Climb the Mountain Camps

Climb the Mountain

Debate Camp

Climb the Mountain has been at the forefront of speaking and debating. Jim Hanson has hosted well over 200 in-person and online debate tournaments and our after school program has brought in 1000+ students this academic year. We are ready to provide a great experience for the 2022 Camps!

Our Camps are Online but we will also offer a separate option to participate in-person at Seattle University in a tournament on Saturday right after the last day of camp. Students can do this tournament online or in-person. You'll be able to register for the Seattle University tournament later.

YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)

Why Climb Camps?

Join us for an immersive experience!

Communicate about important issues.
Learn important communication skills. Express yourself. Organize your thoughts. Be more effective in presentations and discussions and when you have your own thoughts on an issue.
Finish with the materials, practice with experts, and knowledge of how to be an effective, winning debater.
Meet people interested in what you are interested in, learn about important subjects.
We offer programs that fit your needs if you have or don't have experience. Join us for fun and learning.
Low Cost, Great Staff, Individualized attention

This camp is excellent for...

Younger students with no or just a little experience who want to speak well and discuss important issues achieved with step by step, supportive instruction.
Students in our afterschool programs who want a more intensive experience and the joy of speech and debate in the summer!
Coaches who want to learn effective ways to coach events, judge in the most educational way, and run a program efficiently.

YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)

Why Climb Camp is a good choice for...

Program Dates & Fees

EVERYONE

The Camp is online experience gives the ability to join with others at the camp and improve your skills while you interact with other students just like you would in classes and outside of classes. Plus no driving to the event every day.

You can choose to participate In-Person or Online for a tournament on Saturday for all participants in all of our events. (Saturday July 22 and Saturday August 19)

Registration and payment for this option will be separate and will be provided later.

YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)

Why Climb Camp

Program Dates & Fees

Fees

THESE ARE 2023 FEES
Elementary Debate Camp: $259
Elementary Speaking Camp: $279
Middle School Debate Camp: $439
Middle School Speaking Camp: $279
High School Debate Camp: $599
High School Speaking Camp: $279
Congress Camp: $299
Coaches Camp (July only): $579
Lower income family? Half off and 95% fee reduction available. You just type this in when registering.

Fees include:

All instruction, debates with feedback, t-shirt (mailed), certificates/awards (mailed), and electronic research and instructional materials for your events.
The Program is online but see below.

Students will have the option to separately register and pay for a Saturday tournament (July 22 and August 19) that will be done online or in-person at Seattle University.

YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)

Program Dates

THESE ARE 2023 DATES
July 17-21, Mon-Fri ONLINE
- Elementary 8:45am to 11:00am (Friday goes until 11:15am)
- Middle School 11:10am to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3:15pm)
- High School 9:30am to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3:15pm)
- Speaking Program goes from 3:15pm to 5:45pm (Friday goes until 6:00pm)
- Congress goes from 12:30pm to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3;15pm)
- Coach Program hours are worked out with Sarah Sherry but usually happen during the 930am to 545pm time period.
- Sat. July 22--We will participate in a Tournament for Speaking and Debating. You can do this tournament online OR in-person at Seattle University. You will register and pay for this separately.
August 14-18, Mon-Fri ONLINE
- Elementary 8:45am to 11:00am (Friday goes until 11:15am)
- Middle School 11:10am to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3:15pm)
- High School 9:30am to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3:15pm)
- Speaking Program goes from 3:15pm to 5:45pm (Friday goes until 6:00pm)
- Congress goes from 12:30pm to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3;15pm)
- Note: No Coaches program in August.
- Sat. August 19--We will participate in a Tournament for Speaking and Debating. You can do this tournament online OR in-person at Seattle University. You will register and pay for this separately.

Scholarships

ALL STUDENTS IN LOWER INCOME FAMILIES: Climb the Mountain also provides half and 95% fee reduction for lower income families. Just the option for you in the box on the registration form.
WASHINGTON STATE COACHES: please contact Jim Hanson as soon as possible for available WSFA scholarships. Jim is at jim@climbthemountain.us

*We encourage and gladly accept additional contribution from families with higher income to help pay for students who can’t afford the camp. In turn, you help your camper participate in an inclusive group of students, have a tax deduction, and know you are helping a student participate in learning for a better future.

YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)

Program Information

High Schoolers do LD Debate: One student debates another student on a value topic (e.g. civil disobedience is justified). For students going into 9th grade or higher and for highly experienced middle schoolers.

Middle Schoolers do Middle School 3 on 3 Parli Debate: Three students debate three students on a variety of middle school friendly current event topics (e.g. "The penny should be ended" and "Middle schoolers should not be allowed to have smart phones"). For students going into 6th, 7th, and 8th grade only.

Elementary Schoolers (4th and 5th grade) do Elementary Pro Con Debate: Three or Four student teams debate on a variety of elementary school friendly current event topics (e.g. "Zoos should be banned" and "Recycling should be mandatory"). For students going into 4th and 5th grades only.

Speaking Programs separated for Elementary, Middle School, and High School. Students will learn new kinds of speeches and prepare, practice, and present two different kinds of speeches. We are offering impromptu/the basics of speaking plus choose 2 of these: 1) PowerPoint speaking; 2) Extemp-speaking; 3) Informative-Persuasive-Humorous (ADS) speaking; 4) Interpretation (Play Prose Poetry performances). Students in previous Climb or other programs will work on speeches with our staff at a more advanced level.

Congress Program: Middle School, High School. Students learn how to argue policy proposals in a congressional like setting. They'll research and learn about bills, how to make a persuasive case for change, and how to question, refute, and defend their bills. As they progress, they'll learn parliamentary procedure and effective, strategic ways to win over others.

Coaches Program is for teachers, coaches, assistant coaches who want to be better at what they do and/or learn how to do coaching and/or learn more about different events their students will be doing in the coming year. Working with Sarah Sherry, Puyallup High School, you'll set your own schedule and topics. Those topics can include recruiting, tournament travel, best practice ideas, doing a particular event such as Public Forum debate, etc.

Want more clarification on these kinds of debate? speaking? Email Jim Hanson and ask at jim@climbthemountain.us

Program Dates &Fees