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.
*We now offer the option in August Only for In-Person Camp at Seattle University for Middle School Debate Only. (sorry no in-person for Elem HS or Congress debate nor speaking events at this time. Also the MS in-person option is for August only. No in-person option for our July camp.
YES-WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS.
YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)
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-WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS.
YES-Low income/Rainier Scholars get affordable fees (see registration)
Program Dates & Fees
Fees
-
THESE ARE 2023 FEES
-
Elementary Debate Camp: $309
-
Elementary Speaking Camp: $319
-
Middle School Debate Camp: $489 (at SU $649)
-
Middle School Speaking Camp: $319
-
High School Debate Camp: $649
-
High School Speaking Camp: $319
-
Congress Camp: $339
-
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--WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS.
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 is not available in July--it is only available in August
-
Sorry--we are not offering our coaches camp this year
-
Sat. July 22--We will participate in a Tournament for Speaking and Debating. You can do this tournament online. You will register and pay for this separately.
-
-
-
August 14-18, Mon-Fri ONLINE*
-
Elementary Debate 8:45am to 11:00am (Friday goes until 11:15am)
-
Middle School Debate 11:10am to 3:00pm (Friday goes until 3:15pm)
-
*August Only MS Debate at Seattle University 10:00am to 3:00pm (Friday goes to 3:15pm)
-
High School Debate 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.
*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.
REFUND POLICY FOR OUR CAMP
If you drop by Monday May 29, you will receive 95% refund.
If you drop 72 hours or earlier before the start of your camp program, you will receive 85% refund.
If you drop before day 2 starts, you will receive 65% refund.
If you drop before day 3 starts, you will receive 45% refund.
After the third day begins, there are no refunds.
We do NOT refund for missing a class, for being late to a class, nor for missing a tournament that is part of the program, nor for dropping the class after day 3 starts.
Students can makeup missed classes by viewing our program's PowerPoints (arrange with Jim Hanson).
You can switch from July to August at no cost IF there is space available to do so.
The refund policy is based on the fact that registration processing takes our time and once we hire a staff member (hired in May)--we have to pay them for the entire program even when students drop and it is disruptive to teams and labs who have to be reconfigured.
YES--WE ARE STILL ACCEPTING REGISTRATIONS.
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.
Sorry, we are not offering our Coaches Program this year.
Want more clarification on these kinds of debate? congress? speaking? Email Jim Hanson and ask at jim@climbthemountain.us