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!
If you have qualified for NCFCA Nationals and are thinking about how to prepare for that final competition of the season, then a prep group may be right for you. With Regionals now behind you and Nationals finally in sight, it’s important to carry your momentum from the season into that national tournament. This prep group outlined below is designed to examine the cases you will likely see at Nat’s, help you mentally prepare for the competition, and teach you how to build an effective narrative for both aff and neg.
What’s a narrative and why is it important? The story behind your case is often the most important factor in deciding whether you will win or lose a round. If your judge walks out of the competition room with your narrative in mind, chances are you will pick up that ballot. Whether you are talking about a policy or a value, an effective narrative takes your case and connects it to a big idea. This big idea then becomes present throughout every aspect of your round to weave a cohesive narrative throughline.
How is this approach different from other prep groups? This prep group will look a bit different from others offered because we will look at the big ideas and focus on analyzing and crafting narrative strategies. Our goal is not to search for evidence or write a bunch of briefs, but rather to focus on strategic narratives related to the cases you will likely hear at Nats. And prepare you to bring your most persuasive tool into nationals, Your Narrative.
Who will be leading the sessions? This session will be led by Nathanael Kolssak, an NCFCA alum who has continued to coach and compete in speech & debate as a college student. Nathanael competed in NCFCA for seven years in nearly every speech & debate category. He achieved nationally ranked status in speech and debate in both high school and college, and is now a communications major, forensics competitor and assistant coach at Cedarville University. He continues to earn national awards in collegiate debate and has actively coached both Team policy and Lincoln Douglas this year. Nathanael’s approach to debate is idea-driven, as he is a staunch advocate for developing narratives that can captivate judges with a winning storyline.
Learning Objectives ● Identify the top cases expected at Nationals ● Learn what a good narrative looks like and how to build one ● Discuss which cases and strategies perform best in different regions ● Develop narrative strategies for aff and neg ● Build confidence for Nationals
These prep groups would be available for both TP and LD. Geared specifically for students, coaches… tell your students! Are you interested in joining a National Prep group? Contact Nathanael at nkolssak@gmail.com Tell your friends! Make this the best Nats yet!
Opportunities to compete online are all over the place, but how prepared are you? Online competition is a great way to participate in speech and debate without leaving the comforts of your home. But how do you prepare to communicate in this environment? Is it as simple as setting up your computer in your bedroom and showing up to deliver a speech? Our coaching team has been booked the last couple weeks… people realize you have to ADAPT if you are speaking to a camera or computer. It’s just different! If you don’t have time to schedule a coaching call before the next time you compete online, read on for the best tips and tricks from online competition experts who helped many in 2021 succeed…
It’s that time of year again. The Lincoln-Douglas debate resolutions have been released and the family affiliates have been asked to vote. But how are we to decide? This question seems to come up every year, so here are a few metrics that we like to think about when considering the debate resolutions:
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!
Honor Hoffmann has been around speech and debate a long time! I remember her as an eager 12 year old. She had a zest and a zeal for learning, which has not stopped even after she graduated. Now she continues to give back, and has become quite the coach and expert! Her experience, as well as her gifts for teaching blesses our Lasting Impact! community. She wrote our Limited Prep Guide, and is also teaching a Limited Prep Club second semester (sign up NOW). If you want to grow as a competitor or learn more as a parent or coach… sign up for her Club, schedule a coaching call with her, read her book, or read the article below…
My first year of speech and debate, I mainly picked extemp because it was limited prep, and I wanted to put as little time into speech as possible. I was confident that my natural speaking skills would carry the day, regardless of my level of preparation.
At my first tournament, I got a cold splash of reality. Nearly all the extempers in the prep room were seniors, they were the excessively analytical types that wore bow ties and actually understood economic theories, and a large percentage were tall and imposing guys. Needless to say, I got slaughtered on every ballot that year.
Yet despite the reputation Extemp has received as a category for older students who are into research, I’m convinced that every speech and debater would benefit from trying extemp. Why? Here are three big reasons:
We are in full gear of the 2024 Tournament Season! Are you reading those ballots and feeling like you just need a little more push, edge, or inspiration!? Join a Lasting Impact! Club for all of the above, including GROWTH and fellowship! Second Semester Clubs are geared for the competition! Our coaches are actively involved in tournaments, judging, watching, understanding the elements of Speech and Debate, and what trends are trending. Are you looking for a little more this season? Sign up for one or more of the club below…
Speech 102 – Heather Neumann , along with public speaking pros, will be helping students take a deeper dive into their speeches. Students will practice and hone their speeches and receive feedback.
FAST TRACK – Interp – A six week course on quickly on creating a piece. There’s no reason not to jump into an interpretive speech this season! Why not start NOW!
LD Strategies – Ethan Tong will lead students deeper through the NCFCA resolution. This will be the place to be for extra practice, analysis, and growth!
Limited Prep Club – This eight week course with Honor Hoffmann will help you navigate the limited prep events – Apologetics, Extemporaneous, and Impromptu Speaking. These three events take practice! And typically more than just at a tournament! Come gain insight into these valuable events!
All clubs will be recorded, if you can’t make it. But as always, you will get the most out of being present! Tell your friends! Head to the SHOP and sign up NOW! Looking for more individual growth? Sign up for a one on one Coaching Session or a Script Assessment HERE. We look forward to seeing you soon!
Heart pounding. Palms sweating. Timer beeping. Pause. “Judges Ready?” Although the long, grueling days of speech and debate tournaments are behind me, these words manage to strike a peculiar chord of nostalgia and trepidation. From the first few tournaments when I competed via parental encouragement to the last tournaments when I remember thinking I’d miss these days. My speech and debate career ranged from sheer terror to apprehensive excitement. And even though I received a fair share of awards and plaques, I don’t think there was ever a speech I gave in my entire speech and debate career in which I didn’t tremble uncontrollably. Now, as a seasoned college student, I have noticed my speech and debate training come flying in at the most opportune times. And I’m wildly thankful for it…
Richard Green runs a Speech and Debate Club in Tennessee. His specialty- Lincoln Douglas Debate. This summer he tackled the NCFCA resolution and ran a summer debate camp. Here’s his approach any time he tackles a new resolution…
We spent a lot of time on this year’s GuideS… that’s right! We have TWO LD GUIDES. Take advantage of the bundled price (only $40) up until the end of the weekend. Go to the SHOP now, or hear what recent graduate and National LD Finalist, Lasting Impact Team Member, Kaeley Whitacre had to say about this resolution. I gave her the task of tackling it, as if she were still a competitor…
If you are a student, parent, club leader, or coach… Lasting Impact! is here to assist you in your speech and debate journey! This year will be our biggest Lincoln Douglas year ever! From clubs/classes – intro to advanced, to casebooks to guide books, to one on one coaching, to clubs. We are here for you! We coach all leagues… you should check out everything we offer…
Intro to LD with Peter Montgomery (not league specific)
LD Fundamentals with Nathanael and Hillary Kolssak
LD Strategies with Ethan Tong
Advanced LD with Noah McKay
Stoa LD with Charis Baker
NCFCA LD Guide Book Bundle – 2 Guides!!
Stoa LD – 5 Resolution Casebook
Head to the SHOP to see all the resources and how we can assist you!
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