning to program. In this workshop, participants will create two complete games from start to finish. One game will enable the computer to play a “Guess the Number” game against a human player, while the other will be an arcade-style game where players pop as many balloons as possible in one minute. Along the way, students will learn foundational computer science concepts, including variables, loops, conditionals, functions, and event handling.
This class is designed primarily for middle school students. No prior programming experience is required. A limited number of computers will be available. Participants bringing their own laptops should download and install the Scratch programming environment beforehand. Those without laptops may bring a USB storage device to save their projects at the end of the workshop.
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Intermediate Coding: T-Rex Run in Python
Thursday, June 5
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
$59/student $/parent add-on
Ages 11+
Intermediate Coding Page Click Here.
Presented by Rob Walsh of Excalibur
Have you played the dinosaur jumping game on Google? Want to create your own version of this game in Python? This workshop introduces participants to the basics of programming in Python and Pygame.
Python is a text-based programming language known for its easy-to-learn, English-like syntax. Pygame is a Python library specifically designed for creating video games. Participants will learn foundational computer science concepts and explore game design elements such as sprites, collision detection, and the game loop.
This class is designed for high school students. No prior programming experience is required. A limited number of computers will be available. Participants bringing their own laptops should download and install Visual Studio Code, Python, and the Pygame library beforehand. Those without laptops may bring a USB storage device to save their projects at the end of the workshop.
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Elementary Art
Thursday, June 5
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$39/student
Ages 6 – 9
Middle/High School Art
Thursday, June 5
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
$49/student
Ages 10+
Middle/High School Art Page Click Here
Presented by Kevin McEvoy
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Forensics: Investigation in Truth
Thursday, June 5
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
$49/student
Ages 8+
Forensics Page
Presented by Jennifer Rivera of Answers In Genesis
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Mineral Mayhem
Thursday, June 5
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
$65/student
$20/parent add-on
Mineral Mayhem Page
Presented by Dr. Marcus Ross of Cornerstone Educational Supply
Discover the fun and wonder of minerals with creation geologist Dr. Marcus Ross. In this hands-on workshop, you’ll learn all about minerals, including their formation, basics of chemistry, and mineral groups–and you’ll learn how to test and identify minerals using their properties. From the pretty to the practical, minerals are all around us! (The cost includes Cornerstone’s Deluxe Mineral Kit and Geology Testing Kit to use during the workshop and take home)
Link to Marcus Ross bio
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Beginner Chess
Thursday, June 5
10 a.m. – 1 p.m.
$39/student
Ages 7 – 19 (currently homeschooled)
Beginner Chess Page Click Here
Presented by Virginia Chess Federation
In this course, students will learn the basics of the game of chess including terminology, board orientation and setup, piece movements including castling and en passant, basic defense and calculations, opening principles, basic checkmate patterns, and a brief introduction to tactics.
Register here [link to come]
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Intermediate Chess
Thursday, June 5
2 p.m. – 5 p.m.
$39/student
Ages 7 – 19 (currently homeschooled)
Intermediate Chess Page Click Here
Presented by Virginia Chess Federation
Suitable for students who are proficient in all material covered in the crash course, this mini-camp will include instruction on tactics, endgame techniques, and an introduction to strategic concepts, particularly positional assessment and pawn structure.
Register here [link to come]
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Beginning Photography
Friday, June 6 – Saturday, June 7
$79/student
Ages 11+
Beginner Photography Page Click Here
Presented by James Staddon of Lenspiration Photography
Bring any camera you have—this class is for all skill levels! Unlike a typical convention presentation, this hands-on workshop dives deep into practical photography skills through four interactive classroom sessions.
Topics include:
Taking an artistic approach to your photography.
Maximizing the potential of your camera.
Secrets to keeping your photos organized.
Learning to see and use light like an artist.
Developing a biblical perspective in the world of photography.
Learn more: https://heav.org/?page_id=18539
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Advanced Photography
Thursday, June 5 through Saturday, June 7
$99/student
Ages 15+
Advanced Photography Page Click Here
Presented by James Staddon of Lenspiration Photography
Step outside the classroom and into a real-world experience! Photography Team members will receive real-time coaching during guided photo shoots as they help photograph the Convention.
Orientation and coaching begin on Thursday, focusing on gaining practical experience. You’ll photograph speakers, families, and Convention activities while learning the entire event photography workflow—from capturing images to editing them—using your own equipment, laptop, and photo editing software.
On Friday and Saturday, we’ll join sessions for artistic inspiration, broader instruction, and personalized photo coaching and critique. This is your chance to experience what event photography is really like!
Learn more: https://heav.org/?page_id=18539
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
Teen Program
Friday, June 6 & Saturday, June 7
$49/student
Ages 13+
Presented by Jonathan Brush of Unbound. Training young adults to thrive!
Pre-registration for the convention is required.
How to Add Events
Add your choice of events when you register for the convention.
Already registered for the convention?
Request to add an event to your registration by completing this form.
Questions? Call the HEAV office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 804-278-9200.
How to Add Events
Add your choice of events when you register for the convention.
Already registered for the convention?
Request to add an event to your registration by completing this form.
Questions? Call the HEAV office, Monday through Friday, 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at 804-278-9200.
Convention Sponsors
Many, many thanks to our convention sponsors!
They have invested heavily in homeschool families—in YOU—to help keep our convention prices as low as possible and support homeschooling in Virginia. Please join us in thanking them for their generosity!
