Visit the Innovation Barn during our regular business hours and explore a working circular economy hub where businesses, programs, and events are happening every day.

Stop at the front desk to pick up a self-guided tour card. Look for the painted yellow columns throughout the public areas, where you’ll find signs and QR codes with information about the Innovation Barn, our businesses, and Charlotte’s sustainability initiatives.

Explore five hands-on exhibits focused on energy, plastics, organics, and recycling, plus Mini Eco Explorer activities like bee scavenger hunts, upcycled journal making, and recycling-themed coloring pages.

Be sure to check out the aquaponics system, urban food forest, worm bin, goldfish, and working beehives. Grab a coffee or drink while you’re here and see sustainability in action!

*The Innovation Barn is a working facility with multiple businesses, programs, and events. Please remain in designated public areas and be respectful of spaces that are in use.

Email us (engage@envisioncharlotte.org) for questions or for scheduling group visits

The Deputy of Diversion program is a fun, free, and educational experience for kids ages 6–14 to learn how to Recycle Right in Mecklenburg County. Through hands-on activities, interactive games, and creative projects—like making badges from recycled materials—kids explore the 7 Rs of sustainability and discover how their everyday actions can make a big impact. Each session wraps up with a badge ceremony and an official Deputy of Diversion certificate, empowering kids to become recycling champions in their homes, schools, and communities. It’s the perfect mix of learning, laughter, and landfill diversion!

For more information about Deputy of Diversion - click here

Looking for an engaging and educational field trip in Charlotte that inspires students to think sustainably? The Innovation Barn offers hands-on, curriculum-aligned field trips for grades Pre-K through 12 that bring the principles of sustainability and the circular economy to life. Designed to support classroom learning and aligned with Common Core State Standards and Next Generation Science Standards, our interactive experiences help students make real-world connections through activities focused on recycling, food systems, green design, environmental impact, and more. During their visit, students will explore how Charlotte is leading the way in waste reduction and material reuse, gain behind-the-scenes access to our recycling innovations, and discover practical ways they can help build a more sustainable future with flexible programming and engaging STEAM-based activities.

Our field trips offer a powerful and memorable learning experience for your class. Book your field trip today and give your students the tools to make a difference!

For more information on Field Trips - click here

Ready to get hands-on with plastic waste and turn it into something new, useful, and awesome? Join a limited group of young innovators for a 4-week workshop inside the Plastics Lab at the Innovation Barn!

Inside the workshop, you’ll work with real tools and equipment designed to help recycle and repurpose plastic waste.

You’ll explore what happens to plastic after we throw it away, discover how plastic can be given a second life, and use your creativity to design solutions to real-world waste challenges.

Help us recirculate waste into design solutions and become part of the next generation of circular economy innovators!

*This is a 4 week workshop series designed for 6th, 7th, and 8th grade students only.

Dates: February 2027

February 3rd, 10th, 17th, 24th

Time: 4:30 PM to 6 PM

Cost: $200

Click HERE to register!

Free K–12 Educator Professional Development.

Tour, connect, learn project-based teaching strategies, earn 0.2 CEUs & get classroom resources!

Looking for fresh, meaningful ways to bring sustainability into your classroom? Join us at the Innovation Barn for a free K–12 Educator Professional Development event designed to inspire, connect, and equip educators with practical tools you can take back to your students. Explore the Innovation Barn, discover engaging field trips and middle school capstone opportunities, and participate in a hands-on workshop led by Dr. Jenny Pieratt of CraftED Curriculum focused on authentic project-based learning. Connect with fellow educators, explore lesson ideas and planning frameworks, enjoy complimentary coffee, and leave with classroom resources and new ideas—plus earn 0.2 CEUs!

Space is limited, so register today to reserve your spot.

October 3rd, 2026 or February 20th, 2027

Click HERE to register!

Summer Camps at the Innovation Barn – Where Sustainability Meets Fun

Looking for a unique, educational, and exciting camp experience in Charlotte? The Innovation Barn’s Sustainability Summer Camps offer hands-on learning opportunities that spark curiosity and empower kids to take action for a greener future. Designed for rising 1st–5th graders, our camps explore key concepts like recycling, composting, eco-engineering, and the circular economy through creative projects, team challenges, science experiments, and outdoor discovery. Campers will dive into real-world sustainability topics, tour our recycling systems, and explore our edible gardens—all while having fun and making new friends. Each session is packed with engaging STEAM-based activities that inspire young change makers. Space is limited—sign up early to secure your spot and give your child an unforgettable camp experience that makes a lasting impact.

For more info on Camps - click here