Jurassic Ark
I wasn't quite sure what to make of evolution vs creation there for a while. During my public (and perfectly satisfactory apart from the evolution and complete lack of moral education) school education, we were taught that the earth was millions of years old.
It wasn't until the past few years that I started to consider the possibility of literal, six-day creation.
The other day on Facebook, I saw an advertisement for a 'Homeschoolers Day' at Jurassic Ark, a place I had never heard of but very quickly grew interested in!
We travelled up and stayed the night before our visit to Jurassic Ark in a caravan at Goomeri. After much silly playing around with the pronounciation of the town's name, we discovered that it's pronounced "guh'MERee". Very sweet little place, just 45 minutes drive west of Jurassic Ark.
As we rocked up, John Mackay ('The Creation Guy', himself a Christian) was speaking with the students and explaining about the first activity, which was making a replica of a fossil with leaves, chinese food containers and quick-set cement mix. The children lined up while we dragged the newborn, the toddler and our daughter with a broken leg out of the car and into prams and slings along with a zillion bags for lunch, nappy changes and drink bottles!
John then took us around to the experiments he has set up with stalyctites. He is making stalyctites on location at Jurassic Ark and they're growing at the rate of 1cm per month, which is much quicker than mainstream scientists say stalyctites are made. His point is that "It doesn't take time, it takes a process." As in, it's perfectly scientifically feasible for the earth to be young (6000 years is the most common estimate) and to have been created.
We had an absolute blast learning about chemistry, fossils, dinosaurs, Noah's flood and creation. Very hands on, very science-y, very fun. The children dug actual, real fossils with real archaeologists' tools and got to handle petrified items that John and his team are working on. They saw opals being formed and ran little fingers over fossilized dinosaur bones. John and team let the children run through the sprinklers in the Biblical garden from the bottom of the property where we were looking at the fossilized trees.
At the end of a few very hot hours walking around the facilities, we were treated to icy cold water under some gazebos to pick John's brain about creation science. It was fascinating and John is very open, friendly and great with children.
John and team have a variety of reasonably priced resources for purchase that explain all about creation, dinosaurs and fossils. They even sell fossils, which our crew found very tempting!
If you're looking for a wonderful family fun day out that combines adventure, education and science, make sure you visit Jurassic Ark! It's just west of Gympie, Queensland in the tiny locality of Bells Bridge - a beautiful part of our state.
I found that it strengthened my faith because creation is perfectly scientifically viable and logical. I know a lot of Christians don't really care about issues like creation v evolution, but I believe it strengthens your faith by not just relying on pure faith. When you can refer to facts, logic and science to defend or talk about the Christian faith, it helps others understand.
We are definitely going again for a longer visit this time, so family and friends, let us know if you're interested in coming along. It'd be great if we could get a group together!
It wasn't until the past few years that I started to consider the possibility of literal, six-day creation.
The other day on Facebook, I saw an advertisement for a 'Homeschoolers Day' at Jurassic Ark, a place I had never heard of but very quickly grew interested in!
We travelled up and stayed the night before our visit to Jurassic Ark in a caravan at Goomeri. After much silly playing around with the pronounciation of the town's name, we discovered that it's pronounced "guh'MERee". Very sweet little place, just 45 minutes drive west of Jurassic Ark.
As we rocked up, John Mackay ('The Creation Guy', himself a Christian) was speaking with the students and explaining about the first activity, which was making a replica of a fossil with leaves, chinese food containers and quick-set cement mix. The children lined up while we dragged the newborn, the toddler and our daughter with a broken leg out of the car and into prams and slings along with a zillion bags for lunch, nappy changes and drink bottles!
John then took us around to the experiments he has set up with stalyctites. He is making stalyctites on location at Jurassic Ark and they're growing at the rate of 1cm per month, which is much quicker than mainstream scientists say stalyctites are made. His point is that "It doesn't take time, it takes a process." As in, it's perfectly scientifically feasible for the earth to be young (6000 years is the most common estimate) and to have been created.
We had an absolute blast learning about chemistry, fossils, dinosaurs, Noah's flood and creation. Very hands on, very science-y, very fun. The children dug actual, real fossils with real archaeologists' tools and got to handle petrified items that John and his team are working on. They saw opals being formed and ran little fingers over fossilized dinosaur bones. John and team let the children run through the sprinklers in the Biblical garden from the bottom of the property where we were looking at the fossilized trees.
At the end of a few very hot hours walking around the facilities, we were treated to icy cold water under some gazebos to pick John's brain about creation science. It was fascinating and John is very open, friendly and great with children.
John and team have a variety of reasonably priced resources for purchase that explain all about creation, dinosaurs and fossils. They even sell fossils, which our crew found very tempting!
If you're looking for a wonderful family fun day out that combines adventure, education and science, make sure you visit Jurassic Ark! It's just west of Gympie, Queensland in the tiny locality of Bells Bridge - a beautiful part of our state.
I found that it strengthened my faith because creation is perfectly scientifically viable and logical. I know a lot of Christians don't really care about issues like creation v evolution, but I believe it strengthens your faith by not just relying on pure faith. When you can refer to facts, logic and science to defend or talk about the Christian faith, it helps others understand.
We are definitely going again for a longer visit this time, so family and friends, let us know if you're interested in coming along. It'd be great if we could get a group together!
Ooh, we would love to come! If the timing works out, you can count us in. :)
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