(Sign up for the final Moot Camp today!! It’s just around the corner––August 17th and 19th. It’s so much fun every year, and campers always express being grateful they decided to come.) https://lastingimpact.info/product/camp22585/
I’m a Moot Coach, so I hear a lot of people’s thoughts on the event. But oddly enough, the most common objection I hear to competing in Moot is not “idk, it looks scary.” It’s not “I dunno, it doesn’t look fun,” or even “I don’t have a partner.” No––the overwhelming #1 objection is “I don’t have time for it. I’m too busy this year.”
The last time Nationals was held at Anderson University was 2019, my senior year. That year, my Moot partner and I had aspirations of making the final round. We had fully memorized our speeches and were the top seed at a previous National Open.
But when breaks were announced, the team of EJ Rorem and Ethan Tong wasn’t announced. As we’d later find out, we went 3-5 (there used to be 4 rounds with 2 judges each). Though we both got Oral Advocate awards later that week, it was a small consolation. We wanted to be in finals. And that was our last chance… (Keep reading to find out what I learned at Moot Court Nationals and why you should try Moot…)
Summer is underway, which means summer camps are on the mind! Lasting Impact! is travelling to around a dozen states (and online!) this summer, and we encourage you to make it to one of them! And if your club doesn’t have a camp yet… we still have a few weeks open for travel!
Why come to a Lasting Impact! Camp, when there are so many other great camps? Here are six reasons why we think you can’t go wrong with Lasting Impact!, whether it’s for camp, coaching, or clubs…
Over a Decade of Experience
Lasting Impact! has been around for over a decade serving Speech and Debate families with quality speech and debate resources. We’ve had the opportunity to coach, watch, and walk alongside some of highest quality competitors of years past. We’ve seen what works and what doesn’t work. And we want to pass this knowledge on to you! We also don’t just work with the elect! We will meet you exactly where you are… whether you are a student, parent, coach, or club!
Coaches Who are Active in the League
The coaches Lasting Impact! hires are not just bygone champions of old who used to be elite but are now out of touch with the “meta” strategies of the league. On the contrary! They’re alumni and adult coaches who have come back to judge tournament after tournament, coaching clubs, and giving private lessons to students. They have contributed to curriculum, teach classes, and have created resources for you to use! In fact, we pride ourselves by walking alongside you on your journey, as well as the leagues.
Balancing Teaching with Fun
As a former competitor, Ethan Tong says, “I’ve been to camps where the lecturer drones on and on for an hour, teaching impact calculus or federal court system economics. So when we teach, we always try to keep things fun.” And our students appreciate the balance. After a Lasting Impact! Moot Court camp last year, Gabe Zylstra said, “The camp has a really great balance of being goofy and fun while also covering useful material.” Not only do we bring fun into camps, our clubs provide a variety of ways to keep students engaged!
Meet Your Private Coaches Early
Lasting Impact! coaches coach privately throughout the year. Ethan Tong has personally coached over 250 sessions last year! We also teach clubs and classes, helping you to connect with a variety of ideas. Our camps will give you a taste for what could be in store for your season.
A Passion for Excellence
At Lasting Impact!, we’re not content with giving you a mediocre camp experience. We want to give you the best camp experience you’ve had. We work tirelessly behind the scenes, writing cases for camp, preparing examples, finding good demo rounds, and communicating with each other to bring you an exciting, informative camp. Cooper Cobbs, a camper last year, said “I honestly thought this was one of the best speech and debate related camps I’ve attended.” That’s our goal!
6. Christ Focused. We are here to remind you that we are all lumps of clay… Hopefully ready to be molded into His image. We need to be prepared for what HE has in store for us. The journey with speech and debate is a very personal one, and He wants to use us! We hope that coming to a Lasting Impact! Camp will be a good reminder of that.
If you’re in the area, want to look into an online camp (our ONLINE LD STARTS TOMORROW and ONLINE TP IS NEXT WEEK), or want to request our coaches swing by your state this summer, don’t hesitate to reach out! And would you believe summer coaching has already started!? Head to the SHOP to see what Lasting Impact! has to offer… coaching, camps, clubs, and resources galore!
Yes, we know your National Championship might have just ended… but we can’t wait to jump back in again! Join our team – Ethan Tong, Nathanael Kolssak, and Drew Swanberg, as they break down these events, as well as dig deeper for the more experienced competitor. Parents or Club Leaders are welcome to join us, as well! If you can’t make it to a in person debate camp this summer… this is where you want to be! Sign up NOW! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/online-camps/
Are you ready to transform your speaking skills and win arguments not just in competitions but in life? This summer, dive into the exhilarating world of speech and debate through our specially designed camps!
Whether you’re a novice eager to learn the basics or an experienced debater aiming to refine your skills, we have something for everyone. Our camps are not just about learning; they’re about experiencing a journey of personal growth, critical thinking, and loads of fun!
Why Join Our Camps?
Expert Guidance: Learn from seasoned instructors who are passionate about speech and debate and have years of competitive and coaching experience.
Dynamic Workshops: Participate in interactive workshops that cover everything from debate – crafting compelling arguments to the fine art of persuasion or speech – mastering the cut or characters in an Interp.
Peer Learning: Meet other enthusiastic speech and debaters from all walks of life and levels of experience. Exchange ideas, practice together, and forge friendships that last a lifetime.
Competitive Edge: Get equipped with strategies that set you apart in local, national, and even international competitions.
Fun Activities: It’s not all serious! Enjoy fun activities and games designed to boost your public speaking confidence in a relaxed environment.
Our camps are offered ONLINE, as well set in inspiring locations across the country, hosted by local clubs that trust us to help you be your guide. Locations include…
Are you ready to join us this summer? And you ready to step up your game? Spots are limited, and our camps are filling up fast. Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this transformative experience. Register now and start your journey to becoming a better equipped speech and debater!
Don’t see a location you can get to? Want to host your own camp? For more details and to register, visit our camp page – HERE or contact Heather at heather@lastingimpact.info
Embrace the challenge, enjoy the camaraderie, and leave with skills that will empower you for life. We can’t wait to welcome you to our Speech and Debate camps this summer!
We are in the thick of summer planning! One of the many things we do is come to YOU! Local families, coaches, or clubs invite The Lasting Impact! Team to come in a provide your local area with all of the latest, up to date speech and debate materials to help equip students and to jump start them into the world of speech and debate! Whether students are brand new, you are trying to motivate your reluctant debater, you are trying to grow your club, or you are looking for a fresh new perspective with energy, excitement, and passion for students learning the art of communication… we are here for you! Our summer camps are geared toward the needs of your local area! We customize every camp and send the top coaches! Last year we went to over a dozen locations nationwide! Where are we going this year? The list we be out SOON! Oh- and don’t worry, if we can’t come to your area… we will have summer online options as well!
Do you want to join the Lasting Impact! Summer Tour? We are looking for team members! Do you want the Lasting Impact! Team to come to your area? We have some space available!
Do you know what the most underrated skill gained from speech and debate is???
The skill is not one that likely jumps to the top of your mind. Yes, speech and debate are great for developing critical thinking, vocabulary, public speaking, advanced nonverbal, interpersonal communication, research, leadership, and problem-solving skills, however, there is one more – let’s call it skill nine – that is absolutely worth highlighting… [Insert drum roll here]… self-awareness.
MEMBERSHIP PRiCES for ALL – through the 4th of July!! Our Online Camps are LESS THAN $100 (see below for details on the discounts). Sign up today for Lasting Impact! Online Camps, they will provide – amazing information, instruction, and inspiration! And, as always, the recording is FREE! Running a Club this year? Club Leaders are also welcome to attend! Learn and glean from top notch coaches to walk away with a jump start on the season making progress towards success!
Ethan Tong said, “Some of my fondest memories of High School Speech and Debate were the summer camps: hanging out with friends, not understanding how much I was learning, with little to no pressure to perform well. I remember one camp in Wisconsin where I was doing a practice round. One of the camp coaches was judging. I could not finish a single sentence without stuttering and saying ums all over the place––despite it being my 2nd year competing. I was so embarrassed that I literally said, in my speech, “I’m sorry, I promise I’m usually not this bad”!”
The great thing about camps is that you’re allowed to make mistakes and not be on your best game. You need to remember- you go to camp to learn, grow, and explore!
Lasting Impact! is offering summer speech and debate camps all over the country – including Hawaii! But did you know we also are providing some AMAZING speech and debate opportunities ONLINE this summer?? We are offering ONLINE DEBATE – in three different events––TP, LD, and Moot Court–– and ONLINE SPEECH! We guarantee they will help you learn the elements to get you started on the road to progress. By heading to a summer camp you are guaranteed to be further ahead than if you didn’t! We, at Lasting Impact!, are all about the process and progress over the perfection! If you can’t make it to an in person camp this summer… check out these online options…
TP and LD Camp – (TP – July 10-11/LD – July 12-13) These are called “Principles of TP” and “Principles of LD” because we will not just teach you how to succeed in a particular resolution, but how to succeed in any resolution. Coach Ethan Tong and Coach Nathanael Kolssak will teach you the principles of debate that all nationally-ranked debaters use. They are not only experienced coaches and past competitors, but they are also experienced judges! Therefore, they will be able to give you tips from the other side of the table and tell you what judges like and what they don’t like. Click HERE and enter the Code – DISCOUNT2310 for $25 OFF!!
Moot Camp – (July 26-27 or Aug. 4-5) This camp is geared for beginners and advanced. Beginners will cover…
⁃What is Moot Court? ⁃What To Do When Cracking Open the Packet ⁃Case Writing 101 ⁃Responding to Questions 101 ⁃2023 Packet Discussion ⁃…and more!
The advanced track will cover: ⁃Improving at Moot ⁃Case Writing 201: Compelling Intros and Conclusions ⁃Mastering the Rebuttal ⁃2023 Packet Discussion Click HERE. And enter the Code- DISCOUNT2310 for $10 OFF!!
Jump Start Speech – (July 17) Heather Neumann will lead students of all levels to get a kick start for the upcoming season. Through class time and engaging activities, Heather will break down all the speech categories, teach the benefits of speech and debate, and dispel various myths. Even the most apprehensive students will walk away with a foundation, and the varsity students will be inspired! Click HERE. And enter the Code- DISCOUNT2310 for $10 OFF!!
Do you need a camp to do well? No, not necessarily, but our camps will have value. You have the opportunity to start your journey NOW! Begin the process NOW. Oh––and one more thing: we promise these camps will be fun. Yes, they’re online. But we use high energy, humor, games, activities, and everything in our power to make these camps some of the best you’ve ever been to. Just hear what a Moot Court camper said:
“The energy was immaculate, the feedback was top tier, and the way the coaches handled everything (from jokes to lectures to drills to giving tips) exceeded my already high expectations greatly. Would 100% pay again. 10/10.”
Are you subscribed to receive our blog posts? Have you signed up to find out the latest sales, information, updates, etc? It’s on the right side of our HOME page. It says – EMAIL ME WHEN YOU POST. You don’t have to be a member to be notified when we post a new blog, offer a class, or create a new product (which we did all of the above this past month).
Our summer newsletter should be in your inbox. Find out all the happenings! Summer is flying by! Make the most of your summer speech and debate prep by …
Reading Articles – Did you know we have over 500 blog posts?
Isaiah Depp competed in Speech and Debate for four years. He began reluctantly, but found a passion for articulating his thoughts, debating arguments, and processing ideas. He was blessed to study under a few master coaches, including Isaiah McPeak and Laurie Dawson. He submerged himself into a deep dive learning process uncovering everything he could from researching an argument, to actually understanding the other side and presenting cases. Isaiah enjoys thinking through the ideas and with new NCFCA resolution out, he thought, “why not dive into it?” and below are his initial thoughts…Enjoy!
Can you believe it’s mid-June? Can you believe I have had coaching sessions already for fall 2023?! I’m not going to lie- I love summer prep! I love the enthusiasm that comes with tackling new resolutions, speech ideas, and the inspiration that comes from simply seeking His will.
Are you feeling ready for what the new speech and debate season has in store? If you are feeling unequipped, unsettled, or uninspired – join Lasting Impact! to get energized!!
The latest Lasting Impact! Resource full of beginner, intermediate, and advanced tips to help you grow in your limited prep speaking. Including Impromptu, Mars Hill, Extemporaneous, and Apologetics.
Books and Resources!
Coming Soon! TP Sourcebook, LD Guide, and NEW Debate Packets!
Interp Club with Heather Neumann and Lynda DePasacreda
Limited Prep with Ethan Tong
Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz
LD Fundamentals with Hillary and Nathanael Kolssak
LD Strategies with Ethan Tong
Intermediate LD with Peter Montgomery
LD Roundtable with Noah McKay
TP Foundations with Emalyn George
Advanced TP with Eric Meinerding
Extemp Roundtable
We can’t wait to see you again, meet for the first time, come alongside you and GROW, EQUIP, INSPIRE, and IMPACT! As always, we are cheering you on, and remember- you got this… cuz He’s got you!
One more time! After a whirl wind of Speech Camps, I decided to run one more… for anyone that didn’t make it to an in-person camp… for any new coach that wants to learn how I teach, for any family who wants to jump in and explore what Speech looks like! I will be mostly breaking down the three types of speeches we see in Speech and Debate, the myths, why we should do them, and how to go about them. Special emphasis will be put on the new events – Interp in a Box, Biblical Presentation, and After Dinner Speaking. Whether you want an overview, a fresh new take, or an inspiring afternoon. Come hang out with me… click HERE to sign up. Or go to – https://lastingimpact.info/product/camps10241/
The recording will be FREE to those who sign up. For questions contact heather@lastingimpact.info
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