Calling all parents! Our team is excited to offer a free parent registration with every student who signs up for one of our online camps this summer. The fact is, YOU are an essential member of your student’s competition team. Every late night conversation in the kitchen, every practice round you judge, every bit of feedback you offer will help your student gain a deeper understanding of the resolution, and our league culture will benefit from your expertise!
Camps start this week! It’s not too late to sign up for…
Novice Team Policy, June 26-27 from 9am-12pm CST
Advanced Team Policy, June 26-27 from 1-4pm CST
Novice LD, June 27 from 11am-3pm CST
Advanced LD, June 27 from 11am-3pm CST
We hope to see you there! If you haven’t signed up yet or haven’t checked out ALL the Speech and Debate Camps we are offering this year – check them out – HERE!! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/online-camps/ OR Email anne.lastingimpact@gmail.com with any questions.
Our speech and debate summer camps aren’t just about communication! At Lasting Impact! we focus on connection and community, building friendships across regions and leagues. Our team is thrilled to offer you a wide variety of online camps throughout the summer months. We are offering a variety of ONLINE CAMPS to help you grow, grow, GROW… including camp geared toward COACHES!! And in addition to our Online Camps… we travel!! We have been to over 20 states… including Hawaii! All camps are now open for REGISTRATION, and over the next few weeks we will be introducing you to our elite coaches. We can’t wait for you to join us or contact Anne (anne.lastingimpact@gmail.com) to learn more about hosting a specialized camp in your area!!
Are you at NCFCA Nationals? Come visit us for a chance to meet our summer coaches and win fun prizes! Checking in from home? Reach out to our new Education Programs Director Anne McClure (anne.lastingimpact@gmail.com) to be entered into our drawing for a free coaching session. Here’s to a great summer together!
Summer is often seen as a time to relax, recharge, and step away from the classroom. While rest is important, summer can also be an incredible opportunity for students to develop skills that will benefit them for years to come. At Lasting Impact!, our Summer Speech & Debate Camps are designed to help students grow as communicators, thinkers, leaders, and confident young adults.
The benefits extend far beyond a week of camp. The skills learned through speech and debate become tools students carry into school, college, careers, and everyday life.
Building Confidence One Conversation at a Time
One of the greatest benefits of speech and debate is increased confidence. Students learn how to organize their thoughts, express ideas clearly, and speak in front of others with poise. Whether they are giving a presentation in class, interviewing for a job, auditioning for a show, or speaking at a community event, confidence in communication becomes a lifelong advantage. Research consistently shows that public speaking experiences help students become more comfortable sharing ideas and participating in academic and professional settings.
At camp, students practice in a supportive environment where mistakes are viewed as opportunities to learn. Many participants arrive nervous about speaking and leave eager to share their voices.
Developing Critical Thinking Skills
Speech and debate are much more than standing in front of an audience. Students learn to analyze information, evaluate evidence, consider multiple perspectives, and build logical arguments. These critical thinking skills strengthen performance across academic subjects and help students become thoughtful problem-solvers.
Debate, in particular, challenges students to understand both sides of an issue. Learning how to respectfully disagree, defend a position, and respond thoughtfully to opposing viewpoints prepares students for real-world discussions and decision-making.
Strengthening Research and Writing Abilities
Every great speech or debate begins with research. Students learn how to find credible sources, evaluate information, and support claims with evidence. These skills naturally translate into stronger essays, better class projects, and improved academic performance.
In an age where information is everywhere, the ability to distinguish fact from opinion is more valuable than ever.
Preparing Students for Academic Success
Research has found connections between debate participation and improved academic outcomes, including gains in analytical thinking and language arts performance. Students who participate in speech and debate often become more engaged learners because they are regularly practicing reading, writing, listening, and speaking skills together.
Speech and debate encourage students to think deeply, ask questions, and communicate their ideas effectively—skills that support success in every classroom.
Learning Leadership and Collaboration
While many people picture speech and debate as individual activities, they are also highly collaborative. Students work together to brainstorm ideas, practice presentations, provide feedback, and support one another’s growth. Through these experiences, campers develop leadership skills, teamwork, empathy, and the ability to communicate effectively with people from different backgrounds and perspectives.
These interpersonal skills are essential in both educational and professional environments.
Finding Their Voice
Perhaps the most meaningful outcome of speech and debate is that students discover their voice. They learn that their ideas matter, their perspectives have value, and they can make an impact through effective communication. Educators and coaches often describe speech and debate as one of the most transformative extracurricular experiences because it helps students become active participants in their schools and communities.
For some students, that means becoming a stronger advocate. For others, it means overcoming shyness, developing leadership skills, or simply gaining the confidence to speak up in class.
The Lasting Impact Difference
At Lasting Impact!, our Summer Speech & Debate Camps focus on creating a welcoming, engaging environment where students can challenge themselves, build friendships, and grow as communicators. Through interactive activities, fun competitions, collaborative learning, and personalized coaching, students develop practical skills while having an unforgettable summer experience.
The confidence they gain, the friendships they build, and the communication skills they develop won’t end when camp concludes. Those lessons become part of who they are—creating a lasting impact that extends far beyond the summer months.
This summer, give your student more than just an activity. Give them a voice, a platform, and the confidence to use both.Are you interested in running a camp? Talk to Anne McClure – anne.e.mcclure@gmail.com about bringing a Lasting Impact! Team TO YOU!! Our Online Schedule will be RELEASED SOON!!
Moot Court is alive! After NCFCA decided to discontinue the activity this past year, a few parents and I started the High School Moot Court Association (HSMCA) to facilitate continued Moot competition. You can find more information at our website, hsmca.org.
We started by getting a team together, and we got the best of the best. We have last year’s head of ballot admin, last year’s judge recruiter, a tournament staffer, one of the NCFCA packet writers and editors, two decorated alumni, a practicing attorney, a financial advisor, and myself on the nine-person board.
Then we filed for 501(c)(3) status, and then started doing all the small things that it takes to get a league off the ground: designing a logo; building roles and job descriptions; budgeting; planning a tournament platform; marketing; website design; designing a rulebook.
And at long last, we’re approaching the finish line of the start-up process. But getting the league off the ground is really just step one. The second step is getting students and families involved. So… why should your family be involved in Moot Court? Three reasons come to mind.
Almost everyone I have talked to supports and likes the upcoming NCFCA Team Policy resolution, which addresses reforming Congress. It is because of this overwhelming affirmation, however, I began to realize there may be a slight problem: judge bias. This became exceptionally clear when I started writing a case that tackled term limits. While writing this case, I found a statistic stating that 83 percent of the population supports term limits! This made me realize the vast majority of judges are going enter the round with bias in favor of the Affirmative team. Think about it for a moment… How many people have you spoken with do not think Congress needs to be reformed—in at least one way or another? My guess is most everyone will agree Congress is in need of change. So, what can we do about it? In this article, we are going to examine two primary forms of judge bias and the strategies that play into these biases, we are going to talk about how to counter these biases, and finally, I am going to invite you to join Ethan Tong and I July 31-August 1 for the Lasting Impact Online Team Policy Debate Camp, where we will tackle this issue and so many more! If you haven’t signed up, please plan on doing so through the Lasting Impact website here… or keep reading Roman’s opinion below….
As a coach, I’ve seen countless students walk into a Speech and Debate Camp a little nervous, unsure of what to expect. But by the end of the camp, they’ve transformed—equipped with new skills, fresh strategies, and the confidence to tackle their next competition head-on. If you’re a student considering whether to attend a Speech and Debate Camp – online or in-person or a parent wondering if it’s worth the investment, the answer is a resounding YES! I have countless of reasons why… but here’s just two reasons why: (and remember- we have TWO awesome online debate camps coming up… check them out HERE – https://lastingimpact.info/shop/ )
Are you ready to begin your 2025-2026 speech and debate season? We are too! In fact, we have one camp under our belt and resources busting at the seams! Here is just a short run down of how you can use Lasting Impact! as the number one resource in Speech and Debate this summer and beyond!
Coaching – Have you seen our line up of qualified coaches? Do you want to get a jump start on your season? Schedule a Mental Prep Session. Coaching isn’t just for students either! Did you know we help create syllabus’ for clubs, meet with parents, and coach specific tracks for clubs? Check out COACHING here.
Camps – Like I said we are one camp down, and about a dozen more to go! Lasting Impact! Coaches are traveling nation-wide again to help inspire students (and parents) on the power of communication! Talk to Heather (heather@lastingimpact.info) on more information on hiring a Lasting Impact! Coach. We even offer Online Camps this summer (and they will be recorded)! Moot, TP, LD, and Jump Start Speech… what more could you ask for!?
Speech and Debate Materials – We have AMAZING products! If you haven’t been to the SHOP in a while… go there NOW!
Sourcebooks – Our Debate Guidebooks and Sourcebooks are the BEST! We spend hundreds of hours putting together a product you will want to dig into! And did you know, we created a Summer Prep TP Source just for our NCFCA friends! Great for easy early research or camp!
Don’t forget to sign up for Fall 2025 Clubs/Classes! More will be added this summer… but be sure to check out some of our standards- Online LD, Speech 101, Speech 102, Interpretation Club, Online Apol, Extemporaneous Roundtable and more!
Lasting Impact! is gearing up for the best summer and season ever! We hope you join us!
Lasting Impact! is pleased to announce the early release of two cases for the 2025 debate summer camp season. In the past, we have released a source book near the beginning of August. This year will be no exception, but in addition to this traditional release, we also want to help support your summer research and camps by releasing two high-quality cases early. We will be selling one case for $20 or both early releases for $30 per team. The cases include a 1AC, an AFF backup, and a NEG brief. The two cases are: “Pass the TRUST Act,” which deals with insider trading, and “Pass Congressional Term Limits,” which advocates for term limits on U.S. Representatives and Senators. We have close to 100 pages of research already done for you!!
This summer release is sure to benefit both students and leaders…
• Students: Get a head start diving into the resolution now! This is a fantastic starting point! This source has almost 100 pages ready for you to dive in! Students who are eager to begin researching the topic are going to love these cases, as they explore two topics likely to get a lot of traction this coming season. Students can begin with the case provided, brainstorm arguments, and begin researching additional AFF and NEG support. And just in case you are already going through withdrawal, grab a group of friends over the summer and get in a couple of practice rounds before the fall semester begins. These cases are sure to provide a good starting place for the cases you will run into next season.
• Clubs: Clubs that are looking to understand the resolution better will appreciate the opportunity to dive into two topics sure to offer research opportunities and logical discussions. These cases will also allow for clubs to host summer tournaments or rounds with good, balanced cases that students will be able to debate on both sides. These are shareable… look at payment structure below.
• Camps: These cases are great examples to pair with your camp curriculum as they provide a hands-on example of the stock issues and real-life examples of topics likely to be explored in the coming season. This release is designed to pair well with NCFCA or other curriculum, providing real-life examples to which the students can apply debate theory. These cases are a strong start and could be debated in camp as is. They are not bulletproof, though, which also offers students the opportunity to learn how to research and refine cases to their own preferences, allowing them to be creative and learn the skills of debate!
Hello, NCFCA Debaters, Coaches, and Clubs! Lasting Impact! is eager to announce the release of TWO cases for the 2025 debate summer camp season. We are excited for the upcoming NCFCA season, which will focus on Congressional reforms, and our coaches have been hard at work researching and crafting the quality Lasting Impact! cases you have come to know and love (these may just be some of our best yet)!
In the past, we have released a source book near the beginning of August. This year will be no exception, but in addition to this traditional release, we also want to help support your summer research and camps by releasing two high-quality cases early. We will be selling one case for $20 or both early releases for $30 per team. The cases include a 1AC, an AFF backup, and a NEG brief. The two cases are: “Pass the TRUST Act,” which deals with insider trading, and “Pass Congressional Term Limits,” which advocates for term limits on U.S. Representatives and Senators. We will be using these sample cases in our own Summer Debate Camps!! Speaking of… Looking to dive into a Summer Speech or Debate Camp? Sign up NOW with some of the best speech and debate coaching and materials! Our Online Camps will be recorded! If you are still looking to host a camp… check with Heather to see if a coach can come to you Heather@lastingimpact.info, OR we would encourage you to stop by the Lasting Impact booth at the NCFCA National Championship in Minnesota! We will be on campus and look forward to meeting you! If you would like to see a preview of the NCFCA TP Camp Cases, or our other amazing products or materials – come to our booth (and meet our llama)!! We will have copies of the cases and books available for preview. And don’t forget the SALE going on now… (see previous post for details). As always, we love coming alongside your speech and debate journey!
(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!
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