Summer 2027. Full days of live coaching, mock rounds, and one-on-one mentoring for grades 5–9 — residential or commuter, beginners through competitors.
Two camps, one program
Ascend runs two in-person summer debate camps for middle school students in grades 5–9: Florida, June 25 – July 9, 2027 at Lynn University in Boca Raton, and California, July 11–25, 2027 at University of the Pacific in Stockton.
Both teach the same program at the same price. Middle schoolers have their own labs, their own coaches, and a curriculum written for their age group. Students learn to speak in front of a room, build an argument, and think on their feet, in small groups led by experienced coaches. Come for one week or two, stay on campus or commute from home. No experience is needed, and financial aid is available.
Our East Coast camp in South Florida, served by the Fort Lauderdale, Palm Beach, and Miami airports, with a shuttle from Fort Lauderdale.
Florida Camp DetailsOur largest camp. More than 60% of students typically travel from outside California, with a shuttle from Sacramento International Airport.
California Camp DetailsSessions & pricing
One- and two-week sessions, residential and commuter. Prices are the same at both camps, and early registration pricing is available now.
Florida residential program, June 25 – July 9, 2027 (2 weeks). Early registration saves $500.
Florida: 2-week commuter (June 25 – July 9, 2027) or 1-week residential (June 25 – July 2, 2027).
Florida 1-week commuter program, June 25 – July 2, 2027.
California residential program, July 11–25, 2027 (2 weeks). Early registration saves $500.
California: 2-week commuter (July 11–25, 2027) or 1-week residential (July 11–18, 2027).
California 1-week commuter program, July 11–18, 2027.
Need financial aid? Email info@ascendspeech.org or schedule a call.
What your student learns
We teach through Congressional Debate, where students act as members of Congress: they give short speeches for or against a proposed law, take questions from their peers, and respond to what's already been said. It blends public speaking with research and argument — the best starting point we know for a new debater.
Students speak in front of a room every day, so standing up and being heard starts to feel normal.
How to make a clear point, back it with evidence, and explain why it matters.
On average, each student gets individual time with a coach every other day of camp.
A sample camp day
| Time | Activity |
|---|---|
| 8:00–9:00 | Breakfast & informal check-in |
| 9:00–10:30 | Mock debate round 1 |
| 10:30–12:30 | Skill workshops — core concepts |
| 12:30–1:30 | Lunch |
| 1:30–3:00 | Strategy & drills lab |
| 3:00–5:00 | One-on-one coaching & topic lectures |
| 5:00–6:00 | Mock debate round 2 |
| 6:00–7:00 | Dinner |
| 7:00–9:00 | Office hours & individual support |
FAQ
Schedule a call to check availability and find the right camp for your student.
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