Communication is often hard for people, but it is especially difficult for men and their teenagers. Some fathers lose the hearts of their kids, not because they are not doing the right parenting things, but often because they do not know how to communicate. The talk will cover learning the language of your teenager, girl and guy differences in communication, what things need to be communicated, and a survey of questions that dads can use to start conversations that go deeper into their heart.

When do you get started and what do you do first? We've had precocious readers and late bloomers, but every one of them has benefited from being homeschooled from the beginning. Learn to relax and introduce your little ones to the joy of learning in a gentle and realistic way that will prepare them to succeed academically.

Is that word “freedom” for just ol’ graying hippies and revolutionary wannabes? No. It is a biblical concept and at the core of what it means to be an American and, especially, a homeschooler. Dr. Ray will answer: How’d we get our homeschool freedoms? Why should you care? Are we really free? How might we lose this liberty? What are the enemies? Risks? Is Common Core related? What about compulsory attendance laws? Parental rights? Whether your youngest child is pre-born, 7, or 18, you need to know the core principles of educational freedom and why we must strive to keep or expand that liberty. Dr. Ray has been in this practical and theoretical battle for over 30 years.

Why aren’t your Christian neighbors homeschooling? What is the number one reason that parents do not homeschool? They lack confidence to believe that they can actually do the job, or, put another way – they fear failure. Many homeschoolers wonder how to determine whether they are successful or not. Mike explains in very clear biblical terms how to know whether or not you have been successful when you get to the end of your homeschool experience. The Bible gives clear and decisive direction in this area which should be very encouraging to all of us – even in the most difficult situations.

One reason parents have problems with some teens is that those teens have a deficiency in their earlier character development. In this session, we examine Luke 2 to see how Jesus, by age 12, had developed seven key qualities necessary for true maturity. This message will motivate and encourage both parents and their children.

A general overview of the challenges, burdens, and benefits of homeschooling from a veteran homeschool father and leader. Michael Smith encourages homeschoolers who are losing the vision, reminds them of the benefits of homeschooling, and offers some practical suggestions for relieving the pressure on the homeschooling family, especially moms.

Have you ever heard “All children are gifts from God” only to roll your eyes and think “Ha! They don’t know what goes on in my house!” If you don't look for God's gifts in your child, you may be missing some of His best. Come laugh and be encouraged to see what God had in mind when He designed your child. Learn to see your child through God’s spectacles and to stay focused on God’s vision of your child...not the world’s.

What does it take to bring up children who genuinely love Jesus? Our greatest hope for our children is to have them walk with God and enjoy a free heart, serving Him with their gifts and abilities. Lisa will share what they have learned – from their own experience and from the Word of God – about raising kids who have their hearts set on heaven and their feet planted firmly on solid ground.

Pam Forster, a veteran homeschool mom and writer, shares her perspective now that her six children are grown up, graduated, and getting married. Get help raising your children for the Lord by learning from the lessons God has taught her during 30 years of parenting. This session will broaden your perspective, help you discover blind spots, and see how God works to redeem even our mistakes.

Homeschool mom, if you’re struggling with trying to do it all, you will enjoy hearing Heidi’s favorite tips for managing homeschooling and homemaking and still finding time to fit in other things… like alone time with your husband. Learn how two words can make a difference in managing your home and homeschool. Bring a friend and leave your preconceived ideas at the door because real moms sometimes serve Cheerios for dinner!

Many of us dream of a simpler life, but are just too busy to actually do anything to make it happen. We have so much on our plates. How can we balance it all? Together we’ll consider ways to make life simpler and how to put them into practice in your daily routines.

For many of us, leading our families in daily worship can be a daunting task, but it doesn’t have to be. Learn a more natural approach to the responsibility of imparting the knowledge of God to your kids. A question and answer forum will follow the presentation.

Do you struggle to keep your heart tuned into God’s voice through all the other noise of life? In this Pinterest-Perfect world it’s all too easy to hold the Lord at arms length until we do the “important” things. Learn the secret of developing an intimate spiritual life and why it makes all the difference in your family and marriage.

Meet the Jacobsons and hear from the family on their homeschool journey. Warning! The “Perfect Family Seminar” is down the hall! Bickering, holiness, selfishness, and sacrifice – being iron, extending grace, and striving after loving relationships in the home. Experience the harmony and beauty that comes from embracing God’s standards in family relationships.

Homeschooling is a unique experience. There are as many ways to homeschool as there are homeschooling families. Yet there are many things we share...like the questions strangers ask our children when they learn we homeschool. Listen and laugh as Carol shares what she’s learned through the ups and downs in her years as a homeschooling mom.

If homeschooling feels more like drudgery than delight or if the thought of homeschooling makes your knees shake and your palms sweat, this is the workshop for you! Join veteran homeschool mom Heidi St. John as she shares the three things you’ve got to know as a new homeschooler. Because, although you’re nervous now, it’ll all be okay. Homeschooling is worth it. So sit back, relax. You’ll soon discover that homeschooling is a journey like no other. If homeschooling feels more like drudgery than delight or if the thought of homeschooling makes your knees shake and your palms sweat, this is the workshop for you! Join veteran homeschool mom Heidi St. John as she shares the three things you’ve got to know as a new homeschooler. Because, although you’re nervous now, it’ll all be okay. Homeschooling is worth it. So sit back, relax. You’ll soon discover that homeschooling is a journey like no other.

Parental rights and religious freedom are the two pillars of the constitutional right of parents to teach their children at home. But today homeschooling freedoms are in jeopardy. This session shows how growing opposition to homeschooling by the intellectual elites is based on a belief that the state, not the parents, has the exclusive right and responsibility to educate children. Homeschoolers are in their crosshairs and we are clearly at risk.

So you think you’re gonna homeschool. Worried? Excited? Overwhelmed? Would you like to avoid some of the more common pitfalls? Listen to longtime homeschooling mom Carol Barnier tell what she has learned, address common fears, share some surprising benefits, and encourage you to have fun on this journey. You can do this!

As moms, we wear a lot of hats. Sometimes, it’s hard to know which one to take off and which one to put on. Learn how to free yourself from the expectations of others and quit struggling to do it all. Heidi’s favorite strategies and tips for managing the competing demands on your time will make a huge difference in your relationships.

Every day in life, families receive a series of blessings and storms sent from God for the purpose of revealing the power of a relationship with Jesus Christ. When they come, everyone reacts or responds to them based on what they believe the gospel to be; it's their foundation. God's Word states that believers have an anchor for the soul, but sometimes souls drift because they forget that anchor or because they don't really know how to connect to the anchor. Norm provides practical explanation and suggestions for how to live anchored in Jesus Christ. This results in powerful, peaceful, grace-filled living that attracts others to Christ.

What happed to cause some homeschooled students to reject the Christian worldview that was important to their parents? Jesus encountered four dangerous mindsets and their negative results when He walked among His people. Homeschoolers can easily fall into one or more of these traps and in so doing can bring serious harm to their families. This session will explain how giving focused attention to one command of Christ will help home educators recognize and avoid those four damaging viewpoints, while at the same time helping them experience satisfaction and eternal significance in their efforts.

"Be not deceived. God is not mocked. Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap” (Gal. 6:7). In this wonderful time of raising godly families, when we see excitement in the eyes of our youngsters and new learning is just around each corner, we sometimes forget who is in control. It’s not the government, contrary to what they tell you. God is not mocked! If we believe the heresy that comes from the White House, or the lies that are spewed from the liberal media, we may try to “give in” just to “get along.” Don’t! Hear Dick speak with the experience of three decades of leadership. Whatsoever a man sows that shall he also reap.

In a culture that is opposed to the principles of God's word, it's easy to succumb to fear: "I know I'm supposed to home school... but WHAT IF I ruin my child?” "What will my own parents say?" "What about socialization?" Homeschool moms grapple with these and many other fear-based questions, especially during the first years of homeschooling. Esther faced what seemed like an impossible circumstance, too. And just as Esther has a part to play, so you have an important role in shaping the hearts and minds of a future generation. What is most important during the homeschool years is following the Lord wherever He leads - and modeling that faith. Because where God guides - He also provides.

Sometimes we need helping hands when it comes to homeschooling. Support groups can be a lifeblood in times of discouragement, hardships, and day-to-day drama. Without them, homeschooling can seem daunting and overwhelming. This workshop will speak to how to start a vibrant support group, what can be accomplished through a support group, and ways to connect using the digital medium of today.

Our culture is sedated by images that deaden senses and rob many of what they are created to be. Join Mark as he exposes the damaging effects that certain kinds of media, electronic games, and literature, have on the brain, the conscience, the imagination and one’s moral and spiritual development. Most importantly, he will introduce initiatives that ignite motivation, revive the imagination and inspire excellence.

When the Watkinses began homeschooling in 1986, it was a brand-new idea for most families, and convincing grandparents that you weren’t ruining their grandchildren was a major issue. Now, with eight children, four children-in-love, 15 grandchildren, both sets of grandparents still living, and 20+ years of homeschooling behind them, the Watkinses have some unique insights about helping grandparents to love homeschooling just as much as you do

Pretend that Mary and Martha decide to homeschool. Following their character, Martha would probably have all her plans in place (and be frustrated), and Mary would probably be at the feet of Jesus (and way behind schedule.) Everyone has a little of Mary and Martha in them, but this workshop is designed to encourage Marys who love the Lord and their children, but need help and structure to successfully homeschool. The presenter of this workshop is a self-proclaimed Mary who managed to homeschool for 17 years, and still likes to talk about it

How does a father call a son out into manhood God’s way? In this message, Norm reveals what happens if fathers don’t call out sons and then draws insights from how the heavenly Father prepared His Son for ministry.

Look behind the scenes to learn what prepared, inspired, and motivated the great minds of Beethoven, Bach, Mozart, Einstein, Edison, Steve Jobs, Bill Gates and more. They all had something in common—something available to all—something that drives initiative, ignites motivation, revives the imagination, and inspires excellence.

Blessed are the flexible – for they shall not break! It has been said that the only thing we can be sure of in this life is that nothing stays the same. Homeschooling is no different. There are seasons of upheaval. It's easy to wonder if it is possible to successfully homeschooling throughout periods of change. Join Heidi as she talks about how to navigate through the seasons of life and find joy and freedom in homeschooling along the way

One of the most powerful ways parents can add value to their relationships with their children is by growing in humility and learning how to express the humility of Christ to their children. Norm gives some practical ways that are sure to impact children and increase parents' value to them.

Gleaning from a 17th-century gem, The Education of a Child from The Wisdom of Fenelon, Mark presents a “radical reversal” of our traditional approach to a biblical education. Commissioned to educate King Louis XIV’s incorrigible grandson to become the next king of France, Francois Fenelon wrote and then lived one of the greatest educational treatises ever written. In fact, in 1802, nearly 150 years later, Fenelon’s work was still revered as the most extraordinary educational work on record. Parenting based on gentleness, mentoring, joy, and patience will be among just a few of the highlights of this seminar.

One of the most challenging aspects of homeschooling a houseful is figuring out how to teach them all while finding time to manage the rest of your day. Moms are always wondering if they are "doing enough" and finding the time to teach individual subjects, well, individually can be overwhelming. In this workshop, Heidi will share seven secrets of multi-level teaching that will empower, encourage and enlighten!

What should parents do to train their boys to be strong and godly men — not wasting their lives on video games and TV, but working hard, taking risks, enjoying adventure, and daring to follow God wherever He leads? In this session, parents will be challenged with biblical truth and hard-hitting honesty from real-life experiences – growing up with five brothers on a dairy farm and raising five sons into military service, international business, engineering, and rugged missions.

Many home educators feel tension between themselves and their churches, but do not know what to do. We can all think of many "helpful" suggestions or comments we could offer to our pastors, especially concerning home education. But are those suggestions really helpful? Listen to David Watkins – pastor, state homeschool leader, homeschooling father of eight and grandfather of 15 – share some things not to say to your pastor! See what homeschoolers are really like through the eyes of their pastors.

Remember Campbell's "Alphabet Soup"? Children have been making words on their plates for many years while in the soup the letters just floated around in all different directions and never formed a word that made sense. This is similar to what it's like when families decide to educate at home, there are floating pieces all around, but most still do not know how to put it all together to spell "homeschool" clearly. Where should one start? What is it supposed to look like? Why is everything so jumbled up and not making sense? This workshop is designed to help sort it all out for a successful first day of homeschool.

After years of frustration, veteran homeschooler Linda Lacour Hobar found practical ways to liberate her lesson plans and prevent anarchy in her home. Literally. The secret lies in her “Dateless Lesson Planner” – a tool many will want to consider using in their homeschool to keep students and teacher in better harmony.

“Where there is no vision, the homeschoolers are unrestrained.” That’s a unique version of Proverbs 29:18. When you know how to lead with vision principles, you will experience unity, order and peace, and be more efficient.

Be encouraged, challenged, and equipped with ideas as the Dunagan's share from their local and global adventures. Mission-minded families focus on God’s Great Commission, with a passion for the lost. There’s a spiritual depth and hunger that reaches beyond the maintenance mode of cultural Christianity. Learn to “raise the bar” in leadership and service, to “guard the gates” of your home, and to live with an attitude of self-sacrifice and submission to God, while radiating an unmistakable, contagious joy.

How is the state of your union? When was the last time you stopped and put your finger on the pulse of your marriage? If you are struggling in your marriage, or even if you're not, this is a message of hope and encouragement that will remind you of what's important and help you stay on course as you navigate through the homeschool years with the man of your dreams

While there is no sure-fire formula to guarantee that any child will turn out to be a success, there are timeless and proven principles that, when implemented, will lay a powerful foundation upon which they can experience significant accomplishments. This workshop brings to light real help in properly training our children.

"If mama ain't happy, ain't nobody happy." The ability to be organized, or lack of it, sets the mood in families. When families are disorganized they don't feel in control and when they don't feel in control, their stress level rises, and this alone can be the biggest enemy of our homeschool efforts. Organization has no room for procrastination. This workshop will give you some tricks of the trade to be more organized and to feel more organized. (There is a difference.) Come prepared to take home lots of encouraging ideas.

This will be a combination of stories about life in America during the 1930s as well as stories from Bruce Isham's own adventures learning to trust God.

It's time. Time to take all that your parents have taught you and put it into practice. Time to serve the Lord with all your heart, soul, mind and strength. Time to make a difference. But no road is without its bumps, and life will be difficult at times. Learn how to stay strong, cultivate a passion for God and for people, even when you encounter hardship.

No matter what kind of family you were raised in, you can establish a godly legacy of leadership for the next generation because of the blood of Jesus Christ. The decisions you make day-by-day don’t just affect you; they affect your kids, and their kids, and all who they will influence. Learn to disciple your children to disciple others. From God’s Word, learn to see from God’s perspective, with a focus on eternity, the Cross, and the glory of God. You’re building a legacy, brick-by-brick, for the future!

Join Mark as he reveals an unusual passage of Scripture that is rarely preached or talked about. Twice God the Father speaks about His Son—once at His Son’s baptism and then three years later on top of a mountain. The second time He speaks He repeats what He said the first time but adds one significant component that is essential for all parents—“Listen to Him.” Once you learn what this means, you will approach your children with a more purposeful plan that will cultivate their identity, confirm your love, be encouraged by your pleasure in them, and possess the confidence and authority that has been bestowed upon them.

As parents we try to figure out the "right" way to raise our children. Is there a "right" way? After raising four adult children and being grandmother of 5, plus running a performing arts school with over 22,000 students nationwide, I've discovered some common threads of raising healthy, contributing and well-adjusted children.

But I didn't volunteer for this job… or perhaps you did volunteer but you wish you hadn't! If 20% of the people do 80% of the work, and you are in the 20%, how do you keep from getting over worked and becoming resentful? Hear insights which every volunteer leader needs to apply. Your sanity may depend on it!

The Panel is Jeromy Green, John Leaton, Andrew Fields, Cameron Strauss. What does it look like to be a homeschooling father? What should you be doing and how could you do it better? Join a discussion led by a group of real-life dads from a variety of backgrounds who are leading their families on the homeschooling journey.

Start Strong: You may think you’re just beginning, but others have gone before you. Learn from the lessons of those who have gone before. Enjoy God’s sense of humor when it comes to the last 25 years. Stay Strong: “Be strong in the Lord.” Human strength fails and fades, but His strength will help you stay strong. Have a plan to defend your freedom and hope that you’ll never use it. Finish Strong: The finish line is not in your hands, it is in your children’s children and generations to come. It’s not a stroll in the park – it’s a marathon. Endure “in the strength of His might” so that you can finish strong.

In this fast-paced, easy-to-understand workshop, you will discover how to honor (not curse!) that wiggler in your midst; how to create a rich atmosphere for learning that will attract every learner; how to utilize your children's strengths to learn subjects that are hard for them; most importantly, you’ll discover how God delights in the incredibly individualized mechanisms for learning inside each of us! With this insight, including new research on intelligences, you will be able to adapt your teaching strategies AND choose your curriculum wisely.

Who isn’t often overwhelmed with the many challenges that crowd the homeschool schedule? There are bright spots along the way, but are we enjoying the rich fulfillment in our marriage that was once the heart of our dreams? Where could that be hiding? It's found in the passion and purpose of your first priority. You can take tangible steps right now toward the stellar, God-inspired love story you were intended to live. (For wives)

Is learning a breath-taking adventure in your home school, or more of a weary, forced-march, plodding through endless subjects? Join Diana for this refreshing, reviving, and reinvigorating workshop where you will discover the best brain practices in learning, the environment that encourages learning, and the many non-traditional ways students can practice what they are learning. Take a new look at practical, proven, and possible ways to make your home school journey a wondrous adventure.

You know you need to let the children be more involved in helping at home, for training them in character and in practical skills, AND for your sanity! But where do you begin? This foster mom to almost 50 children will share tips and practical helps that have enabled her to homeschool 17 children and still be able to open the front door to guests.

Depressed, lonely, anxious, or just feel like exploding inside? This session deals with feelings that we all have at times and gives practical Biblical steps to take when our feelings are spiraling downward. This talk specifically deals with loneliness, depression, guilt, and bitterness.

Blessed are the flexible - for they shall not break! Have you been homeschooling through some challenging seasons of life lately? There are seasons of upheaval - moving, and perhaps health challenges. It's easy to wonder if we can successfully homeschool throughout periods of change. Join Heidi as she talks about how to navigate through the seasons of life and find joy and freedom in homeschooling along the way. You can do it!

Vicki will help you decide what is important to your family, where you need to begin, and will discuss organizational challenges unique to homeschoolers. Vicki Bentley, fellow busy homeschool mom, shares practical ideas that have helped her manage her household of ten.

Watch your step! Those wee ones are learning form everything you do. Betsy will offer encouragement and ideas for mothers of toddlers, especially those balancing their older and younger children's education.

Read description carefully: The “Perfect Family” is in the other seminar! Bickering, holiness, selfishness, and sacrifice. Being iron, extending grace and striving after loving relationships in the home. Hear the Jacobson family speak openly about the joy and challenge of walking together in unity.

Are there examples from various times and various cultures that show the unmistakable handiwork of the Creator/Redeemer God? Does history have more to teach us than mere dates, names and places? For an intriguing look at the Story behind the stories, join Diana for this adventure-filled recounting – which could change your life!

What comes to mind when you hear, "Joyful mother of children"? If you aren't sure this describes your perspective on motherhood right now, come learn six steps to guide you to the joyful path! We will also discuss practical strategies to help us stay "tuned up."

Practical training techniques from the fire service and how you can use them to prepare your child to live a godly life.

Dad, you don’t have to be a spiritual giant with a towering intellect to be a leader in your family’s homeschool.

Do you realize what a powerful teaching tool you have right in the middle of your Bible? The book of Proverbs is a God-given handbook for training wise and discerning children. Take home fun and practical ideas for mining its treasures with your family.

Mad? Angry? Ticked off? Or just frustrated? What ever you call it, it will drive your kids away, divide your marriage, and destroy your home. No one likes living next to a volcano that could erupt at any moment. What are the dangers, the signs, and some Biblical solutions? How does one deal with an angry person and how do I get rid of these feelings that scream at me?

What type of homeschool parent are you? A box checker? Eclectic? Do you love schedules? Loathe them? Maybe you’re still looking for that perfect “niche.” Paige will share practical tips for helping all personalities succeed as homeschooling parents. Examine areas of struggle, identify strengths, and most importantly, be encouraged that God knew your strengths and weaknesses when He placed your children in your home.

A Christian walk is something we talk about, learn about and write about, but what does it mean to know God?

Not many people realize that the historical development of evolutionary ideas were based on philosophical assumptions and shifts, not on scientific discovery. This seminar takes a critical look at this fascinating piece of history.

Building and preserving trust between you and your family is the highest priority for homeschool dads.

What does the Bible say about homeschooling? How can Christians draw on their faith to succeed in high school? How should Christians conduct their homeschool if they are thinking about college? In this talk, Lee discusses all these questions as well as covers all the homeschool high school basics. Learn to prepare and not panic about high school. You are your child's best teacher, even for the tough high school subjects.

What comes first? The marriage or the math lesson? Most homeschool moms (every mom, for that matter) have felt the pull and pressure of trying to balance their marriages and their commitment to motherhood. Hey, most homeschool moms are happy to find time for a shower, let alone a romantic night with their husband! Yes, it's true. Homeschooling adds a new dynamic to the pressures of motherhood - but it doesn't mean you need to let your marriage suffer! In fact, it's never been more crucial than it is right now to strengthen the core of your family. In case you are still wondering, your marriage comes first. In this workshop, you'll learn several key ingredients to balancing your love life with language lessons ~ and how you can become the most romantic homeschool mom on the block! Come hear a story of personal experience that will challenge the way you view your marriage and inspire you to seek God's heart as you model a strong healthy marriage for your children. This is Heidi's favorite topic, so bring a notepad and fasten your seatbelts! It's time to put the "real OO" back in your Homeschool!

We all left the traditional school because we didn’t like the way they did school, yet there is a lot of pressure to do school the way they do school. And it’s killing us. If you’ve been thinking there has to be a better way… there is, and it’s not called boarding school. Join Todd as he re-examines the reasons behind what we do and why we do it and burns the bridge between their way and the better way.

If homeschooling up until now feels more like drudgery than delight, or if the thought of homeschooling makes your knees shake and your palms sweat, this is the workshop for you! Perhaps you've been hearing from "experts" that view homeschooling as just another form of education, like any other. Public schools think that way, but homeschooling is nothing like the school system. It's just the opposite. Learning at home is an adventure, a journey, a new lifestyle. Join veteran homeschool mom of seven (including one homeschool graduate!) Heidi St.John as she talks about the three things you've got to know as a new homeschooler that will set you on a track for success and enjoyment with your children. Because, although you're nervous now, it'll all be okay. Homeschooling is worth it. So sit back, relax. You'll soon discover that homeschooling is a journey like no other. Take it in stride that you will bumble and stumble, stick your foot in it, take wrong turns, backtrack, start again, and again . . . and your child will be just fine. Come and bring a friend for a dose of information and encouragement. You can do it!

In the last chapters of the book of Judges, a rather strange story is told. It is a story of Levites, concubines, dismemberment and revenge. But more than anything, it is a story of Civil War. As homeschoolers in our local church, we can sometimes feel like we are in a battle, but with whom are we fighting? Like the tribes of Israel, are we engaging in civil war? More than anything, the book of Judges is a book about "relationships;" God's relationship with His people, and their relationships with each other. In this session, a home schooling father of 8 and his public-schooling Pastor (with a degree in Education) will discuss how we can avoid civil war and achieve unity.

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 out on!

Did the Flood of Noah's day really cover the whole Earth and drown every living creature? Was the Ark big enough for the animals? Where is the Ark today? Families are invited to come and learn the answers to these questions.

Let’s be frank. There are two kinds of homeschoolers, those who think homeschooling rocks and those who think it doesn’t. Come hear two homeschool graduates talk about the good, bad and ugly of growing up in a homeschool and why, in fact, homeschooling isn’t lame.

“It was the best of times, it was the worst of times….” No homeschool is perfect. There will always be gaps and holes and problems. And yet, God is faithful to supply all your (and your children’s) needs. Come hear the highlights – and lowlights – of other homeschool families, and know that you’re not alone. The Perfect Homeschool doesn’t exist, so don’t compare yourself to a myth.

Has anyone ever seen a live dinosaur? How many different kinds of dinosaurs are there? How much can a dinosaur eat? Curious families, come and find out the answers to these questions.

Rick Boyer and his wife have been home schooling since 1980. Starting out young and green in a time when only a handful of families was home schooling, Rick and Marilyn found few resources to help them in their journey. They had to blaze their own trail, surviving such obstacles as skeptical grandparents, hostile school authorities, unhelpful curriculum publishers, blizzards, Indian attacks&(just kidding). The Boyers are still home schooling today and now share their experiences around the world through their books and their speaking ministry. Rick will share some of the most profound lessons learned along the way, including: -It's not schooling, it's discipleship -Life is the curriculum -The kid is the can -Socialization is for socialists -George Washington survived without Little League -and many more!

We all want our children to catch the vision for God and grow up to serve Him. But how do we begin? Rick and Marilyn Boyer, home education pioneers of thirty years, believe the Bible contains the best plan for the upbringing of wise and competent children. Seeking wisdom from God's Word and applying it to their own lives, they have trained their fourteen sons and daughters, some of whom are now parents and passing on the vision to their own children. Come hear Rick and Marilyn- with some video clips from some of their adult children- explain the scriptural method for passing on a vision of powerful Christian living from generation to generation through family discipleship!

If this is your first year or your fifteenth year home educating, the future begins today. Mr. Karman is chairman of the Board of OCEANetwork and brings you encouragement from more than 25 years of experience. Hear about the real hope and the assurance that God is in control of your future in home education. We may not know what tomorrow holds, but we know Who holds tomorrow. Homeschooll success isn't for yesterday, it's for tomorrow. Homeschool freedom isn't for us, it is for our children's children.

It has been said that the parents of the 1980's and 90's were the Moses generation--they left Egypt (government schooling) and headed for the Promised Land, as the Israelites once traversed the wilderness to return to Canaan. The generation of Moses completed part of the mission, getting as far as the Jordan River. But it was left to Joshua and the younger Israelites to cross the river and take back the land that had been promised to their father Abraham centuries before. Today, home schooling parents have broken free from the bondage of Godless philosophies and are raising up the Joshua generation that will carry the battle over the Jordan--taking the banner of Christ back into American government, law, medicine, business, education and the arts, where God and His Word were once universally honored. The enemies of God are trembling today at the thunderous approach of the Joshua generation!!

To those who understand history, the hand of God is unmistakable in the story of America. Our Founders built on the soil of the New World a nation organized on the principles of Scripture. The result was that early America astounded the world with its freedom, genius and productivity. But when the training of children shifted from the realm of the family and moved into the realm of government, it took only a few generations to bring about the social, spiritual, moral and intellectual decay that permeates our society today. Now, home educating parents are taking back their children and raising up a generation of bright, godly, competent Americans who understand their heritage and are determined to reclaim it for the glory of God. God the designed the family, not the school to be the primary training ground for His champions.

Scripture records the stories of several cases of strife between siblings. In almost every case, there is a principle involved which the parents have violated, sowing destruction in their family. This series of case studies gives valuable insight into the causes --- and therefore, the cures - of sibling rivalry.

Marilyn Boyer has taught all fourteen of her children at home, so she has plenty of experience with any age group you can name. But her very favorite age to teach is those eager, curious, exciting, challenging munchkins we call preschoolers. This, Marilyn says is the time when we lay the foundation for greatness by pouring love and acceptance all over them, instead of treating them like a nuisance. Preschoolers aren't just little interruptions to be kept "occupied" while older siblings study. This season in a child's life is the time to tap into his huge potential by maximizing his natural love for learning and helping him to see that God is preparing him for a lifetime of important service. Come and learn from Marilyn how to make the most of this brief but exciting time.

If you sometimes feel like homeschooling is drudgery, you can bet your kids feel the same way! It's such a temptation to stress over teaching predicate nominatives or the steps of division that we forget to delight in our children and make time to enjoy being with them. In this session, Marilyn shares how she and Rick have found this to actually be the key to instilling values that stick and building in them a heart for things of the Lord.

The statistics are tragic and startling. Great percentages of children raised in evangelical homes are not continuing in their faith and beliefs as they reach and continue into adulthood. Some of the most important academic and practical training we can give our children as we homeschool them is worldview training. For Christians, our goal is to teach our children to think biblically about all of life. During the course of this workshop, we will delve into why Christian worldview training is an absolutely crucial component of our homeschooling. We will also discuss the following questions: · What is worldview? · What function does worldview serve in my child's life? · How can I teach worldview? · How can I teach worldview if I don't understand it? · At what age should I teach worldview to my children? · Can I award high school credit for studying worldview? If we want to see true revival in our culture, we must teach our children how to think biblically about all of life-from academics to social issues to daily decisions. A true biblical worldview will equip our children to become powerful thinkers, leaders, and communicators. This workshop will change the way you teach!

Some do dating. Some do courtship. Some do dating and call it courtship. It's not about what you call it. It's about getting God's best in finding a mate and keeping your purity. This session discusses practical ideas for protecting hearts and purity while feelings and hormones are screaming.

Hear ye, hear ye: Her Majesty, Julie Hiramine, cordially invites you to a regal gathering with all families from the royal realm for a splendid celebration of true beauty and purity of heart. All young Princesses and Queens are welcome to attend this heart-warming seminar about true beauty, modesty, and character. After all, our young princesses are daughters of the Heavenly King-so we must equip them for their royal heritage.

There are plenty of misconceptions about the role of the father in a home schooling family. Some people think that if he can't be at home during "school time" he can't be involved. Others think his job is to take over some of Mom's chores in order to free her to spend more time with the children. But Scripture gives seven functions of a father in a godly home, and each of these can be applied very practically and powerfully in home education. Enjoy the wisdom and humor of this presentation as Rick answers the question of "What's A Dad to Do?"

Marilyn Boyer is no stranger to the joys and challenges of raising teenagers. With ten sons and daughters now having graduated from high school at home, Marilyn shares why she taught them herself from kindergarten through the high school years and why she wouldn't consider doing it any other way.

Do you ever have those moments of panic when you wonder if you are giving your children everything they need to succeed in life? Or, in those rare quiet moments of thought and reflection, do you worry that you are inadequate for all that homeschooling requires of you? Do you ever wake up in the middle of the night plagued by the long list of important things that still need to be done-and know there will never be enough time in the day to accomplish them? If you, like I, have experienced these feelings and fears in your homeschooling journey, then come to this workshop and be encouraged. God knows that as human beings we are confined and surrounded by limitations and weaknesses. We will look specifically at the challenging areas of vision, finances, knowledge, home management, and fatigue. The Scripture provides promises of hope, strength, power, and help for those of us who are weak, weary, and imperfect. The Bible also instructs us in accomplishing the impossible as we bask in God's boundless resources, amazing strength, and infinite love.

Applying the teamwork necessary for a coordinated fire attack, and how to have the courage to be first in to face the fire for the purpose of saving someone.

As author of The Second Mayflower (just released in its 3rd edition), Kevin Swanson speaks from the heart on the beautiful vision that formed America. No other nation on earth has been so blessed with liberty and prosperity as America. In this rousing and inspiring presentation, Kevin urges home educators to study America's godly heritage, be grateful for it, and to live the principles that beat in the heart of the founders of the nation. Has the vision faded, and have the blessings departed? How is God going to use the home school movement to revive this blessing? God may very well be preparing to use homeschooling in a powerful way to transform our families and our nation.

In this address, Mike contrasts godly wisdom (which Christians should be trying to follow) and worldly wisdom (wisdom from below) as it relates to specific issues that we all deal with in the homeschool community. He explains that there are two conflicting worldviews or belief systems today, orthodoxy and progressivism. Orthodoxy is committed to an external, definable and transcendent authority for truth. This truth comes from God and is given to us primarily through His Word, the Bible. In contrast, progressivism asserts that moral authority is to be defined by the spirit of the modern age, a spirit of rationalism and subjectivism. Truth tends to be viewed as a process, as a reality and is ever unfolding depending upon the circumstances. He will explain how certain important U.S. Supreme Court decisions have been affected by this new progressive thinking. Mike will then break down how these two differing views are affecting education and specifically, the freedom to home educate. The good news is that truth sets one free. The good news is we know the truth, we simply have to live and battle for the truth. Homeschoolers have demonstrated their willingness to do so, hence our hope for the future.

Parental rights and religious freedom have been the two foundations to establish a constitutional right for parents to teach their children at home. The U.S. Supreme Court some years back weakened the free exercise of religion claim as a foundation for homeschooling so that in order for homeschoolers to claim a fundamental right to homeschool, they must be able to combine the free exercise right with the parental rights claim. In other words, both rights have to co-exist. Currently, this is not a problem, but because of the fragile nature of freedom, moral decay, complacency and apathy, homeschooling freedoms are in jeopardy. Additionally, since the parental rights foundational claim is an "implicit" right, not an "explicit" right (meaning parental rights is not specifically spelled out in the Constitution) parental rights as we know it today is teetering and could be in trouble in the future. Mike will explain why parental rights are under attack and provide a solution on how we can maintain the current freedoms we have to teach our children at home.

Dick Karman, chairman of the Oregon Christian Home Education Association discusses God's providence in the battle to freely home educate our children.

What is the heart of homeschooling? What is it that really makes it work? This is an important question in that there is a distinct possibility that the homeschooling ethos may disappear into the burgeoning list of educational choices, especially with the rise of government-funded school at home. In this presentation, Kevin presents a passionate case for preserving the heart of homeschooling, those elements that have contributed to its beauty and success - the heart of Christ, the hand of the parent, and the blessings of freedom.

This charge was given to high school graduates at the Graduate Recognition Event of the 2009 OCEAN Conference. The text of the address is found in Micah 6:8: "And what does the LORD require of you but to do justly, to love mercy, and to walk humbly with your God?" (NASB) Mike explains what it means to "do justly", to "walk humbly", and to "love mercy" as we go through our daily living. The aim of the address is to remind graduates of what's important in life and how to evaluate true success.