(G4-8) Public Speaking, 7/28-8/1, 1-4pm

About the Course

Does your child freeze up when speaking in front of new people? Do they struggle to present in front of a class or get nervous during a judge interview at a competition? This camp is designed to help kids gain real-world speaking confidence— it’s not a debate camp, although the skills acquired will benefit anyone who is a debater. Instead, it’s all about building the everyday communication skills that help them shine in any speaking situation. Campers will learn how to: • Talk confidently in group settings • Deliver their message more clearly • Catch others’ attention and hold their interest • Handle interviews and presentations with ease Through fun games, practical exercises, and lots of friendly practice, students will work on speaking in front of a supportive audience. Whether it’s answering questions from a judge, presenting a project in class, or just speaking up in a group of new people, they’ll come away feeling empowered and prepared. This camp helps kids find their voice—so they can speak up, stand out, and succeed. Open to new and returning students. Our final class will include a short and informal presentation for family and friends on Friday. Want to make it a full day and save $50? Come to learn LEGO Robotics with building, coding or robots battle! Add an optional lunch and snack meal plan. About Instructor: Kim Vanaman is the director of NCE's middle school speech team and an experienced teacher with a strong background in theatre and dance. During her time as a Newton South speech team parent, Kim participated as a judge, coach, and winning competitor in alumni/judge events. Among Kim's coaching successes are a student who was Champion of the 2017 National American Legion Oratorical Contest in Washington, DC and was the 2nd place speaker in the World Individual Debating and Public Speaking Championships, in Cape Town, South Africa. Kim believes in making public speaking a fun activity for kids and adults of all ages; she strives to create a comfortable and supportive environment for students to develop this life skill in her classes.