Upper Valley Speech and Debate Camp

Debate Camp 2026

August 10-14, 2026

The Upper Valley Speech and Debate Camp (UVSDC) is a week-long day program designed to help students build confidence, sharpen their public speaking, and develop strong critical thinking and argumentation skills – all in a fun and welcoming environment. While the camp is geared toward beginning debaters, the engaging workshops, team activities, and hands-on practice offer something valuable for every skill level.

By the end of the week, camp participants will:

• Gain confidence in public speaking
• Learn the structure and strategy behind Public Forum Debate
• Practice impromptu speaking and constructive argumentation
• Receive feedback from experienced debaters and coaches
• Participate in a fun, low-pressure final tournament

There is a $200 fee for this program to cover materials and staffing costs.

For more information, contact Daniel Mann at [email protected].

Meet the UVSDC Team

Led by passionate, experienced high school debaters and coaches from Thetford Academy and Hanover High School, the camp gives students the tools to analyze information, craft persuasive arguments, and speak with clarity and conviction.

Oliver Benedict graduated from Hanover High School in June 2026 as a nationally ranked top-50 high school debater. Oliver is a returning staff member at a residential debate camp on the coast and coaches the RMS debate team. When he’s not debating, he’s playing soccer or helping his crew team on the water. His favorite debate memory is being challenged to an analogy-off using chess to explain geopolitics. Oliver heads to Hobart and William Smith Colleges in the fall.

Daniel Mann graduated from Thetford Academy in June 2026, where he competed in debate and captained the club his senior year. Raised in Tucson, Arizona, Daniel discovered the power of delivery performing in a mariachi band, a background that translates surprisingly well to the debate stage. This past spring, he represented Vermont as a delegate to the U.S. Senate Youth Program, where he met with national leaders to discuss many of the same issues he’d spent years debating. Daniel heads to Dartmouth College in the fall.

Corin Benedict and Kristen Downey are teachers at Hanover High School and Thetford Academy respectively, where they each coach the debate team. Corin’s favorite thing about debate is digging into the research about a new topic, while Kristen’s favorite thing about coaching debate is the surprising ways students tackle an argument.