BaseCamp Live

Remember when your child loved school? They were excited to learn, happy to see their friends, and maybe even proud to wear that school uniform. Then middle school arrived, and suddenly everything changed.The homework is too hard. The rules are too strict. Other schools seem so much easier. And now your once-happy student is begging to leave.What happened? Is something wrong with the school? Are we pushing our children too hard? Or is this a normal part of growing up?In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens welcomes back counselor and Live Sturdy founder Keith McCurdy to answer a question submitted by a classical Christian school parent. Together, they explore why adolescence can bring unexpected frustration with school, how parents can respond without abandoning their authority, and why perseverance matters during these challenging years.Keith shares practical advice for listening to teenagers, acknowledging their concerns without immediately trying to fix everything, and working with schools when problems arise. Davies also raises an important question for classical Christian educators: Are we helping students understand why their education is different and what it's preparing them to become?Whether your child is entering middle school, struggling through the teenage years, or beginning to question the value of classical education, this conversation offers encouragement, perspective, and practical wisdom for the journey ahead.Have a question you'd like Davies and Keith to explore in a future episode? Email [email protected] Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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 [email protected]'t forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

What comes after high school? For many families, college seems like the natural next step. But what if a young adult isn't quite sure where God is calling them?Sarah Northup, co-founder and Executive Director of Worldview Institute, joins Davies Owens to explore how families can approach this important transition with greater intentionality. From the rising cost of college to the value of apprenticeships and mentorship, Sarah shares why preparing young adults for life requires more than choosing a degree or career.Discover how Christian formation, meaningful work, and a focus on the head, heart, and hands can help the next generation discern their calling and move forward with confidence and purpose.Rethinking the assumption that college is the only next stepThe financial and practical considerations surrounding higher educationContinuing Christian formation beyond high schoolApprenticeships, entrepreneurship, and meaningful workWhy employers value communication, responsibility, and adaptabilityHelping young adults discover their gifts and callingPractical questions families can ask before choosing a college or career pathSpecial Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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 [email protected]'t forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

We send the emails. We share the updates. We tell our children what we expect. So why do our messages still get lost?Communication is about more than delivering information. It's about building trust, strengthening relationships, and making sure the people who matter most feel heard and valued.In this episode of BaseCamp Live, Davies Owens welcomes back longtime friend, educator, and author Scott Barron to discuss his new book, The Book on Communication: Featuring the Laws of the Grapevine.Drawing on decades of leadership experience, Scott shares a memorable story about a school communication breakdown that inspired his approach to understanding how information travels and why the order, timing, and manner of our communication matter.Together, Davies and Scott explore six laws of effective communication, the importance of listening, and the balance between warmth and competence. They also discuss practical ways parents can strengthen conversations with their children, particularly as those children grow older and begin asking more questions about the reasons behind family decisions.Whether you're leading a school, teaching in a classroom, or navigating everyday family life, this conversation offers encouragement and practical wisdom for becoming a more thoughtful communicator.Learn more about Scott's book and resources:https://thebookoncommunication.comSpecial Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:Worldview InstituteThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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 [email protected]'t forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

AI can write essays, solve problems, and produce polished work in seconds. But does that mean our children no longer need to learn how to do those things themselves?Andrew Pudewa, founder of the Institute for Excellence in Writing, joins Davies Owens to explore a question that goes far beyond classroom technology: What is education actually for?Together, they discuss how learning shapes our capacity for attention, memory, perseverance, and wisdom. Andrew explains why the process of doing difficult things matters, how music and meaningful responsibility help form character, and why children need opportunities to engage deeply with the real world.Rather than rejecting technology altogether, this conversation invites parents and educators to consider how we can use modern tools without surrendering the experiences that help children become fully human.Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:Worldview InstituteWisdom and EloquenceThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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 [email protected]'t forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.

What if some of the things we’ve accepted as normal for childhood aren’t actually healthy?Children and teenagers now spend hours each day on devices, carry the internet in their pockets, and increasingly experience friendship, entertainment, and even education through technology. But as Emily Harrison explains, there is an important difference between what is common and what is actually good for children. Emily returns to BaseCamp Live as a wave of lawsuits against major technology and social media companies begins bringing years of internal research and concerns into the courtroom. She and Davies explore what these cases are revealing about addictive design, why simply limiting screen time may not address the deeper problem, and why parents should be cautious about assuming that a product is safe simply because it is widely available. But this conversation isn't ultimately about Silicon Valley or courtrooms. It's about the children in our homes and schools right now.Emily offers practical ways families can introduce technology gradually, create healthy boundaries around phones and social media, and give children increasing freedom without handing them unlimited access. She also shares how schools can rethink responsible technology use and create communities where choosing a different path doesn't have to mean standing alone.The goal isn't to fear technology. It's to recover a vision of childhood shaped by wisdom, relationship, responsibility, and the freedom to grow up without every part of life being mediated through a screen.Special Thanks to our partners who make BaseCamp Live possible:Worldview InstituteWisdom and EloquenceThe Herzog FoundationZipCastLife ArchitectsWisephone by Techless 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 [email protected]'t forget to visit basecamplive.com for more info and past episodes.