Homeschool Roster Kicks Off Field Trip Season at Thornton’s Pool {video}
Homeschool Roster officially kicked off its field trip season with not one, not two, but three field trips to Thornton’s Pool in Covington, Tennessee. For the past eight years, it has been a tradition to begin the Homeschool Roster field trip and event season with a visit to Thornton’s Pool.
“I actually do not remember how I learned about Thornton’s Pool, but once I saw the pictures, I knew we had to go there. Each year, it is the first event I add to the field trip roster calendar,” said Jennifer Smeltser with Homeschool Roster. “For a lot of Homeschool Roster families, it is one of their favorite field trips and also how they start their school year.”
When Ms. Smeltser first began coordinating field trips to the pool, her children were 16, 14, and 12. Although they are now older, it is not too difficult to convince them to tag along and keep the tradition going.
“Along with my children, I really enjoy seeing the now older children of so many families that have been coming with us to the pool over the years. Everyone has grown up,” said Ms. Smeltser who has been coordinating field trips for more than 15 years. “Something that was really nice this year was meeting a lot of new families; ones that had never been to the pool before, as well as ones new on their home school journey.”
Micky Thornton envisioned and his wife, Jane, allowed him to dream and what resulted is a 500,000 gallon pool, which they call their backyard. From conception to the backyard oasis, Mr. Thornton’s ideas and hands are in every bit of the design and construction of the pool.
The story of how everything comes together is shown in the Coolest Thing video.
More than 30 years after digging first began to create the pool, thousands of guests have had the opportunity to visit and enjoy an extraordinary day by the pool. Along with pool fun – swimming, jumping from the rope swing, holding your position on the balance deck – sometimes getting carpet burn, or hanging out on the rocks – guests are able to feed ground hogs and llamas, who are family pets. Mr. Thornton is also a great conversationalist!
With field trips to Thornton’s Pool now in the books, the 2025/2026 Homeschool Roster field trip season has begun! See where we are going and what we are doing.
Read more homeschool news by clicking here.
Stay informed on Tennessee home school news by subscribing to Homeschool Roster newsletter.
