Week 1 at a Glance
Typical Daily Schedule for Week One: Learning, Leadership, and Fun
Get ready for an exciting week filled with learning, leadership, and fun at Capitol Debate summer camps! During the first week, students will follow a typical daily schedule that includes breakfast at 8am for residential students, 8:30am check-in for commuters, followed by morning announcements and leadership exercises at 9am. They'll dive into public speaking and debate lessons in the morning, learning new skills and putting them into practice.
After lunch at noon, the afternoon will be filled with practicing speeches and debates, and engaging in team-building exercises. Commuter students head home at 5pm, while residential students will have dinner at 5pm.
But the fun doesn't stop there! In the evenings, we'll have organized activities such as sports, ping pong, shooting pool, playing cards, and board games. And at 8:30pm, students get to hang out and unwind with their new friends, watch TV, and enjoy some downtime. We end each day with a room check at 10 p.m.It's all about creating a dynamic and stimulating environment where students can develop their skills, build their confidence, and make lasting memories. So join us for an incredible experience that your child will never forget!
Opening Sunday - Kick Off Your Experience: Residential Check-In
On Sunday, our residential students will check in between 6 and 8 pm and participate in fun icebreakers and activities from 8 to 10 pm. This is a great opportunity for your child to settle in, make new friends, and get a sense of our residential living program. We aim to create a welcoming and inclusive environment where your child can thrive and enjoy their experience at camp.
Monday - The Power of Voice: Building Confidence and Effective Communication
Today's theme is "The Power of Voice: Building Confidence and Effective Communication". This theme captures the essence of what we aim to achieve at our camps, which is to provide students with the skills they need to become confident, articulate, and persuasive communicators. Throughout the day, students will focus on three key areas: confidence, vocal delivery, and knowledge of the debate topic. The confidence lesson will teach students how to use positive self-talk to increase focus, concentration, and performance. In the voice and tone lesson, students will learn the key qualities of effective delivery, including volume, pitch, rate, pauses, vocal variety, and pronunciation/articulation. These skills will help students deliver a natural, enthusiastic, and confident speaking voice that is connected to the audience.
Tuesday - Beyond Words: The Power of Nonverbal Cues and Effective Research in Public Speaking
In today's lessons, we'll be focusing on two essential skills: nonverbal communication and research. Nonverbal communication is critical for creating an impactful message, and our experienced instructors will teach your child how to use nonverbal cues such as posture, eye contact, hand gestures, and other cues to accentuate their ideas and make their speeches more effective. Our research lesson will help your child develop their ability to find credible sources, synthesize information, and craft a well-supported argument. By the end of the day, your child will have developed a deeper understanding of these key skills and be better equipped to craft a compelling message that resonates with their audience.
Wednesday - Building a Powerful Argument: Crafting Credibility and Structure
Welcome to Day 4 of Capitol Debate Summer Camp! Today, we'll be focusing on building a powerful argument by crafting credibility and structure. In the argument structure lesson, students will learn how to create a winning argument by exploring the components of a basic argument structure, such as the claim, warrant, and impact. They will learn how to support their claims with various forms of reasoning and evidence, such as statistics, quotations, and physical evidence. In our ethos lesson, your child will learn how to establish credibility and sound confident in debates and public speaking. By the end of the day, your child will have gained valuable knowledge and experience that they can use to build a powerful argument and persuade their audience.
Thursday - Crafting a Compelling Speech: Mastering Extemporaneous Delivery and Powerful Openings and Closings
Welcome to Day 4 of Capitol Debate Summer Camp! Today, we're excited to focus on crafting a compelling speech by mastering extemporaneous delivery and powerful openings and closings. In our extemporaneous speaking class, students learn how to deliver speeches without a manuscript or memorization, using cue words on a notecard to guide their delivery and adapt their message to their audience. This skill demonstrates expertise on a topic, impresses audiences, and is highly valued by professors and employers alike. In our class on writing a powerful opening and closing, your child will learn how to engage their audience from the start with a compelling introduction and leave a lasting impression with a powerful conclusion. By the end of the day, your child will have gained valuable knowledge and experience that they can use to deliver a compelling and memorable speech that resonates with their audience.
Friday - Persuasive Speech Day: Showcasing Public Speaking Skills
On Friday of Week 1, our students will put all their public speaking skills to the test as they deliver their very own persuasive speech on the debate topic. This is their chance to show off everything they have learned so far, from delivering a powerful opening and memorable conclusion to using their voice and body language to persuade an audience. Students will demonstrate their mastery of articulation, vocal variety, intonation, eye contact, hand gestures, and body movements. By using the supporting materials they have learned, such as analogies, personal stories, historical examples, and pop culture, they will convince their audience that their position on the debate topic is the correct one. This is a chance for students to showcase their newfound confidence and public speaking skills, as they take their first step into the world of debate.
Saturday - Mastering Refutation: Strengthening Critical Thinking Skills
Welcome to Day 7 of Capitol Debate Summer Camp! Your child has already developed a persuasive speech on the debate topic, showcasing their skills in public speaking and persuasion. Now, we're taking the next step and diving deeper into the world of debate by teaching students how to effectively refute their opponents' cases. In our Refutation lesson, students learn the importance of responding to their opponents' arguments in a persuasive and effective manner. They learn to identify opponents' assumptions and find the fault in their arguments. They also learn how to deconstruct opponents' arguments by breaking them down into their elements and developing counterarguments. Students will use various techniques such as brainstorming, researching, and organizing responses on notecards to effectively refute their opponents' arguments. They also learn to signpost their responses and present their arguments in a logical order.
Sunday - Rest and Relaxation: A Well-Deserved Break for Our Hardworking Students
Welcome to Sunday, the day of rest for our hardworking Capitol Debate Summer Camp students! After a full week of learning, practicing, and honing their public speaking and debate skills, our students have earned a well-deserved break. Residential students get to enjoy the luxury of sleeping in until noon, while our commuter students have the day off.
On Sunday afternoon, students get to enjoy a day of fun and games during our Field Day. They can participate in a variety of activities such as relay races, obstacle courses, and team building exercises. This is a perfect opportunity for students to relax, let loose, and build camaraderie with their fellow debaters.
On Sunday night, our students get to showcase their talents and skills in our annual talent show. Whether it's singing, dancing, comedy, or magic tricks, students are encouraged to let their creativity shine. This is a great opportunity for them to relax, have fun, and celebrate.
Monday - Week 2 The Art of Cross-Examination and Active Listening: Refining Debate Skills for Success.
As we continue our journey in developing our students into exceptional debaters, we focus on two crucial skills: Cross-Examination and Listening. In the Cross- Examination class, students will learn a powerful tool for obtaining and clarifying information, getting admissions from their opponent, furthering their own argument, and lowering their opponent's credibility. They will be taught how to strategically ask questions that will set up their own argument or challenge their opponent's reasoning and supporting evidence, all while being respectful and maintaining their own credibility. Students will also learn the importance of style elements, such as standing up straight, facing the judge, and sounding confident, in order to convey leadership and engage the audience. The ability to listen carefully to an opponent's argument is vital to crafting a compelling response. That's why we teach our students the importance of actively listening.
Tuesday - Week 2 Sealing the Deal: Mastering the Art of the Closing Speech
Today, student will learn the power of a strong closing speech. During the closing speech of a debate, students must deliver a persuasive argument and emphasize their strongest points. They should start with a hook, restate their best argument, and attack their opponent's strongest argument while considering weighing calculus. Students should convey passion and conviction, appeal to emotions, and frame the debate to ensure the judge understands what to consider. To practice, students can work on their opening statements, play the "Even If" game, create competing worlds, and brainstorm framing ideas for both sides.
Wednesday - Week 2 Proving Our Skills: The Debate Tournament and Celebration of Success
At the end of the camp, students will have the opportunity to participate in a small debate tournament where they can put all their skills together in a friendly and non-stressful competition. This tournament will give them a chance to apply everything they have learned, from good public speaking to credibility, refutation, closing, and cross-examination. The goal is not to stress the students but to allow them to showcase their abilities in a supportive and encouraging environment.
Through this tournament, students can gain valuable experience in debate and learn how to use their skills effectively in a competitive setting. They will have the opportunity to engage with other students, learn from their opponents, and refine their techniques. This is a great opportunity for students to gain confidence in their abilities and further develop their critical thinking and communication skills.
Thursday - Week 2 Showcasing Growth for Family and Friends: The End of Camp Performance and Recognition Ceremony
On the last day of camp, students have the opportunity to showcase their newly acquired skills to their parents. The day begins with a final showcase where students can demonstrate their skills in public speaking, refutation, closing, and cross-examination. After the showcase, there is an awards ceremony where students' progress and achievements are recognized. The camp video is also shown, highlighting the two weeks of learning and growth.
Following the ceremony, students check out of the dorms and have the chance to exchange contact information and social media accounts with their fellow campers. This allows them to maintain the friendships they have developed during their time at camp. The day provides a positive and celebratory end to the camp experience.