Register for Fall Classes/Clubs Now!

We are wrapping up the summer Speech and Debate Camp Circuit – otherwise known as the Impact! Tour! Our team went from north, south, east, and west… from HI to NJ, FL to WI! And we aren’t done yet!
Fall is right around the corner and we are ready to help prepare you and your student for what the Lord has next! We are excited to offer OVER 10 CLASSES/CLUBS this fall! We have an AMAZING LINEUP – for all leagues, ages 10 and up! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/

  • Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz
  • Intro to LD with Peter Montgomery
  • Fundamentals LD with Hillary and Nathanael Kolssak
  • Strategy LD with Ethan Tong
  • Adv LD with Noah McKay
  • Intro to TP with Emalyn Sharp
  • Adv TP with Eric Meinerding
  • Extemp Roundtable with Eric Meinerding
  • Limited Prep with Ethan Tong
  • Apologetics with Noah McKay
  • Intro to Inter with Heather Neumann and Lynda DePasacreta
  • Speech 101 with Heather Neumann
  • Speech 102 with Heather Neumann

Our team has years of experience and are excited to share YOUR journey in the art of communication through Speech and Debate with YOU! In addition to our Lasting Impact! Online Clubs, did you know that our team coaches local clubs? Contact Heather@lastingimpact.info for club pricing. Sign up for fall now- and make the most of the 2023-24 season!

Happy 4th SALE! Online Speech and Debate Camps – Membership Prices for ALL!

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.”

Sign Up Today!

Ready, Set, (Speech and Debate) Summer!

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!!

Online Summer Camps! 

In Person Summer Camps!

One on One Coaching! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/services/ 

  • There’s nothing like a coaching session to give you accountability for the summer! 

Over 400 Articles!

  • Look through all our past articles to see what past coaches, competitors, even National Champions wanted to share with us!

New! Limited Prep Guide! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club15091/ 

  • 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!

And don’t forget Fall Clubs are right around the corner… sign up now! Space is limited! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/ 

  • Speech 101 with Heather Neumann
  • Speech 102 with Heather Neumann
  • 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!

Summer Speech and Debate Prep With Us!

Ok- maybe we are a bit premature! Some of you haven’t been to your National Championship, yet! But REGISTRATION IS GOING ON NOW! Lasting Impact! aims to empower students with the skills of effective communication and teamwork through the avenues of debate and public speaking. Check out what you can sign up for by going to the SHOP ( https://lastingimpact.info/shop/ )or read the list below…

  • In Person Camps! The Impact! Tour is topping at over 10 locations from HI to FL! We love partnering with clubs and are excited to bring energy and fun and quality coaching to your home town! We still have some dates available, if your state isn’t on the list, contact us!
  • Summer Sessions! https://lastingimpact.info/product/club15065/ We added something new to the mix this year! Online weekly encouragement to boost students, parents, coaches, and clubs! Every Monday night for ten weeks we will dig into the topics you want to hear about. We’ve invited special guests, as well as our coaches for you to hear the latest ideas and inspiration. Sessions include…
  • How to get started in Speech and Debate 
  • Overview of Resolutions 
  • How to Research 
  • Picking Topics
  • The Ins and Outs of Expository or Digital Presentations 
  • Purposeful Practicing 
  • Running Clubs/Club Leading
  • And More!

No time for summer prep!? We have that covered too! Fall classes and clubs are filling up! https://lastingimpact.info/product-category/clubs/ And more classes will be added! Classes include…

  • Debate Readiness 
  • Speech 101
  • Speech 102
  • Fundamentals of LD
  • Fundamentals of Limited Prep
  • TP Basics
  • And More!

We, at Lasting Impact! have a passion for the Art of Communication! We are excited for what the Lord has in store for young people, and want to help them understand the value and power they have to IMPACT and inspire! If you aren’t seeing something you want contact heather@lastingimpact.info

A Recipe for Regionals or The National Championship

Ahhh- yes, another baking recipe article from someone who does not like to cook or bake, but I do know how to write a speech, coach a speech, teach public speaking, and prepare for the next level of speech and debate competition! 

Whether you are heading to your Regional Championship, National Championship, or simply the last chance to achieve your goals, it’s time to relook at your speeches and make sure they have some key ingredients…

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Why Compete in Speech and Debate? By: Emalyn (Sharp) George

What’s Your Focus?

This part of the season is particularly stressful. The last qualifiers are passing by, spelling the end of the season for some, and the road to Regionals for others. Exhaustion sets in as energy starts to run low. You have been giving these speeches and researching for debate for four months now, if not more. You trade social activities for brief building, and spend your time talking to walls in an attempt to get your accents perfected. After months of competition and being scrutinized by judges and submitting yourself to emotional and physical exhaustion for three to four days straight, you are likely worn out.

Why are you doing this Speech and Debate activity? 

Continue reading “Why Compete in Speech and Debate? By: Emalyn (Sharp) George”

Platform Checklist

If you have ever spent hours writing a speech only to have it be wordy, factual, or even like an essay, this platform checklist is for YOU!  It can be tricky to clearly and concisely convey your points in an exciting way without the so-called “meat”, main points, or the body of your speech being lost. Heather Neumann has created step-by-step guide (and the worksheet/handout is even included in the Speech Grab and Go Guide - HERE), you’ll not only be checking off each box but wowing your audience and judges! Heather has taught and coached thousands of students, including Ted Talk speakers, she knows what a good speech looks like and how to keep the audience’s attention! Perhaps going through this list you will realize what your speech is missing…

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Learn to Think Like Your Opponent: Why Debaters Thrive in the Real World by: Liliana Zylstra

Could the skills learned in high school speech and debate be part of the solution to the culture’s ideological conflict and political division? I believe the answer is yes. Participating in debate is the best way to learn one crucial skill that is incredibly needed and often overlooked. Debate requires students to fairly evaluate views that they don’t hold…

Continue reading “Learn to Think Like Your Opponent: Why Debaters Thrive in the Real World by: Liliana Zylstra”

Spring 2023 With Lasting Impact! Register NOW!

We, at Lasting Impact!, are excited to jump into 2023! Join us as we learn, explore, and make Lasting Impacts! through speech and debate! This spring Lasting Impact! is offering multiple opportunities for students to expand their skills! 

Are you looking to up your speech and debate game? This winter/spring Lasting Impact! is hosting a number of different online clubs, including Extemp Roundtable with Marc Davis, Literary Analysis and Speech 101 with Heather Neumann, Apologetics and Foundational LD Debate with Noah McKay and starting in February Limited Prep with Honor Hoffman and Debate Readiness with Amy Eichholz! Our coaches have years of experience, knowledge and are actively involved with the leagues and speech and debate community. Our clubs provide not only educational material but general life skills, such as communication, analytical skills, timeline goals, and the ability to give and receive feedback from fellow peers. Clubs are a wonderful way to gain insight, knowledge, and help prepare you for the 2023 tournaments, and beyond! We are proudly a Christian-based organization mentoring students through a biblical worldview. 

Here’s what people are saying,

“Heather combines next-door warmth with canny insight, creating classes and opportunities for students and parents that perfectly meet needs in an enthusiastic, always-encouraging, Christ-focused way. How grateful we are for Lasting Impact!” – Missy 

 “Lasting Impact! fosters an encouraging and creative environment for multiple ages, providing students across America and beyond with a solid foundation of principles and skills that will be used time and time again!” – John

 “Being clear, logical, articulate, and winsome are qualities fast-fading in our culture, so we need to cultivate them. Lasting Impact! taught my student how research with legitimate sources, how to use logical analysis, and how to communicate calmly and persuasively.” – Kristi 

“As a new student in the speech and debate world, I am very thankful for my coaches at Lasting Impact! They prepared me better than I ever thought possible!” – Isaiah

We would love to have you join us in preparing to leave a Lasting Impact! For more information on specific clubs or to register please visit our Shop. See you soon! 

The Exploratory Stage – Choosing a Topic by: Alaina Hoyt


Whether taking a High School Speech class or preparing to compete in Nationals, choosing the right speech topic can seem daunting. Topic possibilities are endless, ranging from persuasive platforms to abstract interps! The thousands of choices swirling like a storm through your mind or scribbled on your notes may make your head spin, but they don’t have to. Using these principles will provide you with a step-by-step map for any situation, always resulting in the same destination: success. Don’t allow yourself to rush through or be intimidated by, what Heather Neumann calls, The Exploratory Stage

Continue reading “The Exploratory Stage – Choosing a Topic by: Alaina Hoyt”

Online Speech Camp – This Week! Sign Up NOW!

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

The Advantages of Starting Early in Speech and Debate by: Brendan McDonald

The year I first broke in debate was my third year competing. My previous two years of competition had been my formative years of speaking, and I was ready to break through. But I needed a push; I needed to start earlier!

Organized practice debating pushed me across the finish line.

This coming debate season, make the pledge:  No more first tournament icebreaking.

If you’re a young debater or are having trouble breaking, you should consider practicing debate in the fall (months before the first tournament) as much as possible…

Continue reading “The Advantages of Starting Early in Speech and Debate by: Brendan McDonald”