Teaching Them Diligently with Robots and Apologetics

For the past several years, we’ve packed up our robots and iPads to introduce students and their parents to a world of STEM technology at the Teach Them Diligently conventions across the Southeast and Midwest. This past weekend, we headed over to Nashville, Tennessee, to host our “Robots & God” workshops. During these 5 sessions (not to mention a parent presentation we did called “STEM/STEAM Education for Your Kids”), campers learn how to work as a team, solve problems, look for patterns, program, and make an autonomous robot. A Special Partnership We’re honored to partner with organizations like Teach Them ...

Interested in Recording a Podcast?

Podcasting is becoming one of the most popular ways to creating content in today’s online world. Five is the average number of shows listened to per week among the 42 million Americans who listen to podcasts on a weekly basis. Here are some simple steps you can take to record your first podcast with what you already have at home. A recording device. Most smartphones and computers give you the ability to record your voice. Software/Apps. Apple users can use GarageBand, which comes pre-installed on your Macintosh and is also available in the App Store on your iPhone. PC users ...

When it Comes to Technology, Don’t Discount Discernment for Your Digital Native

Do you remember the days before cell phones and the Internet? I can remember as a young person asking my grandma, “What was life like before you had a television?” She chuckled a bit and answered that she had no idea what was missing. Many of today’s young people probably can ask us the question, “What was it like having to watch TV for entertainment?” If you’re anything like me, you grew up in a time before cellphones and the Internet. We are “digital immigrants.” The closest thing I ever got to communicating with anyone on the other side of ...

Is Your Child Gifted?

In a previous blog, we asked (and answered) the question, “To whom do your child’s gifts belong?” But, is your child gifted? “I Have a Question!” How many times a day do you hear that exclamation in your home? For many of us, it can drive us absolutely crazy! Is your child always asking and trying to figure out why things work? “Yes,” you say! Then, we would say he or she is gifted. Camp Infinity is looking for young people to inspire to discover wonder and amazement in everything they see in the world around them. We love teaching ...

To Whom Do Your Child’s Gifts Belong?

I’m often asked the question, “What kind of child is the ideal Ci camper?” My response is “gifted ones with insatiable curiosity.” Is your child gifted? If so–and by the way, the answer is YES–then what are gifts and to whom do they belong? What is a Gift? It’s a good thing to be reminded about the simplest of questions. A gift is something that is given. Gifts are not earned or even something we deserve. As believers, we recognize that our Creator God has given each of certain abilities to put on display His creativity and goodness in the ...

Solar Eclipse–Yeah, There’s an App for That!

Millions of Americans can’t wait for Monday when “The Great American Eclipse” takes it’s track across across the contiguous states. This will be the first time in 38 years that a total eclipse has been viewable in the US, so we’re a just little excited too! Here are a few tips for viewing Monday’s celestial event, and yes, there’s an app to help you plan! Know What to You’re Seeing A solar eclipse occurs when the Moon passes in front of the Sun, thus blocking out its light. The Moon is only ¼ the size of Earth, so it pales ...

Does Technology Make Bullying Easier?

According to a recent poll, six in ten adults believe bullying is more prevalent in school than when they attended.  Not surprisingly, Millennials are much more likely to have experienced cyberbullying than any generation. So, what is cyberbullying and how can we as parents and grandparents help our children prevent it? According to the United States Department of Health & Human Services, the first thing you can do is talk with your children about these issues regularly. Awareness of what your kids are doing online is key.  Know the websites your kids visit. Ask where they’re going, what they’re doing, ...

What happens to your brain when you have fun?

According to neurologist (and educator) Judy Willis, “The highest-level executive thinking, making of connections, and ‘aha’ moments are more likely to occur in an atmosphere of ‘exuberant discovery,’ where students of all ages retain that kindergarten enthusiasm of embracing each day with the joy of learning.”  When our brains respond to laughter, our increased volume in breathing causes endorphins, adrenaline, and dopamine to be released. As a result, students are more alert and the information that’s being presented to them is attached to their memories as a positive emotional event.  One of our favorite things about STEM (science, technology, engineering, ...

Is your future determined by an algorithm or effort?

Just about every one of us who has shopped on websites like Amazon.com has experienced re-targeted advertising messages that seem to show up on just about every other website they visit. If you haven’t experienced this phenomenon, then just look up a pair of shoes and notice how they seem to appear! Predictive software is not only changing the way marketers reach prospective customers, it could also have a big impact on how students are perceived in the classroom. Developers of such programs contend that could open new opportunities to students, where they can’t help but succeed. But what is ...

Being “Down-to-Earth” Might Make You Snore

So, how does the topic of snoring relate to Space Exploration? According to flight surgeon, Dr. J.D. Polk, there is less airway obstruction in space, so the likelihood of snoring is space is greatly diminished. Dr. Polk says, "Earthly snoring occurs when gravity pulls the tongue and soft tissues in the rear of your mouth backward. If your airway is partially obstructed, you get these tissues flapping. In microgravity, the tongue and the jaw do not fall back in the throat, so there is less airway obstruction in space."  Certainly, our campers are “out of this world,” but we can’t ...

Extraterrestrial Life – Evolution Demands It

Scripture proclaims that “the heavens declare the glory of God.” For the believer, when it comes to the thought of how vast the universe is, and how we haven’t even tapped the surface of its size, it can’t help but give us cause to worship our Creator. We hear much in the media about the idea of extraterrestrial life. For many, the idea of the purpose of exploring other worlds (and the universe in general) is driven by thoughts of “Is there life out there?” and, “Could mankind survive on another planet someday?” The idea of there being intelligent life ...

Out of Balance?

Many of us have experienced some sort of motion sickness. Whether it’s in an automobile or a fast moving boat, there are certain precautions that help “reign-in” the symptoms. Medication, deep breathing, and other methods can help. Space Adaptation Syndrome (SAS) is different in that gravity plays a crucial role in our spatial orientation. While traveling in a weightless environment like space, it can be difficult for astronauts to adapt to the different physiological processes that help them keep their balance. Symptoms of SAS include nausea (similar to what we experience when we have motion sickness), the feeling of being disoriented, ...

The Exploration of Space

Twenty-one years ago today, Space Shuttle Discovery launched in what was the first evening blast-off from Kennedy Space Center in Florida. This mission was not only historic because a female pilot was at the helm, but it was the first shuttle mission that docked with the Russian space station, Mir. Perhaps one of the reasons we enjoy the benefits of so many technologies is the result of our desire to explore. Objects like our smartphones, digital watches, and calculators are examples of the result technological innovations that we can attribute to the space program. According to NASA’s website, the skills ...

A Gift They’ll Remember for Decades to Come

Are there Christmas gifts you received when you were growing up that you remember fondly? Aside from getting a tube sock (you know, the ones with three thick stripes that you could pull up way over your knees?!) full of apples, oranges, and whatever else grandma could fit in there, I remember well an erector set that my parents purchased for me. Imagine how excited your inquisitive teen will be when they see their Certificate of Registration and choice of Camp Infinity T-Shirt or “Nick Newton is Not a Genius”* book under the tree this Christmas!  Certainly, the prospect of ...

How to Delight Your STEM-Minded Kid for Christmas

There are so many fun and interesting gift ideas in the STEM fields. Here are several ideas you might want to consider this Christmas season for your child (and, perhaps for yourself, too!) . . . Flybricks: Build your own drones using Lego® bricks (all ages) Flybrix is a very cool idea (and, has left us wondering, ‘Why didn’t we come up with it?’). You can build and design your own drone using Lego® bricks. The drone has a computer system that students can program to make it completely customizable! [image source: https://flybrix.com]   Think & Learn Code-a-pillar® from Fisher-Price ...

Earth Science Week Activity – Hurricane Analysis

Even before the Fall of mankind, God gave Adam and Eve the responsibility of stewarding the Garden of Eden. All humans have a God-given responsibility to use the resources around us to subdue the Earth, so earth science is something that all of us can engage with and celebrate! Here’s a project on the Earth Science Week website that you can do from home [http://www.earthsciweek.org/classroom-activities/analyzing-hurricanes-using-web-and-desktop-gis]! Hurricanes have been in the news recently. Using the Internet, you can analyze the paths and activity of past hurricanes to see if there are patterns. We’d love to hear your analysis. Also, do you ...

“Science Guy” to Host New Program on Netflix

According to “Variety,” the new program will “tackle a topic from a scientific point of view, dispelling myths, and refuting anti-scientific claims that may be espoused by politicians, religious leaders or titans of industry.” It’s interesting to note that the title of this new program is called, “Bill Nye Saves the World.” Really? What is Mr. Nye saving the world from? During his visit to the Creation Museum, one of our campers asked him about some of life’s most important questions. When asked about humankind’s purpose, Nye responded, “our main purpose in existence is passing on genetic material.” He also ...

Teen Day Camp: A Week of Fun, Fellowship, and Learning

It’s been a busy summer at Camp Infinity as we welcome new and returning campers each week for a different camp—it’s certainly keeping us on our toes! Well, we recently completed our Teen Day Camp at the Creation Museum in Petersburg, Kentucky. It was an exciting week of fun, fellowship, and learning. Campers participated in a host of hands-on STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) activities, heard from apologetics speakers, and had a great time working together in teams to solve problems. The theme for Ci 3.0 was energy and many of our activities were structured around this idea. Here ...

The Pokémon Go Craze and Your Heart

By now you or dozens of your friends with smartphones have downloaded the Pokémon Go app. The augmented reality mobile game that was released in the United States on July 6, yes, just over a week ago, has already been downloaded onto over 7.5 million Android and iOS devices. The game has overtaken Twitter in the number of daily active users. So, what’s the big deal, and is Pokémon Go something you, or your children, should participate in playing? How Do You Play? Pokémon Go is a free app that’s very simple to download on either Google Play or iTunes. You ...