Education for the masses is a relatively recent phenomenon that grew out of a Christian desire to know God and His Word. The advent of government control of education, by contrast, was a distinctly anti-Christian project with roots in communism and a plan to build utopia. Men such as Robert Owen, Horace Mann, and John Dewey were all united in the push to radically transform society using education as the means. In this explosive talk, Alex Newman breaks down the hidden history of education that will shock you to the core and explain how society ended up in the mess it finds itself in.

There are 10 Essentials needed for a joyful homeschooling journey. You might be surprised to find out they aren’t using a perfect curriculum, reading a particular book, or following a specific methodology. The 10 Essentials to homeschooling are far more foundational than that (and they are super easy to apply this week)! In this session, Carrie shares the 10 essentials and how to incorporate them into your homeschooling today whether you are new to homeschooling or you have been homeschooling for years.

As you consider how to go forward in your homeschooling journey, where are you standing? Are you on the field, in the stands, or in the blimp? It matters. What is obstructing your view? Who’s on your team? Where is the finish line? How can you best proceed? Why are you where you are? It’s difficult to answer any of these questions in the heat of the battle. It’s important to take inventory, to step back, to step away. Sometimes you have to go backwards to go forwards, to go down to go up, to go left to go right. What if there’s a place to stand so that you can really see?

Most of us know that homeschooling has great academic benefits and is good for families, but did you know that the benefits go beyond reading, writing and arithmetic? In this session you will learn how you can use your homeschool to grow strong, healthy kids: physically, mentally, socially, emotionally, and spiritually.

The first thing you must know is that you’re not alone if you have one. And the second thing you need to know is that they’re sent to you as a blessing. If those two things seem unimaginable, if you’re thinking, “If you only knew.,” well, I do. I’ve got one too. So, what face comes to mind when you hear the phrase ‘That” child? Do you smile or scowl when you see that face? Do you see yourself in that face? Do you struggle to like that child? Does it seem difficult? Impossible? I want you to know: That child is a world changer. God has a plan for that child. All of that energy, all those questions, all that strength, all THAT, is God-given for His glory. Come learn strategies for learning to love that child, to embrace that child, to train that child. They are worth it and He is worthy!

Homeschooling provides an education that is beyond comparison with any other method. That said, Idaho code requires that homeschoolers provide instruction, “in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools.” This is often summed up as a requirement to provide a “comparable education.” But how are we to meet that requirement without stifling the amazing educational freedom that homeschooling offers? Join Linda Patchin as she unpacks various teaching methods used by homeschoolers and how they can each meet, and exceed, the statutory requirement of a “comparable education.”

There are many existential threats to fundamental liberties and the very fabric of Christian civilization building on the horizon, but homeschool families are uniquely positioned to help hold the line. From rekindling an awareness of the biblical principles at the foundation, to re-imagining education, to getting involved in the cultural, political, and spiritual battles raging all around us, we have an obligation to be a part of the solution. In this talk, Alex will offer concrete ideas for action.

The world has a vision of education and its purpose. Christians must as well. In this talk, Alex Newman will explore what the Bible teaches on education and discipleship, and how this differs radically with what the present education system offers. He also provides an in-depth look at the history of Christian education — the very education that built Western civilization and the United States of America. Finally, he will equip parents to rethink education in light of Scripture, with practical tools to honor God in this critical realm of life.

So here we are. Most of us would have chosen something different than what we’ve recently had to face. I mean really, who would have signed up for the crazy chaos that has characterized the last few years? Not me. But, if I believe in a sovereign God, and if I believe that He has a plan, and if I believe that He has a role for me to play, and I do, then how do I lean into that and His plan? And what is my role in this cultural moment? Let’s take a look at some other similarly chaotic cultural moments in Scripture and see what we can learn from those who’ve gone before us. This is our moment. Let’s dare to live it for Him.

There are ten things I’d like to share with you that I learned along the way in almost two decades of homeschooling. Some may surprise you! You will focus on the most important things needed to get you through this journey.

Why do you homeschool? A customized education? A more flexible schedule? The ability to teach to your children’s unique gifts and talents? Are these blessings enough to withstand the hard times? What if your plan starts to unravel? What if these things don’t pan out? Having a why is important, but having the right why is crucial to staying the course. Come and join Aby as she discusses the heart of homeschool and the greatest ‘why’ of all. This session is for all homeschool parents; the new homeschool mom that is just now discovering her why as well as the mom that has been doing it so long she may have lost her ‘why’ along the way. You will be inspired, encouraged and have your passion for His calling lit on fire!

Our social media doesn’t dictate how our homeschool should look. God does. Learn to take your eyes off internet ideals and onto what God says. Let His Word saturate your mind rather than getting caught up in the false expectations of social media. Find freedom for your family to walk this journey with God leading you!

Recognizing that a healthy marriage is the basis of a healthy home, this Marriage session is a fun and fruitful way to invest in your marriage relationship. Steve and Megan teach from their book The Eight Rules of Communication for Successful Marriages and finish the session with a fun-loving look at marriage and F-R-I-E-N-D-S-H-I-P Practical advice in a guilt-free environment makes the teaching real and applicable to all those in attendance.

Homeschooling provides an education that is beyond comparison with any other method. That said, Idaho code requires that homeschoolers provide instruction, “in subjects commonly and usually taught in the public schools.” This is often summed up as a requirement to provide a “comparable education.” But how are we to meet that requirement without stifling the amazing educational freedom that homeschooling offers? Join Linda Patchin as she unpacks various teaching methods used by homeschoolers and how they can each meet, and exceed, the statutory requirement of a “comparable education.”

Being a Mom is about so much more than feeding, dressing, and driving our children to play dates! With only a few short years to impart critical spiritual truths to our children, every day becomes an eternal opportunity for teaching, training, and modeling Christlikeness. The Disciple-Making Mom session will give mothers the tools they need to disciple their children in the most critical areas of prayer, service, Bible study, scripture memorization, and genuine fellowship. Moms will walk away encouraged and strengthened, knowing that although discipling their children seems a huge task, God is on their side!

As Christians we face a spiritual battle every day of our lives. And homeschooling is no different. Expect battles. Be equipped for them. And know that as you fight them, you are becoming stronger in the Lord each day.

Why do military families choose to homeschool? The last survey completed by Blue Star Families estimates that at least 6% of military families homeschool. This number is continuing to rise post-COVID as more military families choose to homeschool. This session will give an overview of these reasons and examine some of the challenges—and solutions—to homeschooling military-style.

As a pilot for American Airlines, Steve was very close to the events of 9/11. Although initially scheduled to be the First Officer on Flight 11, the first flight to be hijacked on September 11, 2001, Steve was bumped from that flight the night before through an extraordinary set of circumstances. In this session, he tells his deeply moving story of God's providence on that terrible day in our history. Discover why God gave Steve a second chance, and how He now uses Steve to teach parents around the world to parent with purpose and urgency, as he introduces you to The Nine Practices of The Proactive Parent. Intensely practical and Bible based, the Nine Practices of The Proactive Parent is designed to give parents the tools they need and the necessary hope, to build a Christ-centered and character-driven home environment. We’ll never be better as homeschoolers than we are as parents! The Nine Practices are a great way to revitalize parents in their all-important task of parenting. This session will take highlights from the 10- week Parenting Matters small group study. Join Steve as he unwraps the Three Pillars of Parenting, The Motivation Model, The Growth Continuum, The Proactive vs. Reactive Parent, and more.

The world, friends, and celebrities will define your journey if you don’t know God’s plans for your family. When children come along, parents are given the unique opportunity to help them understand who they are in Christ and discover their God-given strengths. You may know your child has exceptional skills and talents but understanding how to help them identify these to fulfill their purpose is the key. You will learn from a mother with 35 years of experience who has learned how to help children hit their targets.

You know what they are because you get them too: Questions from within our own hearts, often leading to doubt and fear, and questions from others, thinking they know what is best for our family. Aby shines truth on the common questions that creep into our hearts and threaten to derail our homeschool, as well as build solid answers to common questions homeschoolers get from outsiders.

Oftentimes homeschool parents put their marriage on the back burner due to the hectic life of a homeschool family. This session will focus on why a healthy marriage is the most important element of an effective education. It will offer practical advice on how to maintain a healthy marriage in the midst of the organized chaos of homeschooling.

Homeschooling is not easy. As a matter of fact, it can be downright overwhelming, tempting us to slip into survival mode. Homeschooling is the adventure of a lifetime, and God will be your strength. It is not His will that you just survive—He wants you to thrive. Hear Rachael discuss what it takes to soar like an eagle.

For way too many kids these days, their only outlet is…well…an outlet. Are your kids bored and grouchy unless they are plugged in to the Internet or a video game? What ever happened to catching frogs, picking dandelions, climbing trees, and lying in the grass to see the shapes formed by clouds in the sky? There is a world outdoors just waiting to be discovered. In this session, Davis states that every child should explore the wonders of God’s creation because of three truths that can be found in one of the most exciting classrooms that exists — the one outside.

Feeling weary? Worried that you’re failing your children? Need a boost of confidence to keep plugging along? Join Nancy as she reminds us that God has placed our children in our families and that He has equipped us to raise them. She’ll share encouragement from God’s Word that will refresh you and revitalize you in your mission as a homeschooling mom.

Parents have a dream for how they envision their sons will ‘turn out’ at the end of the journey. How can you carry out the plan successfully if your son spends all day under the direction of a woman? In this session, Beverly will share ways to implement practices that will encourage your teen boys to grow into happy, mannerly, intelligent leaders for their future families – leaders who respect and protect women, embrace their role with confidence, and are comfortable in their manhood. Be encouraged by a mom with six sons that it is in fact possible…and fun!

Your house is a disaster, your kids seem out of control, and you wonder how you’ll ever make it through another day of school. Your “get up and go” has “gotten up and went”. You used to think homeschooling was the best thing since sliced bread, but now you’re feeling like burnt toast. Take heart – you’re not alone! No one homeschools because it’s easy. You do it because you believe it is best. But there are times when you need to be reminded once again why it’s best. Listen as we do just that. You’ll laugh and be encouraged in the toughest job you’ll ever…love.

When you and your family are faced with a challenging life situation, homeschooling can seem daunting. Homeschooling is probably the last thing you want to think about taking on. Is it possible to homeschool when life is difficult? Come hear a mom of seven share how her family homeschooled through a challenging season in life. Be encouraged and gain practical insight.

As an obsessive-compulsive-perfectionist-control-freak herself, Rachael is sometimes her own worst enemy when it comes to taking advantage of the freedoms of home school. Are you too tied to your plan? Do you shiver at the idea of change or adjustment? Are you missing out on significant moments because you are focused on the trivial? Join Rachael for a lesson on how to chill out and turn control over to God.

No matter how picture perfect someone’s Facebook post appears, everyone has difficulties. These are part of your homeschool journey. It’s easy to let the issue of the day, or year, become such an emotional energy drain that we end up feeling deflated and defeated, unable to experience joy. God’s Word promises that if we will look at our unique trials through His eyes and allow Him access to our heart, mind and spirit, we will find that our problem is really God’s gateway to peace.

Education Savings Accounts for elementary and secondary schooling is a new tax-funded student in the neighborhood. Even some so-called conservatives are promoting them, and “choice advocates” are promoting them. Dr. Ray will use a biblical perspective, a freedom-loving perspective, and historical research evidence to explain why ESA-tax- funded schooling is a bad idea. And Dr. Ray will challenge you and encourage you that private, parent-led, home-based education, with the volitional help of others, is the best way to execute God’s principles and expand the “education freedom space” in America.

Music has become such an ever-present influence in our daily lives, we seldom stop to consider what effect it has on us. Man has changed over the last 100 years from being music makers to music consumers. We gradually lost control over, and even awareness of, our auditory environment. In what way is music beneficial to our bodies and minds? Can it actually be harmful? Scientific research provides some astounding answers to such questions—indeed, facts that must not be ignored.

Standing for faith, family, and freedom requires strength and courage. At a time in our history when this is more important than ever before, homeschooling families are living very strong and courageous lives. The Hebrew word for strong in the Old Testament is a verb meaning decisive action. It also means encouragement. The idea communicated is that we have the courage to act to take on the challenge, which often occurs when we are facing something that seems impossible or has great risk if we fail. In this keynote address, we will look at how God calls us to accomplish the impossible and how homeschooling parents and students have succeeded as leaders in their homes, communities, and our nation. You will be encouraged in your calling as a parent and leader, and we’ll be reminded that as believers we can be a strong and courageous people.

Jessica Hulcy, speaks frankly and transparently about her journey of homeschooling and life with marvelous triumphs and glorious victories and agonizing priority losses that netted damaging consequences. This is a testimony of God’s amazing love and care for each of HIS chosen believers to not lose sight of what The God of the Universe requires of each of us.

The story that must be told about the view from the front lines as God delivered homeschoolers in Idaho from incarceration to their unlikely “Promised Land” of liberty.

Jessica Hulcy gives a stirring rendition of men in history that stayed the course and impacted history. But how could just an average homeschooling mom impact history…. especially a tired mom who is wondering if she should continue in this present calling of homeschooling? Jessica shares numerous personal experiences and stories from her own life where the benefits and rewards of homeschoolers were clearly revealed to her, prompting her to stay her course. Jessica will not only help you see how immensely important your job really is, but she will inspire you to “stay the course!”

Want to better understand the headlines? Need to study modern history at home? Then you should attend “Modern History That Shook the World!” Join Linda Lacour Hobar, author of the award-winning series, The Mystery of History, as she recounts world-shaking events from the 20th century to present time from a biblical worldview. With vivid snapshots of the Cold War, the Formation of Israel, the War in Korea, the Cuban Missile Crisis, the Fall of the Berlin Wall, and much more, students and teachers will not only be challenged to understand the past, but be better equipped to interpret today’s news and make stronger leaders for tomorrow. Don’t miss this fast-paced, fact-filled, fifty-five minutes of modern history!

Where did matter come from to create the universe? How did life originate? Join Mike Riddle as he addresses these two power questions and applies critical thinking in finding the answers. In this workshop you’ll be equipped to make logical deductions for reasonable beliefs.

Let’s face it. Homeschooling is challenging. Sometimes it can feel like a major accomplishment just to take a shower and get the breakfast dishes cleaned up before dinner! Most homeschool moms feel the pressure of providing their children with a solid academic foundation ~ but there’s so much more to homeschooling than academics, isn’t there? The truth is that the greatest accomplishment of your homeschooling is to nurture your children in the ways of the One who made them. REAL LIFE Homeschooling is about getting real when it comes to the issues that are unique to homeschooling families, but more important than that, it’s about being reminded why we are homeschooling in the first place. It’s about keeping our eyes on the goal of discipling our children. If you have been or are on the edge of homeschool burnout, if you are wondering why God has called you on this homeschooling journey, or if you just need some honest, real encouragement, this is the one homeschool workshop you can’t afford to miss!

As soon as you have your first child, you have been automatically enrolled in Family Relationships 101. In Deuteronomy 6, God’s simple and effective plan for the family begins with parents loving God with everything in them and having His word on their hearts. When parents have established their own relationship with God and His word, they are equipped to teach their children to love God and His word.

God created marriage and the family. Before Abraham, Moses, or Israel, God instituted the sacred institution of the family. Healthy God honoring families are the foundation for our churches and our culture. Transformation of our institutions begins in the home where each individual is rooted, grounded, and connected to God through the good news of Jesus, who is the cornerstone of a family of faith.

These are tough times for mothers. Internet predators, ISIS, struggling economy, failing school systems—how can we raise our children to be strong in the face of such obstacles? Join Heidi for an hour that will encourage and equip you.

This workshop is Steve’s testimony of the last twenty-five years as the father of a child with special needs. He shares what his family has learned as a result of Johnny’s disability, and the special, rewarding, and joyful role he has played in their lives. Even in the difficult experiences of life, God proved faithful. His grace sustained them and brought good out of their struggles and disappointments.

Will uses humor and his personal testimony as a homeschool graduate to encourage parents and children in their homeschooling. He encourages attendees to live a life of service to each other and to God through their commitment to continue homeschooling, and closes with a vision for homeschoolers to excel in all that they do.

Sometimes the most important lessons our children learn are not acquired from a textbook or class but from how we relate to them in our daily interactions and what we teach them about God’s character. Let’s take steps to insure that the message we convey to our children is biblical, gospel oriented, and imbued with grace.

For The Good Ship Home Education, it can be smooth sailing through the seas of life with a crew of happy, contented children. But the seas soon grow choppy when one of your crew declares a mutiny. And the seas turn absolutely turbulent when one of your young sailors abandons ship altogether. It is heart breaking to watch your son or daughter embark and set sail on a course you know to be less than desirable. What’s a parent (or grandparent) to do? We will expose some myths about perfect parenting, identify some do’s and don’t’s, and offer some hope and encouragement for heavy-hearted homeschoolers.

Many students today find themselves in freshman college classes without the background knowledge and study skills necessary to succeed. Can a homeschool education offer college students an advantage? After 12 years as a college professor, Jason answers that question in the affirmative. Come hear why he believes that not only does homeschool allow students to acquire a better background than most freshmen, but more importantly, home education trains students to pursue knowledge with enthusiasm, and to motivate themselves in the adventure of learning.

Arguably the most profound change in America in the past 50 years has been the deconstruction of the family unit. The foundational building block of 4000 years of world culture and 250 years of American society has been undermined, underappreciated and under attack since the 1960’s. Learn how to put down the kind of strong roots that will help you become an “intentional arborist” as you nurture the strong family that you desire-and that your children need. Learn how you can nurture nurture what’s important and learn to ignore the flurry of cultural foolishness that we all-too-often mistake for what’s really important.