Launch Your Debate Journey This Summer

Overview: The Ascend Middle School Summer Program is a transformative online debate experience built for curious, driven students ready to accelerate their communication and critical thinking skills. Across focused daily sessions, students receive live expert coaching, rapid skill-building drills, and real practice rounds designed to prepare them for competitive success and confident leadership. Whether new to debate or already competing, Ascend blends structured instruction with strategic application so students leave sharper thinkers, persuasive speakers, and ready to excel in both school and beyond.

Logistics:

  • Duration: We offer 2 and 1 week programs, which run from Monday to Friday. We highly recommend the 2 week program

  • Start Dates: June 22, June 29, July 6, July 13, July 20, and July 27

  • Daily Times: We offer three daily options at 8am, 2pm, and 8pm Pacific Time. Each session is 4 hours long per day

  • Format: Online! We also offer in-person camps in California and Florida

  • Price: $899.99 for 2 weeks and $499.99 for 1 week

Register for This Summer!

“Everyone who gets into Harvard, Stanford, and Yale has a ‘spike.’ Let’s start building your spike this summer.”

— Varun Kota, Stanford MBA and Director of Middle School Debate

Inside the Ascend Middle School Summer Experience

  • Live Expert Coaching

    Small groups with action oriented feedback every day

  • Accelerated Skill Building

    Focused training designed for rapid improvement

  • Real Competitive Preparation

    Practice rounds, strategy, and performance mentoring

Is Ascend Right for Your Child?

Our program is designed for motivated students excited to accelerate their college admissions journey and build transformative life skills through debate.

  • No experience is required. Our summer program is designed for both beginners and experienced debaters. New students learn the fundamentals of argumentation, speaking, and strategy, while experienced students are grouped by level and challenged with advanced skills, real practice rounds, and higher-level strategy.

  • Yes. All sessions are conducted live online, allowing students to participate from anywhere in the world while still receiving real-time instruction, practice, and feedback.

  • Each day includes live skill workshops, guided practice drills, speaking modules, and personalized feedback from coaches, followed by mock debates or strategy challenges to apply what students learn in real time. Check out the sample schedule below.

  • Ascend coaches are nationally accomplished debaters with years of competitive and teaching experience. Students work directly with expert instructors who have competed at the highest levels and know how to accelerate improvement.

Sample Schedule (PT)

  • 2:00–2:20pm | Performance Warm Up & Confidence Training. Quick speaking exercises, mindset coaching, and vocal warm ups to build presence and energy.

  • 2:20–2:50pm | Skill Workshop (Core Debate Concepts). Focused lesson on argument structure, evidence use, refutation, and strategy.

  • 2:50–3:50pm | Guided Drills & Live Practice. Students apply concepts immediately through rapid drills and mini rounds with coach feedback.

  • 3:50–4:00pm | Break

  • 4:00–4:45pm | Speaking & Persuasion Module. Delivery, clarity, confidence, and advanced communication techniques.

  • 4:45–5:20pm | Individual & Small Group Feedback. Personalized coaching on arguments, strategy, and speaking performance.

  • 5:20–6:00pm | Practice Round or Strategy Challenge. Live mock debates, real time judging, and competitive scenarios to build tournament readiness.

    Subject to change: Fun activities and other special Ascend events can change the schedule on any given day.