Debate Camp...

The Professor tried debate camp with our local homeschool speech and debate club this summer. 
This was a challenge and he did well participating.  Debate will not be apart of our schooling this year but speech will stay.  I see huge educational returns on every minute spent on speech preparation.  Huge!

One of the reasons we choose speech as part of our schooling is so the kids learn to persuasively speak truth.  The world is coming at them and discernment is essential.   We are trying to give them the tools to stand up for their faith and speak truth persuasively.  Speech club helps equip them.

 Before each round of debate, even practice ones, the students pray.  Prayer for clarity, good sportsman like conduct and that what they are doing brings Glory to God.

During debate camp, there were evenings of recreation.  One evening was spent at Birch Bay State Park beach.  While the 80 plus kids played Frisbee we spent some nice time near the water.   I just had to capture these sweet pictures.

A Look Inside . . .

A SPEECH TOURNAMENT. (pictures are not the best)

Here it is, a behind the scenes look into the Vancouver, WA speech tournament.

We travel on a Wednesday.  Speech script check in is required Wednesday between 6-8pm.  Student orientation is mandatory at 8pm.

By 9pm we are back at our hotel and getting ready for bed, as well as our first early morning the next day.
 
The 6am alarm does comes early but we are all excited because it's the first day of the tournament.

By 7:30 am we are at the tournament venue and the students are sitting in the common area ready to start the day with worship songs and a devotional.

By 8am the debaters are off to find their rooms and start debating.  The Lincoln Douglas debaters (one on one) are battling about the resolution:  In the realm of economics, freedom ought to be valued above equity. They must know both the affirmative and the negative side and be able to debate which ever side they draw.
The Team Policy (two against two) teams are debating the resolution: The United States should significantly reform its policy toward one or more countries in the Middle East.

Here's what the final round of Team Policy looks like on Saturday evening. 

Two extremely polished teams going head to head in front of 8 judges in a room packed with peers, friends and family.  They are impressive teens and they have worked hard for this moment. 

But I'm getting ahead of myself.  Here's what Thursday and Friday look like for me.  I never see the Professor anymore.  He's busy and proven that he can be where he needs to be when he needs to be there so I stay out of the way.  I do get texts from his iPad that he's hungry and did I pack snacks.  This year he did a persuasive speech on foster care as well as limited prep speeches on current events called extemporaneous. 

My juniors do some reading while they wait for friends to show up.  They only do their speech on Saturday so Thursday and Friday are filled with a mixture of things.  

Mostly it's playing with friends.  Either outside or inside and it might be chess, football, air hockey, Foosball, pugil sticks.  Whatever is available.

I also take them out and explore the surrounding area.  This time is was to historical Fort Vancouver and the downtown library.  I took this picture there.

My days are filled with providing coffee to Josh and I and food for the kids as well as naps for Blossom.  It keeps me plenty busy and a big reason why I don't take great photos at these events.  

I did manage a few selfies with Blossom while she was eating yogurt.

And a cute one of Papa and Blossom.

On Saturday, the juniors (any sibling 7-12) gather for their Junior Tournament.  It lasts for 1.5 hours and includes gathering, games to warm up and hopefully get the jitters out, saying their speeches twice, and getting their cookie snack reward. 

 The architect is so fast getting out of his jacket when he finishes I can't even get a picture.

 They have to wait until 8pm that night to get their certificate award. 

Their are so many siblings!  It's wonderful that they can participate at their own level during the same tournament.  The organization and volunteer support is off the charts amazing at these events.