Grades 7–10: June 23 – 27 

Are you interested in becoming effective at Persuasion? This camp is for you then! Join this camp to learn strategies around building your debating skills. Since, debate is a structured argument about a given resolution, campers in this program learn persuasion, nuance, and how to use evidence to further their cases. Be prepared to argue either side of the resolution with little preparation time! Debate is a partner event, where the goal is to teach campers to learn to work effectively as a cohesive unit and maintain excellent internal communication during a debate round. Taught by The Potomac School’s nationally regarded coaching staff, campers use their voices to advocate for, or to refute the resolution. Most of our Potomac School varsity debate students compete in speech as well.This program will end at 4:00 pm everyday. All debate students must be picked up at carpool each day as bus service is not available at this time.

Grades 7–10: June 30 – July 3

Speech is mostly an individual event, and in Potomac’s Speech Camp, campers will learn to perform interpretation, oratories, and limited preparation styled speeches. Potomac’s national-championship speech coaches will instruct all forms of competitive speech. Whether you wish to entertain your audience through humor and drama, or if you wish to inform and inspire them with an original public speech, the Potomac Speech Camp will prepare you to thrive in the 2025-2026 competitive season. In all cases, campers learn to find their voice and use it confidently.

Grades 5–6: July 21 – 25

Do you want to grow more confident in your public speaking and argumentation skills? Are you interested in becoming a local, state, or national champion in speech and debate? If debating current events, public speaking, dramatic acting, or humorous monologues interest you, we guarantee you will thoroughly enjoy this course. This class is designed to introduce students to the world of speech and debate. Our curriculum allows students to try any and every genre they find intriguing. Then, each student will choose a focus and begin preparing to compete in their respective speech and debate events. This course intends to help students feel confident and comfortable speaking and presenting in front of an audience. By the end of the session, students will be ready to compete on an extracurricular speech and debate team!