BaseCamp Live

ENCORE: This critical episode was originally aired in March of this year. The battle continues...What are technology’s latest sneaky maneuvers to get to our kids? How do parents combat the bad while accepting the good? Like Cyclops, the one-eyed giant who battled Odysseus, technology is the stranger in our midst attempting to get a grip on our children’s hearts, minds, and souls. Tune in to learn...

Today's episode originally aired in June of 2018 and is more relevant than ever before. Nancy Pearcey has been called "America’s preeminent evangelical Protestant female intellectual." Her book Total Truth was a best seller along with the book she authored with Chuck Colson: How Now Shall We Live. In this interview she talks about her latest book, Love Thy Body, which asks the hard quest...

The bad news…temptations exist even in the classical Christian world. The good news…uncovering these temptations means parents and educators are more informed and can think wisely about the challenges they and their students might encounter. Having served as a classical Christian educator, Brian Douglas critiques from within, shares the struggles he fought and how to best overcome wrong thinking a...

Isn’t competition as American as apple pie and Chevrolet? Yes, but all too often, modern society’s fixation with competition, performance and metrics erodes our children’s identity and the Christian faith we are trying to build. Even worse, well-intentioned parents are often the worst culprits! Ben Bost shares compelling research about the harm that our competitive society inflicts on kids today…a...

Author Tony Reinke’s newest book, Competing Spectacles: Treasuring Christ in the Media Age, addresses the tension between seeing as God sees versus what we see all around us… anything from Facebook to Twitter, from Netflix to a kiss cam. This constant media barrage means that what is not explicitly sinful still pulls our gaze away from the greatest spectacle of all - Jesus. In this interview, Tony...

Far and away, what area of a classical Christian school most influences a school culture? Our guests today share the stunning answer…a thriving House Program! As Jordan Tucker, a House Governor for six years, says, the House Program is "the heartbeat of our school.” While students don’t wear funny robes or hats like in the movies, they are unified in ways that make the House experience one-of...

Have you ever wondered what Mock Trial is all about? Today’s episode will explain how this intellectual sport works and how it combines some of the best parts of a classical education. Two students and their coach share stories, lessons learned and why Mock Trial has been one of the best decisions they ever made…and why more students should consider joining. Every school should start a Mock Trial...

Neuroscience reveals that not only are we wired for stories, but our brains are activated up to 5x’s more when we hear a good tale. If true, then parents should maximize storytelling and not just leave it to teachers! But how? Matt Bianco and Brian Phillips identify the roadblocks, offer advice and walk us through their newest book filled with fairytales and templates to guide parents and kids in...

Parents and teachers often ask, “How do you teach science and math classically?” Today’s guest, Ravi Jain, is probably the most knowledgable person to answer this question. As a science teacher and co-author of The Liberal Arts Tradition: A Philosophy of Christian Classical Education, he offers theory and practical advice that every listener can incorporate right away in the classroom and lab. As...

A growing number of Christian schools are differentiating themselves by shifting to classical Christian education. One example is Toledo Christian Schools in Toledo, Ohio. BaseCamp Live host, Davies Owens, visited Toledo Christian on a “BaseCamp Live RoadShow” to hear firsthand from three teachers about the transition. Listen in to learn about their journey as a community that wants to go back to...

The last three decades have revealed amazing scientific discoveries. Yet, Chemistry tends to get a bad rap from American students and parents. Why? Looking back to the model of classical universities, Dr. Tim Anstine points out how the original scientists taught science. The great news is that today’s classical Christian schools follow this same model - so your children won’t have to be so bored a...

Is it possible to blend the flexibility of home life with the advantages and curriculum of the classical classroom? Yes! Parents and educators are excited about a new hybrid model that provides the best of both worlds. Listen in to hear about the latest option that parents, students and teachers give a five thumbs up! Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christian education, a...

What are technology’s latest sneaky maneuvers to get to our kids? How do parents combat the bad while accepting the good? Like Cyclops, the one-eyed giant who battled Odysseus, technology is the stranger in our midst attempting to get a grip on our children’s hearts, minds, and souls. Tune in to learn about the latest technology dangers online, the lack of helpful ratings in apps designed for chil...

For juniors and seniors at classical Christian schools, one of their most pressing questions is, “Where am I going to college?” And not far behind, “Should I continue in the liberal arts or focus on a different path?” Rob Sentz, Chief Innovation Officer at Emsi, a labor analytics company, reports on a recent in-depth study of liberal arts graduates and their job outcomes in the real world. Based o...

What can 550 elite world leaders teach us about raising the next generation? Michael Lindsay distills lessons he learned in his 10-year one-of-a-kind study and 2014 best seller, The View From The Top, and he communicates how to apply these strategies for today’s young people. As a college president, Lindsay knows what it takes to develop young “platinum leaders” that are led by virtue and faith, a...

How can a Classical Christian School exemplify loving your neighbor as yourself? Head of School, Russ Gregg, shares how starting Hope Academy in his inner city neighborhood was ultimately a matter of justice and a matter of love. And the results have had a rippling effect throughout his community and beyond. God truly does provide! Stay tuned for more enlightening discussions on classical Christia...

Emotions are the leading indicator of how young people see themselves today. But when parents and educators dismiss emotions altogether as unreliable and even dangerous, fireworks can ignite. Should we step into the emotional world of a child? And how? In this episode, Counselor Keith McCurdy offers parents and teachers sound advice about shaping your children’s perceptions so that emotions are pu...

The classical model served civilization for almost 1,000 years and produced extraordinary minds and developments in our history globally. Today, pragmatism and the desire to prepare students for jobs often seems to rule educational institutions. Indeed, today’s schools often create students who are more like widgets! This approach often leads parents to ask the wrong questions when evaluating scho...

Are all schools created equal when it comes to spiritually forming kids? Our guest today spent years researching this question and has hard data to prove a difference … stay tuned…. 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.com Don't forget...

Did the Founding Fathers have prize boxes? Probably not, and neither should our students. Our guest, Headmaster Chris Stevens, tells us why extrinsic reward systems are a form of student management that do not build souls. We are what we love, and if we are in the business of building affections, then parents and teachers need to re-evaluate why rewards are not all they are cracked up to be. Tune...

The book Evidence That Demands A Verdict celebrates 45 years since it was first published! That means it is older than most parents of current classical christian students! But is a book that boasts such a title still relevant in this new age where feelings rule? Do logical arguments and evidence even work anymore to convince people that Christianity is worth taking seriously? Dr. Sean McDowell of...

Can we have our cake and eat it too? Parents often worry that a Christian school may produce students who are strong spiritually but not academically. They sometimes feel forced to choose between a moral education and one that will help their child get into college. What if there was a type of Christian education that helps students far outperform not just their public school counterparts but stud...

What if you could go back and get the education your children are having now?  It’s not too late! There's still time for you and me to grow and learn in much the same way our kids in a classical Christian school are. Many parents think that it's too late, that they're too old, they can't focus enough, etc. David Moore says IT'S NOT TRUE! He has yet to meet someone who can't grow and learn right al...

What in the world does “classical” even mean? Most people today imagine something out of date, old and not relevant for the modern world. Head of School Ty Fischer joins us today to tell his unbelievable story of how he was hired as Head of School at 25 years of age (you've got to hear it!) and gives us some practical ways to explain and really appreciate this important word...Listen in... Stay tu...

Decades ago now, memorization largely disappeared from the American classroom. What happened? Progressive educators had decided that memorization was just rote learning at best and at worst was oppressive and harmful to the creative mind of a child. Many classical Christian schools have revived memorization during the grammar stage when children’s minds are especially adept at absorbing large amou...