The Upstate Area Debate Club is thrilled to announce our club offerings for the 2026-2027 school year!

UADC exists to support Christian homeschooled students in developing the life skills necessary for Godly character and effective communication. We work together as a club — through practice, critique, and instruction — to help each student reach their full potential. Our goal is to create speakers and debaters who are passionate about telling great stories, shaping clear thought, and communicating Truth well. UADC doesn’t exist to create prize-winning speakers. If a member should win, it’s only considered an added blessing from God.

(These are some photos of our closing speech and debate showcase for 2025-26! Included in our line-up is persuasive speaking, digital presentation, impromptu speaking, duo interpretation, and of course… debate.)

Jr. Speech Club — NEW!

We’re excited to introduce Jr. Speech Club for budding communicators ages 8–11! Meeting during our regular speech time, this class walks students through the foundations of communication through guided lessons, exercises, and interactive group games, activities, and presentations. It’s a warm, encouraging space for younger students to find their voice and build confidence. The cap for this club is 12 students. 

Speech Club

Speech Club is back for another year! Open to students in 6th–12th grade, Speech Club covers communication, public speaking, speech writing, and storytelling skills through interactive workshops where students can perform and receive real feedback. Some of our students choose to compete; others prepare speeches to share with family and friends. Either way, every student grows!

Online Debate Class

With Debate Camp and our hybrid Debate Class option passed for the 2026 year, our only Debate Class for the remainder of the year is being offered online.

Learn the art and structure of policy debate from anywhere. This semester-long course teaches the format, theory, and skills of competitive policy debate through a Christian, classical, and practical approach to persuasion— the same course families know from the hybrid class and summer camp, now offered fully online.

Students work through video lessons at their own pace to master each new concept, then join live virtual sessions for the interactive part: q+a’s, work checkpoints, research and case-writing tutoring, cross-examination practice, etc. Everything builds toward a full policy debate round to close out the course. The debate round is the only “in person”component to this online class.

Along the way, students develop the skills that carry far beyond competition — critical thinking, research, clear reasoning, and the confidence to speak persuasively under pressure.

Graduates of our classes and camps are eligible to join the Upstate Area Debate Club (UADC) for continued practice, community, and competition prep.

No experience required for this course— just a willingness to think, research, and speak. Whether your student is preparing for NCFCA competition or simply wants to become a sharper, more confident communicator, this class is a strong foundation.

Debate Club

Debate Club is continuing for another year! Ideal for advanced 8th graders through high school, our club views debate as a branch of persuasion and teaches argumentation, reasoning, and evidence skills that apply to the real world — not just in a debate round. Debate Club requires an introductory debate camp (listed above) or equivalent experience. We strive to balance ongoing instruction with consistent opportunities to actually use those skills, whether in club rounds or competitive tournaments. Students also have opportunities for leadership positions and are encouraged to research, build evidence, and engage in friendly club competition.

Together, debate camp and one semester of debate club equal one full high school credit.

Learn more about our club and get a taste of what we do in this video!

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Questions? Please don’t hesitate to reach out! We’d love to connect!