The Man Behind the MadnessMy husband’s vision was kindled by our son’s request to go fishing when my husband did not originally share the skill. It was a typical week of chaos (the kinds that ensue when you have a large family and happen to homeschool). Yet, it was that one single moment that blossomed—or perhaps, sparked—into the reality of what is now Campfire Curriculums units. Let me back up… My husband has worn (and wears) many titles, including but not limited to: U.S. Special Operations combat veteran, State Department diplomatic security specialist, firearms instructor who trains multiple federal agencies, ER provider for almost 15 years (yeah, he’s also the one who pumped the guy’s heart in the palms of his hands in our ER unit, for any who were wondering). Because of his family background, he’s always been a bit of an over-achiever. He’s also half-Brit, so I blame a little of the stubbornness on that haha! He juggles all of his skills like a pro, uniquely combining them into the most admirable role (speaking as a proud wife). Oh… and did I mention? He used to adamantly be against homeschool. |
|
Being the most humble person I know, he is very adept at intentionally avoiding the spotlight (and I’m not even sharing everything). He is my best friend, and the most important thing I can say is that he loves the Lord. He wasn’t saved until after many of our children were born, but he has since been truly transformed by the power of God. Since then, he’s been able to lead as we witnessed all of our children, one-by-one (down to our 7-year-old), commit their lives to following Christ for themselves. But we’ll save his testimony, so he can share it himself another day… |
The Fish That Sparked It AllStill, curiously enough, among all his formidable feats, this one skill remained absent: he did not know how to fish. The man literally traveled to Nepal and climbed Mt. Everest… but didn’t know how to fish. Who would’ve guessed? Oh, but it was important for our son who wanted to go fishing with his father… It was a simple and innocent request from our son, really. It didn’t stand out in the moment he asked it any more than the hundreds of other questions we often received on a normal, sunny day as we drove from point A to point B. Eager as he always is to please his children, my husband set to work fulfilling our son’s request to learn more. He spent hours (and hours) learning the fine details of all things fishing. Still, the time it took him to learn about the skill was time that was unintentionally and ironically stolen from our very eager child—delaying their togetherness… and, ultimately, their fishing. And this is when he realized that he probably should have just asked an experienced fisherman for help. And that’s where everything began… with a father who wanted something that didn’t yet exist. |
|
The Vision He envisioned a family learning together, gathered around a campfire, faces lit, hands warmed, stories shared. It’d be like in the old days when younger ones would learn from adults as they passed down wisdom–including things like how to put some bait on a fishing pole. |
|
Impossible to put such a thing into a real curriculum, you say? Well, his wife agreed with you (if I remember correctly, my words were actually, “impossible” and just “no”). He decided he wanted a place where learning was approachable for the curious minds of our littles, yet challenging enough for our college- or career-bound teens (and—of course—ourselves, because parents like learning, too). Enter stage left: job or skills shadowing from home. “Stage left” should be completed within ~30 minutes at a time, he said, so even working dads like him who could be gone for long periods of time could use it with their kids. “Impossible!” was the word his ears heard from his wife (ahem… me, again), though he found himself But after prayer was when his wife of “no” became a wife of “yes.” |
|
So, in his “off time,” we both job shadow and/or interview each applicable expert(s). Then, we take their wisdom, and transform it into our own writing style (along with our new writing team), adding our own flare, and an open-and-go package that any parent can complete with their entire family–while going deep into core school subjects, too. The guidebooks are created to be shared with the entire family (with higher-level information in the sidebar for college- or career-bound students). The units include living book to provide a real “campfire” feel…. It was the evolution of his dream becoming a reality. There’s more to the story… but this is the heart of where it all began (and a bit about my husband–the man behind it all). |
Want to learn more?Join our Facebook group, check out our podcast, or dive into a unit. We’re glad you’re here! |
|
Pro- or Anti-College? To those who ask where we stand on college vs. trade/work out of high school, we say this: All of his paths in life have confirmed one thing: the best learning often happens outside a classroom, through real, hands-on experiences. He, himself, has earned multiple different degrees from respected universities and it has served him well. Still, he has other careers which don’t require a degree and lean on his expertise and unique combination of skills. As such (and as Christians), we are neutral. We believe there are pros and cons to both decisions. We see the negatives of college. We also know that certain careers cannot be attained without a proper degree and education. We are advocates of individuals praying and following the Lord’s guidance, especially depending on desired career and requirements. This curriculum does not push in any direction. |