Education

Heritage Explorers Celebrate Homeschooling, Homesteading in Ohio’s Appalachia

The group’s founder, Tara Dodrill, said homeschooling and homesteading are connected because of independence and self-reliance.
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Heritage Explorers Celebrate Homeschooling, Homesteading in Ohio’s Appalachia
Homesteader Melissa Renee teaches a foraging class at the Heritage Explorers Fest and History Fair in McArthur, Ohio, on Oct. 16, 2025. Jeff Louderback/The Epoch Times
Jeff Louderback
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MCARTHUR, Ohio—On a 60-acre homestead in the Appalachian foothills of southern Ohio, Tara Dodrill homeschools her 10-year-old grandson, Cole. For her family, homeschooling and homesteading are connected, and her experience inspired her to start an event that teaches hands-on skills for children interested in both.

The Heritage Explorers Fest and History Fair, which took place on Oct. 16, is an outgrowth of the Heritage Skills USA Homesteading Summit, formerly known as the Old School Survival Boot Camp, held every summer in Ohio.

Jeff Louderback
Jeff Louderback
Reporter
Jeff Louderback covers news and features on the White House and executive agencies for The Epoch Times. He also reports on Senate and House elections. A professional journalist since 1990, Jeff has a versatile background that includes covering news and politics, business, professional and college sports, and lifestyle topics for regional and national media outlets.