Summer Camp: Teen Public Speaking & Debate on Law, Politics, and Ethics

𝐖𝐞𝐥𝐜𝐨𝐦𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐀𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐚—𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐠𝐢𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐠𝐫𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐞𝐞𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞, 𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐜𝐬, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐩𝐮𝐛𝐥𝐢𝐜 𝐬𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤𝐢𝐧𝐠.

This isn’t school. It’s a 𝐠𝐚𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐥𝐞𝐭.

Each week highlights one of The Arena’s core disciplines: law, ethics, identity, technology, media, justice, and governance.

Learners will face off in 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭-𝐩𝐚𝐜𝐞𝐝, 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐜𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐬 where only 𝐞𝐯𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞, 𝐥𝐨𝐠𝐢𝐜, 𝐫𝐡𝐞𝐭𝐨𝐫𝐢𝐜, and 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐠𝐲 can win. Every learner must argue both sides, adapt fast, and respond under pressure.

Debates are scored. Victors are named. Growth is earned.

This is 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐝𝐞𝐛𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐜𝐥𝐮𝐛—it’s elite-level preparation for teens who plan to 𝐥𝐞𝐚𝐝, 𝐬𝐞𝐫𝐯𝐞, 𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐞, 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐢𝐧𝐟𝐥𝐮𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐞 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐰𝐨𝐫𝐥𝐝.

Whether you're headed toward 𝐥𝐚𝐰, 𝐦𝐞𝐝𝐢𝐜𝐢𝐧𝐞, 𝐠𝐨𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐧𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭, 𝐚𝐝𝐯𝐨𝐜𝐚𝐜𝐲, or 𝐣𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐧𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐬𝐦—this is where you build the skills that matter.

𝐓𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐤 𝐟𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐒𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐤 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐫𝐭𝐞𝐫. 𝐑𝐢𝐬𝐞 𝐬𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐩𝐞𝐫.

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Features from The Arena Series

Live Leaderboard: Tracks scores across the summer


Weekly Victor Badge: Digital recognition for top performers


Judge's Feedback Sheet: Personalized growth comments


Optional Journal: For students who want to prep deeper between weeks

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Zoom Etiquette for the Elite

- Cameras on. Minds sharp. Distractions off.

- Mute when not speaking. Type “Q” to request a clash.

- Respect each other. Critique the argument, not the person.

- Take the space seriously. This is debate with stakes.

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Our classrooms are rooted in the Socratic teaching approach, where curiosity and critical thinking come to life. Learners are guided through open dialogue and meaningful conversations, allowing them to explore topics more deeply and develop a thorough understanding.

To accommodate diverse learning styles, we thoughtfully combine traditional methods—like videos and carefully chosen presentations—with interactive discussions. This balanced approach ensures that every learner feels engaged and supported in their journey.

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Please note that we value mental health and are committed to preventing teacher burnout. 

To support our team’s well-being, we take company-wide breaks during which no classes will be held and emails will not be answered.

You may experience a delay in responses during the following dates:


2025

April 19 - April 20 (Easter Break)
August 25-31st (Summer Break)


Week of November 23, 2025 OFF (Late November Break)
Week of December 28, 2025 OFF - Winter Break

2026

Week of January 4, 2026 OFF - Winter Break
Week of March 29, 2026
Week of April 5, 2026 - OFF - Spring Break


In addition, teachers may need time off outside of these breaks as emergencies do happen. We always try our best to give ample notice when we can. You will never be charged for a day that we cancel classes.

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Policies and Guidelines 

🌟 𝗧𝗲𝗮𝗰𝗵𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗣𝗵𝗶𝗹𝗼𝘀𝗼𝗽𝗵𝘆 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗔𝗽𝗽𝗿𝗼𝗮𝗰𝗵
We believe in empowering educators to teach from the heart, embracing their unique styles and approaches. Each of our instructors brings their own passion and expertise to the classroom, which means not all classes will be taught in exactly the same way or use the same materials and assignments.

While the core topics and themes will always remain consistent, the teaching methods and resources may vary from class to class. This diversity enriches the learning experience and allows students to benefit from a range of perspectives and approaches.

We encourage our educators to stay true to their individual teaching styles while maintaining the high standards of engagement and quality that define our programs. This approach not only supports the creativity and authenticity of our teachers but also ensures that every class is an authentic and meaningful experience.

🌟 𝗥𝗲𝗳𝘂𝗻𝗱 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆
We strictly adhere to Outschool's refund and rescheduling policy for all of our classes. Once a class has been paid for, there will be no deviation from Outschool's guidelines. We do not offer refunds or rescheduling outside of what Outschool allows.

We follow a structured classroom weekly breakdown schedule to maintain consistency. In cases where an instructor is unavailable, we will provide a substitute teacher whenever possible to ensure the course or club/enrichment classes remain on track. If no substitute is available for a scheduled class, refunds will be issued. Please note that no refunds will be given for choosing not to attend a substitute-led session.

🌟 𝗖𝗮𝗺𝗲𝗿𝗮 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆
To ensure a safe and secure learning environment, students are required to keep their cameras on for an initial visual verification at the beginning of class. After verification, students are welcome to turn their cameras off if they prefer, unless they have been verified by Outschool and have the verification badge, which exempts them from this requirement.

We understand that every learner has different comfort levels, and we strive to create an inclusive environment where everyone feels respected and supported. We meet students where they are, honoring their individuality and comfort while maintaining a safe, welcoming space for all.

🌟 𝗜𝗻𝗰𝗹𝘂𝘀𝗶𝘃𝗶𝘁𝘆 𝗦𝘁𝗮𝘁𝗲𝗺𝗲𝗻𝘁
We believe that every learner deserves to feel valued and included. Our classrooms are welcoming and safe spaces for students of all backgrounds, abilities, and identities. We celebrate diversity and are committed to fostering an environment where everyone is treated with kindness, respect, and dignity.

🌟 𝗖𝗼𝗻𝘁𝗮𝗰𝘁 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆
In compliance with Outschool's policies, we do not accept friend or contact requests from current or former families on any social networking site (e.g., Facebook, LinkedIn). Additionally, we do not provide or ask for any personal information, including email addresses or phone numbers.

🌟 𝗛𝗼𝗺𝗲𝘄𝗼𝗿𝗸 𝗣𝗼𝗹𝗶𝗰𝘆
Our approach to homework prioritizes meaningful reinforcement rather than quantity. We assign one targeted activity each week that directly aligns with the material covered in class. These assignments are thoughtfully designed to help students apply what they’ve learned in a purposeful and effective way.

It is important to note that our organization does not offer classes that guarantee an hour of homework each week. Instead, we focus on comprehension and retention through thoughtful in-class discussions and purposeful assignments, avoiding excessive or repetitive work.

All homework assignments must be submitted during the week the lesson was taught in order to receive feedback. Writing assignments must be submitted in a typed format—either as a Google Doc, Word document, comment, or private email on the platform.
Photos of handwritten work will not be accepted since they are often too difficult to read and provide feedback on.

Learners who need assistance with typing are welcome to have someone type for them, as long as the work itself remains the student's own ideas and words.

All writing assignments will be assessed based on a rubric, and feedback will be given using that rubric to ensure clarity and consistency.

🌟 𝗙𝗮𝗺𝗶𝗹𝘆 𝗙𝗲𝗲𝗱𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸 𝗮𝗻𝗱 𝗖𝗼𝗺𝗺𝘂𝗻𝗶𝗰𝗮𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻
We believe that learning is a collaborative process that involves the whole family. We regularly provide feedback to families because we value open communication and want to make sure everyone feels informed, supported, and involved in the learning journey. Our goal is to ensure that both learners and families feel confident and happy with their progress and experience.

We truly value family input and encourage open communication. Whether it’s celebrating successes or discussing areas to improve, we’re here to make sure everyone feels included in the process.