Teach Them Diligently Pigeon Forge 2025: Full Schedule

10:30am EDT

Freeway Frog Programming Workshop - Add-On Class

Thursday May 8, 2025 10:30am - 12:30pm EDT

Why did the frog cross the road? Find out as we create Freeway Frog, an arcade-style game written in the Scratch programming language and inspired by the classic Frogger. Through this project, your student will learn the five foundational concepts from computer science: variables, loops, conditional statements, functions, and events and event handlers. These five concepts exist in nearly every computer language, so skills learned in this workshop will directly transfer when your student is ready to work in Python, JavaScript, or whatever!

This workshop is suitable for students from around 5^th grade through high school. Computers will be provided, and no prior programming experience is expected or required. Space is limited and similar workshops at past conferences have sold out!

THIS IS A PAID CLASS

Speakers

Robert Walsh

Founder, Excalibur Solutions STEM Academy

Robert, a former math teacher who has also worked as a hardware tech, an IT director, a trainer, a programmer, a software tester, a technical writer, and a business owner, is the founder of the Excalibur Solutions STEM Academy. He believes all students need a solid foundation in STEM... Read More →

Thursday May 8, 2025 10:30am - 12:30pm EDT
South 4 2986 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA

Add-On Classes

1:20pm EDT

Photography Workshop Session 1 - Add-On Class

Thursday May 8, 2025 1:20pm - 2:30pm EDT

South 4

Get Your Ticket Today!

Enjoy taking photos?! The Photo Class is a series of two interactive classroom sessions centered around learning practical photography skills regardless of what camera you have. Bring any camera! For any skill level. Let's go in-depth and more hands-on than a regular convention presentation. With the theme of "Learning to See Light", we'll explore the 5 distinct times of day in the natural world so we can take full advantage of whatever lighting situation you are shooting under. At the end, we'll pull up the photos everyone submitted for the Class Assignment and do some live photo coaching and critique. If you love snapping photos, you won't want to miss these sessions! God has given us a love for art and beautiful things . . . let's hone our photography skills for His glory!

Session 1: Maximizing Natural Light In Photography - Have you ever taken time to simply observe what the light was like in the natural world around you? Would you have guessed that there are 5 distinct times of day? And each one offers a host of unique opportunities for the photographer to explore! With the insights discussed in this session, you'll be equipped with the tools you need to get out and enjoy the outdoors, prepared to make the most of every photo op regardless of the time of day.

Session 2: Taking Your Photos to the Next Level - After shooting the Class Assignment given in the first session, we'll come back to the classroom for some constructive coaching centered around the photos you submit! What makes one photo better than another? How would a professional have shot the exact same thing? What do you not know yet that could make your photos better? Now's your chance to get some live photography coaching and take your photos to the next level!

This is a series of two workshops. THIS IS A PAID CLASS

Speakers

James Staddon

Founder, Lenspiration

Hi! I grew up in a homeschooling family and now work as a professional photographer and photography educator. With a background in graphic design, my endless preoccupation with photography and love for Christian discipleship eventually led me to start up Lenspiration in 2009 so there... Read More →

Thursday May 8, 2025 1:20pm - 2:30pm EDT
South 4 2986 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA

Add-On Classes

3:00pm EDT

Teen Creative Writing Workshop - Add-on Class

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:00pm - 5:10pm EDT

South 4

Get Your Ticket Today!

Learn how to write great stories from award-winning novelists!
Do you have a teen who enjoys writing fiction? Or maybe one that doesn’t like writing at all? We’re here to help them ignite their love of storytelling.

Many teens fall in love with writing when they can choose their own story ideas and write about concepts that matter to them. In this workshop, students will not only learn how to craft a standout novel from Josiah DeGraaf and award-winning author Kara Swanson, but also receive personal feedback on their story concept.
The class will cover how to craft:
• Sympathetic characters
• Gripping plot twists
• Resonant themes
• And more!

In addition to receiving individualized feedback, students will emerge from the workshop with a solid novel concept that carries deeper truths they're genuinely excited to write.
The Young Writer is a Christian organization that equips young writers in their teens and twenties to change the world with their words. Over the past six years, we've taught thousands of writers to write more, improve their craft, and glorify God with their writing.

About the Instructors
Kara Swanson is the Christy-award winning author of Dust, Shadow, and The Girl Who Could See. She is a faculty member of the Young Writer's Workshop as well as the co-founder of the Author Conservatory. She loves helping young writers unlock their potential and realize how rich their stories can be.

Josiah DeGraaf taught high school English for several years before becoming the program director of the Young Writer's Workshop. He loves helping young writers discover how to impact readers and make a difference with their words.

THIS IS A PAID CLASS

Speakers

Josiah DeGraaf

The Young Writer

Josiah DeGraaf taught high school English for several years before becoming the program director of the Young Writer’s Workshop. He loves helping young writers discover how to impact readers and make a difference with their words.

Thursday May 8, 2025 3:00pm - 5:10pm EDT
South 4 2986 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA

Add-On Classes

9:00am EDT

God’s Fingerprint Design Workshop - Add-On Class

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT

South 4

Get Your Ticket Today!

Investigate the intricacies of God’s design in fingerprints! You’ll learn about the location of friction ridge skin, the unique characteristics that provide individual identity, the three type patterns, and more. You will also take your own fingerprints and examine them under a magnifying glass!

THIS IS A PAID CLASS

Speakers

Dr. Jennifer Rivera

Answers in Genesis

Dr. Jennifer Hall Rivera is the director of educational programs, speaker, and Answers News cohost for Answers in Genesis. Dr. Rivera’s experience includes over two decades of science education; employment in a crime scene unit; and numerous journal publications, articles, and speaking... Read More →

Answers in Genesis

Answers In Genesis

Friday May 9, 2025 9:00am - 10:00am EDT
South 4 2986 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA

Add-On Classes

10:30am EDT

If the Shoe Fits: Forensic Impressions - Add-On Class

Friday May 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT

South 4

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Did you know that God created every person with a unique stride, and this creates unique shoe print patterns? Enjoy this presentation as we learn about how to identify and compare shoe impression characteristics in this hands-on workshop.

THIS IS A PAID CLASS

Speakers

Dr. Dana Sneed

Answers in Genesis

Dr. Dana Sneed earned her master of divinity in Christian education and PhD in education from Mid-America Baptist Theological Seminary. She joined Answers in Genesis in 2018, where she now serves as an Education Specialist. She has been involved in designing and writing educational... Read More →

Answers in Genesis

Answers In Genesis

Friday May 9, 2025 10:30am - 11:30am EDT
South 4 2986 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA

Add-On Classes

12:30pm EDT

Photography Workshop Session 2 - Add-On Class

Friday May 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:40pm EDT

South 4

Get Your Ticket Today!

Enjoy taking photos?! The Photo Class is a series of two interactive classroom sessions centered around learning practical photography skills regardless of what camera you have. Bring any camera! For any skill level. Let’s go in-depth and more hands-on than a regular convention presentation. With the theme of “Learning to See Light”, we’ll explore the 5 distinct times of day in the natural world so we can take full advantage of whatever lighting situation you are shooting under. At the end, we’ll pull up the photos everyone submitted for the Class Assignment and do some live photo coaching and critique. If you love snapping photos, you won’t want to miss these sessions! God has given us a love for art and beautiful things . . . let’s hone our photography skills for His glory!

Session 1: Maximizing Natural Light In Photography – Have you ever taken time to simply observe what the light was like in the natural world around you? Would you have guessed that there are 5 distinct times of day? And each one offers a host of unique opportunities for the photographer to explore! With the insights discussed in this session, you’ll be equipped with the tools you need to get out and enjoy the outdoors, prepared to make the most of every photo op regardless of the time of day.

Session 2: Taking Your Photos to the Next Level – After shooting the Class Assignment given in the first session, we’ll come back to the classroom for some constructive coaching centered around the photos you submit! What makes one photo better than another? How would a professional have shot the exact same thing? What do you not know yet that could make your photos better? Now’s your chance to get some live photography coaching and take your photos to the next level!

THIS IS A PAID CLASS

Speakers

James Staddon

Founder, Lenspiration

Friday May 9, 2025 12:30pm - 1:40pm EDT
South 4 2986 Teaster Lane, Pigeon Forge, TN 37863, USA

Add-On Classes