BaseCamp Live

Classical Christian schools are on the rise, and most have impressive reading lists and ambitious goals of graduates, but how are teachers trained to teach? Most of us teach how we were taught, which can be a challenge when we didn't grow up in a classical Christian school environment. Today, my guest, Maryellen St Cyr, is back on BaseCamp Live to bring practical wisdom from her years of founding and leading the Ambleside Schools based on Charlotte Mason's approach to raising and educating children of all ages.BIOGRAPHYMaryellen St. Cyr, Director of Curriculum at Ambleside Schools InternationalA professional educator for more than 30 years, Maryellen St. Cyr has spent thousands of hours in the classroom and hundreds of hours observing other teachers. Possessing a passion for a congruent, life-giving method of education, she has become one of the foremost experts on the “common sense” education philosophy of 19th-century British educator, Charlotte Mason. Maryellen is a primary author of When Children Love to Learn and shares insights into education here. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

No parental control software can completely protect your child from online harm. And parental controls never replace the need for parents or teachers, for that matter. After over 1,100 presentations, testifying in front of Congress, and countless conversations, we welcome back Chris McKenna, who has discovered five traits common in families with kids who learn to use technology well. He calls it the Digital Trust Framework.BIOGRAPHYChris McKenna, Founder and CEO of Protect Young Eyes, is a man with never-ending energy when it comes to fighting for the safety and protection of children. Chris practices his internet safety tips on his four exceptional children and is regularly featured on news, radio, podcasts, and most recently on Capitol Hill for his research. His 2019 US Senate Judiciary Committee testimony was the catalyst for draft legislation that could radically change online child protection laws and earned PYE the NCOSE Dignity Defense Alert Award in 2020. The PYE team has performed over 1,000 presentations at schools, churches, and nonprofits and was featured in the Childhood 2.0 movie. When not leading PYE, Chris is the Digital Marketing Manager for Covenant Eyes. Other loves include running, spreadsheets, and candy. Instagram: instagram.com/protectyoungeyes Facebook: facebook.com/protectyoungeyes Website: protectyoungeyes.com Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

We are raising our families in an increasingly challenging cultural moment. And yet we know God calls us to worship and give thanks continually rather than fall into the patterns and thinking of the secular culture around us. How do we ensure our homes and classrooms have habits that form what God loves? How do we compete with the storytellers of our age who often become the loudest voices in the next generation’s heads and hearts? My guest today is a gifted artist whose new book demonstrates the power of story and the habits of daily living that awaken us to God’s power and presence during difficult times. Stay tuned for this episode...BIOGRAPHYJacob grew up in Oregon and became a Christian at a young age. God has continued to display His faithfulness to Jacob throughout his life; a journey deeper and deeper into grace. Jacob received a Master of Divinity from Western Seminary in Portland, Oregon and moved to Seattle, Washington where he works as a minister in the local church.  Jacob’s years in school grew his passion for writing and reading, but he has always had a love for stories, whether they're told with pen and page or the rhyth,ms and rhymes of song. He agrees with J. R. R. Tolkien when he writes, “the Pot of Soup, the Cauldron of Story, has always been boiling, and to it have continually been added new bits, dainty and undainty," (On-Fairy-Stories, p. 45). As humans we simply cannot seem to escape a need to tell stories, a desire to reach beyond ourselves and connect to the deeper truths of who we are and what it means to live a life of meaning.,BUY THE BRIGHT ABYSSVISIT JACOB'S WEBSITE Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

Modern education produces weak men. The truth is, boys mature at different ages, need different learning environments, and are wired by God uniquely in their distinct bodies and minds. The task before us is to raise up a generation of young men who are confident in their identity, disciplined and skilled in their thinking, and faithful in their commitment to Christ. Classical Christian education is a critical ingredient to reach this goal, but our schools have got to consider one size education doesn't fit all. Join me for this conversation with founders of the Buffalo Creek Boys School, Lee and Rebecca Taylor, and learn what they discovered in their unique school that can be applied to anyone raising the next generation of young men. The good news is a lot of what they have discovered applies to girls too!BIOGRAPHYLee Taylor grew up all over the Southeast, as his father was transferred as a store manager for Sears, Roebuck and Co. He received his Bachelor of Arts in psychology and earned a Juris Doctor degree from Mercer University in Macon, Georgia. He has been the principal of law firms in both Ellijay, Georgia, and Lexington, Virginia, enjoying a career of “teaching clients, judges, and juries about the law.” He discovered his passion for ceramic arts in college and has been a wood-fire potter ever since. He is a self-taught mandolin, harmonica and guitar player, and loves nothing better than a good cup of coffee while listening to some bluegrass music. Lee is a leather craftsman, horseman, and outdoorsman, and particularly loves camping and cooking over an open fire. He has great enthusiasm for science, grammar, the stars, and critters of all kinds, including snakes and raptors. Lee became a Christian at the age of 12 through the influence of his youth pastor at First Baptist Church in Decatur, Alabama. He believes that the most effective way to have an eternal impact on individuals, our community, and our nation is to raise a generation with the spiritual and academic mettle to set themselves apart as men of character.Rebecca Taylor grew up in a family of eight in Nashville, Tennessee, McLean, Virginia, and Atlanta, Georgia. She earned a Bachelor of Science in agriculture and her middle school teaching certification from the University of Georgia.She taught in public school for four years and ended up with her own “one room schoolhouse” when God called her to homeschool her four children for six years. In 2001, her family sold everything and spent a year on the road, homeschooling with America as their classroom. In Rockbridge County, Rebecca taught Weekday Religious Education (WRE) in the public schools and helped create and lead a homeschool co-op. In 2014, she also took her first of many mission trips to Africa to teach in classical Christian schools in Rafiki villages.  Her passion is to teach sports, games, music, dancing, fiber arts, gardening, and core subjects from a Biblical worldview in an engaging way.The opportunity to nurture the hearts of young boys as they learn and mature is a challenge and calling Rebecca is excited to heed.Check out the Buffalo Creek Boys School Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

Perhaps no writer or thinker is more often quoted around classical Christian schools than famed Oxford and Cambridge professor C.S. Lewis.  Most of our schools engage Lewis' writings through the K-12 journey, inevitably reading his Chronicles of Narnia series, but the Cair Paravel Latin School takes Lewis to an even higher level of engagement, and the fruit both enriches the educational experience and inspires the students. Join me for this intriguing conversation with two members of the their teaching staff. You will find even more to love about Lewis to not only apply in your school but also your home.BIOGRAPHIESCraig Congdon:Born and raised in Topeka KS, I attended Cair Paravel Latin School from 1st-12th grade. Afterward, I attended John Brown University, majoring in Bible and Spanish, and then headed to Dallas Theological Seminary where I earned my Masters in Theology. After graduating, I returned to Topeka where I pastored a small church for 5 years while teaching part-time at CPLS. I now teach full-time as a rhetoric school teacher. While at CPLS I have taught, Bible, hermeneutics and theology, rhetoric, philosophy, Greek, Spanish, and even a dance elective. I also direct the HS dramas and coach the boy's volleyball team.Christine Ewing:Lover of Narnia and a Kansas girl through and through, I was raised in a small north central Kansas town. I attended Kansas State University where I earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts. My husband and I moved to Topeka upon college graduation and have sent our children to Cair Paravel Latin School. We now have a daughter in her sophomore year in college, a daughter in her sophomore year in high school at CPLS, and a sixth grade daughter at CPLS. I teach grammar school art, an occasional high school independent study, and do visual arts marketing within the school.  Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

The big questions in life - who am I? what am I? why am I here? Every human throughout history has grappled with these questions. Get the answers right and you can live a virtuous, flourishing life. Yet today, too many students, and adults for that matter, are fumbling through life trying to find meaning and purpose. Knowing the right questions is a critical first step to finding lasting and sustaining life answers. Classical Christian schools are uniquely positioned to guide students along an educational journey to answer these life questions. Our guest, Dr. Joshua Farris, has written a compelling new book exploring these essential questions and offering a comprehensive vision of how our beliefs inform our understanding of what it means to be human. He points to several specific techniques used in upper school classical Christian classrooms that equip students to answer these questions confidently, helping us all form a comprehensive vision of the human person as an embodied soul.BIOGRAPHY Prior to being named Executive Director of Alpine Christian School in Alpine, TX, Dr. Farris was the Chester and Margaret Paluch Professor at Mundelein Seminary, University of Saint Mary of the Lake; a part-time Lecturer at Auburn University Montgomery; and an Assistant Professor of Theology at Fuller Theological Seminary. He was at Houston Baptist University from 2014-2019. There, he served in the Theology department, Great Texts department, the Honors College, the Philosophy department, and the Academy, where he developed over 14 courses as part of the Great Texts program. A prolific writer, Dr. Farris' most recent work is An Introduction to Theological Anthropology. He is also the author of The Soul of Theological Anthropology and the coeditor of several volumes, including Being Saved: Explorations in Human Salvation, New England Dogmatics: A Systematic Collection of Questions and Answers in Divinity by Maltby Gelston (1766-1865), Christian Physicalism?, and The Routledge Companion to Theological Anthropology.Buy An Introduction to Theological Anthropology, here. Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

We have been living in a COVID world for over a year now, the impact it has made on how we live life, our attitudes, habits, and fears are extensive.Are there specific things we can do in our homes and schools to help us get back to healthy living more quickly and parents and teachers? And, how are Christian and classically educated young people in a better position to not only survive but thrive in a COVID and the post-COVID world? It is good news! Join me for this conversation with Keith McCurdy, who is back for this episode of BCL!BIOGRAPHYKeith McCurdy has worked with families, children, parents, and individuals for over 30 years in the field of mental health, working with more than 15,000 individuals and families. He received his Master of Arts and Education Specialist degrees from James Madison University. He is currently the President and CEO of Total Life Counseling, Inc., and is licensed in the state of Virginia as a Licensed Professional Counselor and Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist. For more information, visit livesturdy.com Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

The world is getting crazy. How do we raise a generation that refuses to compromise in matters of faith, especially in a world that rejects, even scorns, anyone who believes in absolute truth?  Like walking a roofline, how do we balance being in the world but not of it?  On one side, a person can easily compromise and blindly adopt the latest “correct thinking” and fall into the ditch of becoming a chameleon changing with their environment. On the other side of the roof, it is easy for a person to slide into isolation in a holy huddle, overly cautious and afraid of the world.  A person is only surrounded by those who think and act like them.  Dick Keyes has spent five decades as part of Francis Schaeffer’s L’Abri Fellowship, helping people navigate this balance. Ultimately, he urges them to live confidently and boldly as followers of Christ using what Schaeffer called “True Truth,” which he describes as “the mark of the Christian a love lived out, despite the wild world around us." It’s for sure something we should strive for each day as classical Christian educators and parents but for sure not easy… join us for this conversation!BIOGRAPHYDick Keyes is director emeritus of L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, Massachusetts, where he has worked with his wife and family since 1979. He holds a B.A. in History from Harvard University and an M.Div. from Westminster Theological Seminary in Philadelphia.Dick has worked for L’Abri Fellowship in Switzerland and England, where he also served as a pastor in the International Presbyterian Church in London for eight years. He has been an adjunct professor at Gordon Conwell Seminary and Westminster Theological Seminary.Dick Keyes (B.A. Harvard University, M. Div. Westminster Seminary) is the director of L’Abri Fellowship in Southborough, MA. He is the author of Beyond Identity, True Heroism, and Chameleon Christianity and several book chapters in anthologies such as Finding God at Harvard and The New Dictionary of Christian Apologetics. He has lectured widely on the Christian faith and modern culture in the United States, Europe, and Korea.You can always download the English L'Abri Podcast. Check it out today! Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

What does it mean to be human, to be civil, to have a confident purpose in life? Raising up a generation that will genuinely truly is the goal of any loving parent and teacher. How do we do it? Our guest today has written a new book that illuminates the power of a liberal arts education, which for centuries has formed Christ-followers who have gone into the broken world and made significant positive cultural changes. People who know who they are and whose they are, ready to endure whatever challenges unfold before them. Isn't that what the world needs right now? Listen in...BIOGRAPHYR. Keith Loftin is Associate Professor of Philosophy and Humanities, as well as the Associate Dean at Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary and Scarborough College in Fort Worth, TX. In addition to the PhD, he holds an M.A. in Philosophy and an M.A. in Humanities. He is the editor of God & Morality: Four Views, co-author of Stand Firm: Defending the Beauty and Brilliance of the Gospel, and the author of numerous articles and reviews addressing topics both philosophical and theological.Follow R. Keith Loftin on TwitterContact R. Keith Loftin via EmailADVERTISEMENTSSCL Cohort InfoSCL Winter Symposium Info   Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

Most classical Christian educators talk about truth and goodness. But when it comes to beauty it seems as though it’s not as critical or practical. At most, it’s an excuse to put some nice artwork on the wall. Yet, when properly understood, beauty can be an antidote to much of the rising anxiety so prevalent in our culture. Even more, it is the door to understand truth and goodness. If we want to raise a generation to love what God loves then we need to figure out where beauty fits in to everyday life. Nick Duncan, a former professional chef and the 10th Grade Humanities Instructor at the Ambrose School in Meridan, Idaho, shares some of his own discoveries about beauty that will transform your school and home.-----BiographyNick Duncan received a BBA in Entrepreneurship Management from Boise State University in 2012 and an MDiv in Global Studies from Liberty University School of Divinity in 2016. He previously taught at the College of Western Idaho for four years. Most recently, he taught Greek I at The Ambrose School in  2017-2018 and currently is their 10th Grade Humanities. A major focus of study for him in Divinity school was how the New Testament authors, specifically Paul, were partially influenced by Greco-Roman philosophers, literature, and rhetoric. As such, he is able to teach his students about the ancient Greek and Roman philosophers and literature from a biblical perspective. This works well for 10th Grade Humanities as the main question they focus on for the year is, “How did God prepare the world for the coming of the Christ?” They answer that question in every Greco-Roman work they cover. He is happily married to his wife Jorie, and they have two children: Grady and Ainsley. -----Sponsors30 Poems To Memorize (Before It's Too Late) from The CiRCE InstituteThe University of Dallas, Classical Education Graduate ProgramMake sure to follow Basecamp Live on Spotify! Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, and join us next time on BaseCamp Live! Remember to subscribe, leave us a review, and reach out to us at info@basecamplive.comDon't forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.