15 Public Speaking Camps for Middle School Students
- Stephen Turban
- Oct 12
- 11 min read
If you’re a middle school student looking to work on your public speaking skills, consider a camp!
Public speaking camps are a great option if you are trying to build your confidence for presentations in school or for speech, debate, and Model UN competitions. These camps provide you with training in delivery techniques and clear communication, as well as opportunities to practice public speaking, often without being an expensive option to explore.
What is the difference between a camp and a program?
Camps are typically short-term experiences, lasting one to four weeks, that focus on a specific subject area and offer hands-on learning, social interaction opportunities, and engaging activities. Summer programs typically run longer, usually a month or more, and offer a more structured academic approach or skill-building content in a classroom-like setting.
Public speaking camps primarily focus on formal U.S. speech and debate events, offering extracurricular training and skill-building opportunities in areas like rhetoric, research, and persuasive writing. As a participant, you may explore one or more debate formats, like Policy debate, value-based Lincoln-Douglas debate, news-based Public Forum debate, persuasion-focused Parliamentary Debate, etc. You will also engage in mock trials, storytelling or interpretation exercises, and impromptu or prepared speaking events.
To help you find such opportunities, we have come up with a list of 15 public speaking camps for middle school students. We have focused on camps that offer high academic rigor, educational value, solid networking opportunities, prestige, selectivity, and free or scholarship-based participation.
15 Public Speaking Camps for Middle School Students
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies depending on program type
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple eight-week cohorts throughout the year
Application Deadline: Rolling deadlines for each cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
In Lumiere’s Junior Explorers program, you will gain experience in public speaking and research through eight weeks of hands-on work. After choosing a preferred track, options include computer science, biology, math, economics, and psychology, you will be paired with a PhD-level mentor and receive one-on-one guidance. After an introductory exploration of the field, you will design a specialized research project that applies your interests to a real-world problem. To build public speaking skills directly tailored to your academic focuses, you will develop and deliver a final presentation on your findings. The program is fully virtual, making it an accessible option to explore.
Location: Virtual
Cost: Varies by program; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Selective
Dates: Multiple 10-week cohorts each year
Application Deadline: Varies by cohort
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Veritas AI’s Trailblazers camp provides academic development opportunities to middle schoolers looking to develop skills in public speaking and computer science. You will study and engage in hands-on activities focusing on areas like machine learning, artificial intelligence, Python programming, neural networks, and image classification, moving from introductory sessions to advanced work. You will work within a small group throughout the camp, strengthening teamwork and communication skills while collaborating with peers. Additionally, you will develop a group project on an advanced AI topic and present it to a larger Veritas AI cohort, gaining experience in public speaking.
Location: Online or in-person at Bryn Mawr College (Philadelphia, PA), University of Nebraska–Lincoln (Lincoln, NE), or St. Edward’s University (Austin, TX)
Cost: Varies by program, $600–$5,695; financial aid available
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: 30–300 students, depending on the camp; 1:4–5 faculty-to-student ratio
Dates:
LD Flagship: July 13 – August 2
LD Philadelphia & Austin; PF Philadelphia 1 & Austin: June 29 – July 12
PF Philadelphia 2: July 13 – 26
LD Online: July 21 – August 1
PF Online: June 30 – July 11
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
NSD’s Debate Camps provide middle school students with public speaking training in either Public Forum (PF) or Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate. You will be placed into a “lab” based on your level of skill and experience in your debate event, allowing you to study in a smaller cohort tailored to your specific areas for growth. Under the instruction of debate coaches and nationally-ranked former LD and PF debaters, you will build public speaking and debate skills through activity-based study. Lab sessions include instruction on case writing, cross-examination, argumentation and rhetoric skills, and preparing strategic rebuttals, where you will engage in drills and daily practice rounds. The camp ends with a final tournament (split into different categories based on experience level), where you will get to apply your new skills in a friendly competition.
Location: University of Texas at Dallas, Dallas, TX
Cost: $1,000–$2,400, depending on the camp
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
LD and PF: June 29 – July 12
Intro to Public Speaking / Speech and Debate: July 6 – 12
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until June 9
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–8; PF and LD camps require at least one year of competitive debate experience
UT-Dallas’ Mean Green Comet Debate Team offers public speaking camps for middle schoolers in introductory public speaking, Public Forum debate, and Lincoln-Douglas debate. If you are new to speech and debate, you can enroll in the introductory camp; if you have competed in PF or LD formats for at least a year, you can choose a specialized camp. In the Introductory camp, you will refine skills in speech delivery, organization, and case writing, and gain insights for engaging in competitive events in the future. In event-specialized camps, you will explore topics such as common philosophical frameworks (used in LD), advanced policy analysis, researching resolutions, and case writing. You will participate in speaking drills, practice debate rounds, and impromptu speech exercises.
Location: Online
Cost: $495 (Fall/Winter/Spring) | $399/week (Summer)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Summer: June 22 – August 28
Fall: September 20 – November 15
Winter: January 10 – February 28
Spring: March 14 – May 2Multiple one-week sessions offered within each session window
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–12
The American Debate League camp is a flexible opportunity to develop speech and debate skills in an activity-based setting. Each day, you will participate in four activities, including sessions on debate roles, argumentation, practice debates, and group workshops. You will build skills in making persuasive arguments, public speaking, researching arguments and speeches, and understanding competitive debate structures within a small cohort. You will also learn how to organize your ideas and present them clearly. The camp wraps up with a final tournament at the end of the week.
Location: Hosted on 15 different college and boarding school campuses across the U.S. and online
Cost: $1,999 – $4,399, based on camp and location
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: Multiple two-week programs from mid-June to early August
Application Deadline: Rolling registration
Eligibility: Students, ages 11–17
Capitol Debate’s camps cover various speech and debate tactics to help you prepare for competitive events and broader public speaking settings. In an age-appropriate cohort, you will receive instruction tailored to your needs and train in public speaking to develop skills in articulation and body language, speech organization, developing compelling speech openings, and persuasion techniques. To gain debate-focused experience, you will undergo training in rebuttals, closing arguments, case construction, and strategic approaches to rounds. Additionally, you will choose two specialized tracks in areas like career interests, real-world communication, and competitive events, with options covering specific debate events, legal communication, and STEM communication. You will conclude the camp with a speech and debate tournament, for which you will spend the final week preparing through intensive research.
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, NY
Cost: $3,750 (residential) | $750 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not available
Dates: July 27 – August 4
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students who are at least 12 years old
Cornell’s week-long International Debate Camp focuses on the World Schools Debate structure, providing opportunities to prepare for competitive debate and other public speaking opportunities. You will learn from debate coaches, top college debaters, and Cornell faculty. You will attend sessions led by professors and coaches, practice speeches and argumentation in small groups, and participate in practical debate exercises. Additionally, you will have access to office hours to get personalized support on challenging areas. Specialized lectures on social issues relevant to common speech and debate topics are also part of the experience.
Location: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Chapel Hill, NC; some programs offered online
Cost: Varies by program; ranges from $1,200 to $3,799
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Two-week programs: June 27 – July 10 (Session 1) | July 12 – 25 (Session 2)
One-week programs: June 27 – July 3 (Session 1) | July 12 – 18 (Session 2)
Online: July 14 – 25
Application Deadline: Rolling registration until May 31; late applications may be accepted at an additional price
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
ISD hosts summer debate and public speaking camps for middle school students across debate formats. You can explore one of the available formats, like Congressional Debate, Extemporaneous Speaking, Interpretation of Literature, Lincoln-Douglas Debate, Foundations of Public Speaking and Debate, Original Oratory and Informative Speaking, or Public Forum Debate. Under the guidance of a professional debate coach and a rotating group of nationally-ranked debaters, you will study your chosen event within a small group assigned based on your evaluated skill level. Camp experiences will vary based on your chosen event. Public speaking-focused tracks like Extemporaneous Speaking and Original Oratory offer instruction in speech preparation strategies, researching core content areas, and developing clear argumentation. You will prepare and deliver practice speeches, receiving feedback from instructors and peers throughout the program.
Location: UMass Boston, Boston, MA; Drake University, Des Moines, IA; Online
Cost: Varies by camp; typically $1,100–$2,600
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: One-week sessions during the summer
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
Summit Debate’s flagship camp offers training in all major U.S. competitive speech events, including LD and PF debate, as well as public speaking and argumentation. At camp, you will focus on your preferred competitive event, completing activities and training to prepare for the upcoming year’s events. If you attend a debate event camp, you will practice researching, case writing, and preparing rebuttals for the first resolution of the season. If you are interested in speech competitions, you will work on preparing your speech for the season or researching material for potential extemporaneous speaking topics. Camp activities include specialized workshops, speech and debate practice rounds, guest lectures, and educational seminars on philosophy and political theory. You will also get to participate in field trips and picnics with the larger camp cohort.
Location: University of California at Riverside, Riverside, CA
Cost:
Five-Week Intensive: $7,000 (residential) or $6,550 (commuter)
Core Session: $4,700 (residential) or $4,250 (commuter)
Second Session: $3,500 (residential) or $3,100 (commuter)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates:
Five-Week Intensive: July 13 – August 16
Core Session: July 13 – August 2
Second Session: August 2 – 13
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
Focused on Lincoln-Douglas, The Debate Intensive’s summer camps provide rigorous training and activities to help you prepare for the upcoming debate season. You will learn within a 12-student lab, attending lectures on topics like the LD framework, participating in cross-examination and rebuttal drills, completing research for the camp’s resolution of the year, and writing cases. You will participate in speech and debate rounds, receiving feedback from your instructors and lab cohort and revising your speeches regularly. You will also get 1-on-1 mentorship opportunities offered by instructors and elective lectures on specialized topics like Kant, meta-theory, and hegemony and militarism. For all tracks except the Second Session, the experience ends with a camp-wide debate.
Location: Fort Lee, Livingston, and Glen Rock, NJ
Cost:
Half-day and August Intensive: $1,095
Full-day: $1,750
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not available
Dates: June 23 – July 3 | July 7 – 18 | July 21 – August 1 | August 1 – 15 | August 18 – 22 | August 25 – 29
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
Bergen Debate Club’s public speaking camps for middle school students offer learning experiences focusing on Model UN, Young Entrepreneurship, and Public Forum, designed to help students with competitive preparation. In the Model UN Camp, you will learn how to construct your rhetoric, play educational games, explore logical thinking, and engage om practice MUN sessions. The Public Forum Lab focuses on the upcoming September/October resolutions, examining the topics you will debate in the fall through case writing, researching rebuttals, and completing practice debates. To ensure you’re honing the correct skills based on your experience, you will be split into smaller cohorts to learn alongside students with similar levels of experience.
Location: University of Miami School of Communication, Coral Gables, FL
Cost: $525 (one week) | $975 (two weeks) | $1,400 (three weeks)
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 9 – 13 | June 16 – 20 | June 23 – 27
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8 who can commute to the university campus
The University of Miami’s college debate team hosts middle school students each year for a camp that covers the essentials of primary U.S. competitive speech and debate events. You will attend lectures on topics like rhetorical theory, political theory and policy, and research skills, and learn about the structure of Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, and Policy debate styles. You will complete daily debates on rotating topics to practice argumentation skills, and practice broader public speaking skills through formal presentations, mock interviews, and a “shark tank” pitch.
13. Debate Camp
Location: Multiple U.S. sites — Brunswick, ME; Boston, MA; Chicago, IL; Greenwich, CT; West Hartford, CT; New York, NY; Portsmouth, RI; Seattle, WA
Cost: $605 – $1,875, depending on location and camp duration
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Approximately 30 students per session
Dates: Vary by location; five- and six-day camps offered from early June to late August
Application Deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 5–12; overnight camps restricted to grades 7–11
Debate Camp offers training in public speaking, debate, and Model UN at eight locations in the country during week-long camps. You will work within skill-level-matched groups to explore the global issues frequently addressed in MUN and debate topics. You will also practice rhetoric construction and argumentation skills, attend educational workshops, and engage in Round Table Dialogues to discuss public speaking and debate strategies alongside peers and instructors. Outside of training, you will engage in recreational activities like swimming, games, and improv, and go on field trips. To develop competitive debate skills, you will participate in three or four practice rounds each day and receive feedback from your team and coach.
Location: Suffolk University, Boston, MA
Cost: Free for Boston Public School students and BDL member schools; $500/week for others
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified; 15–25 students per lab
Dates: August 4 – 15
Application Deadline: May 1 (priority); rolling admissions afterward
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–9
Boston Debate League’s summer camp offers a free opportunity to hone your public speaking skills in a collaborative setting. You will focus primarily on Policy Debate, learning about the upcoming resolution by writing cases, researching topics, and participating in practice rounds. You will be mentored by BDL faculty and current high school debaters, and will be encouraged to return as an older student to mentor future middle school campers. A tournament to apply your skills is also part of the camp experience.
Location: Buckingham Browne & Nichols School, Cambridge, MA
Cost: $875 or $700, depending on the session
Acceptance rate/Cohort size: Not specified
Dates: June 30 – July 3 | July 7 – 11
Application Deadline: Rolling enrollment
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–8
BB&N’s summer debate camp provides an introduction to public speaking skills and competitive debate over the course of a week. You will work under the guidance of BB&N’s High School debate team and coaches to learn about parliamentary debate and impromptu speaking through workshops and interactive sessions. You will also engage in swimming and group activities at camp. You will conclude the camp with a practice tournament to hone your debating skills in a competitive setting.
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a Harvard College graduate. He founded Lumiere as a Ph.D. student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program in which students work one-on-one with a mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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