We help you express yourself, disrupt inequities, and speak up for what is important.
If we don’t have a program at your school…
Join our speech and debate programs for students ages 12-18, three times a year! Every fall and spring, we have a weekly online club where you try different types of speech (including storytelling, acting, presentation, and podcasting) and work on debate. Our two-week, in-person summer camp is great for beginners and repeat campers who want to deepen their skills by working with award-winning coaches. Past participants have gone on to be champions of state and national championships! If your child is 11 to 13 years old, they may choose to participate in either our programs for grades 3-8 or grades 9-12, depending on interest (see our Youth, Grades 3-8 page).
When and Where are Programs?
We are now open for summer registration!
Winter/Spring Teen Speakers Club (online)
- Spring Registration CLOSED: 8 weeks
- Spring Session: Tuesdays, January 24-March 21, 4-5:30pm PST (no class week of February 20-24), open to ages 12-18 (middle schoolers are welcome)
- $150 (scholarships are available)
- All types of speech & debate offered
Summer Teen Speech & Debate Camp (in person)
- Summer Registration OPEN: 2 weeks
- Monday-Friday, July 17-28, 10am-2pm at our Richmond office, open to ages 12-18
- Middle schoolers are welcome, as are experienced debaters, since students are placed in different lab groups. Students choose either speech or debate.
- $300 (scholarships available)
- Get an intensive but affordable camp experience taught by award-winning coaches Joel Jacobs & AnnMarie Baines
Fall Teen Speakers Club (online)
- Fall Registration, Save the Date: 8 weeks
- Wednesdays, September 25-November 17, 4-5:30pm PST, open to ages 12-18, (middle schoolers are welcome)
- $150 (scholarships available)
- All types of speech & debate offered
- Save the Date!
Every spring, we hold our "Expressive Leaders" program, an in-person conference for young leaders in grades 9-12.
Our “Expressive Leaders” participate in workshops and listen to guest speakers on topics related to leadership. They also work with trained mentors to come up with a change project that they will pitch and share in our final showcase attended by guest judges. There is no cost to this program, but students must apply. This program takes place in the SF Bay Area.
Save the Date: May 21, 2023. Apply by March 31, 2023.
We coach speech and debate teams after school at select school campuses!
We help you prepare for speech and debate competitions, learning to craft speech content and improve your oral delivery. You get to have fun with your friends while also becoming a confident speaker and debater! We have programs at the following school sites in West Contra Unified in the SF Bay Area: El Cerrito High, Kennedy High, Richmond High, American Canyon High, and Jesse Bethel High.
Public speaking is more than working on your own skills:
Use your skills to interact with new friends, lead and mentor, and support the next generation!
Our participants use their skills to participate in:
- Practice Scrimmages
- Tournaments
- Paid Coaching Jobs at Elementary Programs
- Join Junior Board
“I have grown so much when it comes to speaking up for myself and others. Now it’s all I want to do.”
—Teen Participant