Highest Speak

**MUST BE RISING GRADES 5-8! No Exceptions! Ultimate Public Speaking Summer Program for Rising 5th-8th Graders in Northern VA/DMV Area! Get ready for an EPIC summer at our brand-new CENTER in Reston, VA! Join us for the Ultimate Public Speaking Summer Program, where your child will boost their confidence, learn key speaking skills, and have a ton of fun in the process! Public speaking is essential for success in school, making new friends, and even preparing for future careers. For middle schoolers, mastering public speaking now is the perfect way to gain the confidence needed for class presentations, group discussions, and social situations. In this 5-day, 3-hour per day program, we’ll teach your child how to speak confidently and effectively in any situation. Here’s what we’ll cover: Performing like a pro in any public speaking situation! How to conquer nerves and speak confidently in front of others! The secrets to organizing a powerful and effective speech! The basics of Persuasive Speech, Storytelling, and Impromptu Speaking! A beginner’s intro to Debate—think fast, speak well! Each day is packed with fun, interactive activities and lots of opportunities for practice! Here’s how the day will break down: Part I (1-1.5 hours): Icebreaker activities to help everyone feel comfortable A lesson packed with practical tips for the day Practice through games and group activities that make learning fun! BREAK (15 minutes): Time to grab a snack and drink! Part II: Individualized Feedback: Your child will have a chance to practice and get specific feedback on their performance! Multiple Practice Opportunities: Students will practice several times in smaller groups to really make sure they understand and can apply the feedback they’ve received. More interactive games and activities to help reinforce the lesson Wrap-up to reflect on the day and discuss key takeaways for improvement Bonus: There will ALWAYS be two instructors leading the program, including Sumedha Bahri, the founder of Highest Speak (she’s a Patent Attorney, Adjunct Professor, Keynote Speaker, and Stand-Up Comic!), plus one of our other super fun and talented instructors! Why is this so important for middle schoolers? Middle school is a time when students are starting to speak up more in class, participate in group projects, and face more challenging academic situations. Public speaking skills will help your child gain the confidence they need to express themselves clearly, think critically, and speak up in any situation—whether for a class project, school debate, or even in social situations. Plus, they’ll learn how to think on their feet and craft arguments that are persuasive—skills that will be useful throughout their school years and beyond! This program WILL sell out FAST, so make sure to reserve your spot TODAY! Your kids will not only learn an important life skill, but they’ll also have an absolute blast doing it! No experience necessary! Whether it’s your child’s first time or they’ve been with us before, they’ll have a fresh and exciting experience with new exercises and games! Don’t miss out—this is the summer program they’ll never forget!

"Write & Rock! Creative Writing Coolness!" - Summer Camp at Highest Speak (Rising Grades 5-8) This summer, Write and Rock is the perfect camp for rising 5th to 8th graders who love to write and want to build their confidence in speaking! Over 5 exciting days, you’ll explore your creativity, learn to craft amazing characters, develop incredible story settings, and practice the art of creative writing. Plus, you’ll have the chance to present your work, practice public speaking, and get feedback to help you improve. Whether you're looking to become a better writer for school or just want to unleash your imagination in a fun, supportive space, this camp is for you! Camp Schedule: 1:00-1:45 PM – Lunch Break/Quiet Activity Take some time to eat, relax with a quiet activity like reading, drawing, or "quiet" socialization with friends before we dive into the afternoon session. Afternoon only students can either choose to bring lunch to camp or arrive by 1:45pm after lunch time is done. Daily Schedule 1:45-2:00 PM – Circle Up We’ll gather in a circle to get to know each other, talk about our writing goals, and get ready for the fun lessons ahead. You’ll have a chance to share your ideas and get inspired by others! 2:00-4:00 PM – Class Time Each day will be packed with a creative writing lesson, a hands-on activity to apply what you’ve learned, and an opportunity to present your work. You’ll receive valuable feedback on both your writing and public speaking skills. 4:00-4:30pm - Wind Down and Parent Pick-Up Students can wind down with a quiet game or activity and wait for parent pick-up. Constructive Feedback Each day, you’ll receive helpful feedback from your instructors and classmates. This feedback will guide you in refining your writing and boosting your public speaking skills. By the end of the camp, you’ll be ready to write and present with more confidence, whether it’s for school projects, creative writing contests, or just for fun!

Social Skill Class for High Schoolers! (MUST be Rising Grades 9-12!) Boost confidence. Spark conversations. Connect with ease. Have FUN! Meeting new people can be exciting — and let’s be honest — a little nerve-wracking too. That’s why this lively, hands-on class is all about helping teens become more confident, natural conversationalists who know how to connect, listen, and really engage. Led by Instructor, Britney Mason, FCPS Guidance Counselor (M.S Counselor Education) each week is filled with fun, interactive learning and real-life practice designed to build the social muscles that matter most: how to start conversations, keep them going, navigate tricky moments, and walk away feeling proud of how they showed up. Whether your teen wants to break out of their shell or fine-tune their communication skills, this class will get them talking, laughing, and connecting with confidence. Here’s what we’ll explore: 🗣 First Impressions & Body Language Teens learn how posture, tone, and eye contact shape the way others see them — and how to lead with confidence before they even say a word. 💬 Starting & Maintaining Conversations We teach the go-to strategies for making small talk less awkward and more fun — so conversations with new people feel easy, natural, and rewarding. 💖 Emotional Intelligence & Empathy Understanding emotions — in themselves and others — helps teens build stronger, more meaningful connections. ⚖️ Handling Conflict & Peer Pressure We give teens practical tools to stay calm, assertive, and true to themselves in tough social moments — from disagreements to peer pressure. 🌟 Social Confidence & Celebration The final week brings everything together, reinforcing self-awareness, self-expression, and the power of being authentically themselves. At Highest Speak, we help teens build daily positive communication habits that stick. Our goal is simple: to make social skills fun, energizing, and practical — so your teen walks away ready to thrive in school, friendships, and life. Let’s help them step into every new conversation with ease, energy, and authentic confidence!

🎙️ Join Our Summer Debate Accelerator! 📢 Sharpen Your Skills. Start the Fall school year with confidence. Has your high schooler been curious about competitive debate and loves the idea of trying it in a less stressful, summer environment that still offers the opportunity to still compete? Highest Speak is thrilled to offer a Virtual two-week Public Forum debate camp starting on Monday, July 7! Whether you are interested in seeing what debate is like or want to practice your skills over this summer, this evening camp will offer a crash course in the ins and outs of debate. Our Debate Tournament Prep Class is a focused, high-energy program designed for high school debaters and aspiring debaters. Whether you are interested in trying debate or want to go to your first debate competition in the Fall, this camp has something for everyone. 📅 Program Dates: July 7-July 18, Monday to Friday, 6-8 pm Online ** MUST BE RISING GRADES 9-12 TO PARTICIPATE! Through hands-on training students will learn debate, argument strategies, and effective public speaking, all while practicing and being coached by experienced Debate coaches/experts with over ten years of experience. Oh, and we will have a BLAST! :) What You’ll Gain: 🧠 Argument Techniques 📚 Case Writing & Research Strategies 🏅 Tournament Simulation & Practice Rounds Amp up your debate skills from the comfort of your home! (Optional Tournament in August. Info available during the program.)

Comedy Camp! Stand-Up & Stand Out! (Rising Grades 5-8) Get ready to write, perform, and bring the laughs in this fun and interactive comedy camp for rising 5th-8th graders! Stand-up comedy is one of the most challenging—but also most FUN—forms of public speaking, and this camp will help young comedians build the skills they need to craft clever (and age appropriate) jokes, develop their own comedic style, deliver punchlines, and stand-up on the comedic stage with confidence! Over 10 hours of hands-on learning, campers will: 🎤 Discover the art of writing humor – from wordplay to storytelling to perfecting comedic timing. 😂 Create their own jokes & stand-up routines – developing material that fits their unique style and personality. 👀 Receive peer and instructor feedback – refining their work through fun, supportive critique. 🎭 Perform their original stand-up sets – putting their skills to the test in a final comedy showcase! Daily Schedule (1:00 – 4:30 PM): 1:00 – 1:45 PM – Lunch & Quiet Activity (Drop-off for PM students) 1:45 – 2:00 PM – Comedy Warm-Up & Icebreakers 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Writing, Practice, & Feedback (Joke-building, storytelling, timing) 4:00 – 4:30 PM – Wind Down & Parent Pick-Up Whether they dream of being the next great stand-up comic or just want to build confidence and have fun, this camp is the perfect place to laugh, learn, and let loose on stage! 😆🎤

Summer Camp Intro to Model UN (Rising Grades 6-8 ONLY) ! Based on popular demand, we are THRILLED to introduce our NEWEST summer camp evening class! We have developed a 12-class hour, in-person evening camp that simplifies the principles of debate for our newest junior diplomats and also makes it as FUN as possible! In our classes, we will cover: Public Speaking Research Diplomacy Debate Parliamentary Procedures All students will participate in various games/activities to allow them to understand and develop their diplomacy skills. As usual, ALL classes (with more than 8 students) are taught by two instructors (public speaking professionals who are also comedians/performers) to ensure that all students receive plenty of individualized attention and feedback. Further, for all exercises, our limited size classes are broken in half to make sure that each student is improving in a smaller group setting. Short take-home assignments may be given. Students are expected to complete them in order to gain the most from this class! Day 1 Introduction to Model UN and Research Day 2 Understanding Debate and Committees Day 3 Negotiation Skills Day 4 Resolution Writing and Voting Day 5 Voting and Practice Simulation Day 6 Full Simulation (Parents are invited!) Start your Fall ready with new knowledge and experience that no other event teaches. By participating in Model United Nations, students learn: What are the biggest challenges facing the world today How to be more self-confident, especially with public speaking How to interact with other people who come from different backgrounds and perspectives How to work as a team to achieve shared goals How to take action to solve problems, on a local, national, and global scale ** This is very limited size group led by Model UN and Debate expert and PhD Candidate, Aaron Trujillo. He has coached multiple Model UN sessions as well as debate winners internationally!

Expression Explosion! Readers Theater, Monologues & Improv (Rising Grades 5-8) A fun, high-energy summer camp where middle schoolers can laugh, perform, and gain confidence while learning to express themselves! Whether they love drama or just want to feel more comfortable speaking in front of others, this camp is packed with exciting activities that build creativity, quick thinking, and strong communication skills. Campers will bring words to life through Readers Theater, monologues, and improv games, all while getting peer and instructor feedback to help them grow. They'll leave feeling more confident speaking up—not just on stage, but in class, presentations, and everyday conversations! With a mix of engaging activities, interactive performances, and lots of laughter, this camp is the perfect space for middle schoolers to have fun, gain confidence, and find their voice! Daily Schedule 1-1:45: Lunch/quiet activity/Parent Drop Off For morning students, they may eat a packed lunch, relax, and work on a quiet activity. Students only registered for afternoon can choose to bring lunch and eat during this period or arrive by 1:45 in time for camp. 1:45-2pm: Circle Up Students will gather up for a quick warm or fun discussion or game. 2-4:00pm: Lesson and Practice Students will work on the lesson for the day and practice their voices and emotions through readers theater, monologues, or improv games! 4-4:30pm: Wind-Down and Parent Pick-Up Students will wind down with a quiet activity while waiting for parents to pick up.

"Write & Shine: A Creative Writing Adventure" - Summer Camp at Highest Speak Unleash your creativity this summer with Write & Shine: A Creative Writing Adventure, a fun-filled, 5-day camp designed to ignite the imaginations of rising 2nd to 4th graders! Over the course of five exciting days, campers will develop their writing skills through hands-on lessons, fun writing activities, and the opportunity to build confidence in public speaking. Through interactive games, group discussions, and creative exercises, each child will walk away with not only a stronger command of creative writing but also valuable public speaking skills that will serve them for years to come. Camp Schedule: 1:00-1:45 PM – Lunch Break/Quiet Activity Time to relax, recharge, and enjoy a quiet activity like reading or drawing to get ready for the exciting afternoon. 1:45-2:00 PM – Circle Time We’ll gather in a circle to share our thoughts, review the day's goals, and engage in icebreakers or quick creative exercises to prepare for class time. 2:00-4:00 PM – Class Time Each day will feature a lesson on an important aspect of creative writing, followed by a hands-on writing activity and an opportunity to present their work. The focus will be on fostering creativity, building writing confidence, and developing skills in public speaking. 4-4:30pm- Wind down activity while waiting for parent pick-up Each student will receive valuable, constructive feedback on their writing from both peers and instructors. This feedback will help them sharpen their writing skills, not only improving their creativity but also preparing them for school assignments and projects. The ability to review and revise their work based on feedback will be an essential tool for success in school, especially in writing-intensive subjects. Additionally, practicing presenting their stories will enhance their public speaking abilities, boosting their confidence in class presentations and future speaking engagements. Ready to Write & Shine? Sign up today for this unique summer camp and watch your child’s creativity flourish in a supportive, fun, and educational environment!

Ultimate 3-Week Public Speaking & Creativity Summer Program for Rising 5th-8th Graders! Join us at our brand-new CENTER in Reston, VA, for an unforgettable summer filled with confidence-building, creativity, laughter and communication! Over three weeks, students will dive into public speaking, creative writing, debate, entrepreneurship, improv, and more! Whether your child wants to strengthen their voice, unleash their imagination, or sharpen their persuasion skills, this program has something for everyone! Week 1 (July 21-25): Public Speaking & Creative Writing AM Session: Ultimate Public Speaking Program • Master the art of confident public speaking through engaging lessons and interactive activities with plenty of practice and individualized feedback. • Learn persuasive speech, storytelling, and impromptu speaking skills. • Gain essential communication techniques for school, social settings, and future careers. PM Session: Write & Rock! Creative Writing Coolness • Explore character development, world-building, and storytelling techniques. • Build confidence in writing and presenting original works. • Engage in interactive exercises that blend writing with public speaking skills. Week 2 (July 28-August 1): Advanced Public Speaking & Debate AM Session: Public Speaking Mastery – Debate & Persuasive Speaking • Develop structured arguments and think critically in engaging debates. • Learn persuasive techniques and refine delivery through real-time feedback. • Strengthen confidence in class discussions, leadership roles, and social settings. PM Session: Expression Explosion! Readers Theater, Monologues & Improv • Develop confidence and creativity through theater-based activities. • Perform in Readers Theater, monologues, and improv games. • Strengthen speaking and quick-thinking skills in a supportive environment. Week 3 (August 4-8): STEAM Innovation & Theatrical Expression AM Session: STEAM Tank – Innovate, Speak & Pitch Like a Pro! • Inspired by Shark Tank, campers will create, brand, and pitch a business or product idea. • Learn persuasive speaking, marketing, and intellectual property basics. • Participate in a high-energy pitch showcase judged by real professionals! PM Session: Comedy Camp! Stand-Up & Stand Out! Get ready to write, perform, and bring the laughs in this fun and interactive comedy camp for rising 5th-8th graders! Stand-up comedy is one of the most challenging—but also most FUN—forms of public speaking, and this camp will help young comedians build the skills they need to craft clever (and age-appropriate) jokes, develop their own comedic style, deliver punchlines, and stand up on the comedic stage with confidence! Over 10 hours of hands-on learning, campers will: 🎤 Discover the art of writing humor – from wordplay to storytelling to perfecting comedic timing. 😂 Create their own jokes & stand-up routines – developing material that fits their unique style and personality. 👀 Receive peer and instructor feedback – refining their work through fun, supportive critique. 🎭 Perform their original stand-up sets – putting their skills to the test in a final comedy showcase! Daily Schedule for All Camps: 9:30 – 10:00 AM – Early Drop-Off (Extra Fee – Please Add to Your Registration) 10:00 – 11:30 AM – Morning Session Part 1 11:30 – 11:50 AM – Snack & Socialization/Activity Time 11:50 AM – 1:00 PM – Practice/Activity/Feedback Time 1:00 – 1:45 PM – Lunch & Quiet Activity (Drop-Off for PM Students) 1:45 – 2:00 PM – Warm-Up & Icebreakers 2:00 – 4:00 PM – Lessons, Practice, & Feedback 4:00 – 4:30 PM – Wind Down & Parent Pick-Up Why Choose This Program? ✔️ Designed for middle schoolers to develop real-world confidence and communication skills. ✔️ Taught by expert instructors, including Sumedha Bahri, Patent Attorney, Professor, Speaker & Stand-Up Comic! ✔️ Hands-on, engaging activities with daily practice and personalized feedback. ✔️ Small class sizes for individual attention and maximum participation. ✔️ A fun, supportive environment where students learn while having a blast! Don’t miss out—spots fill up fast! Secure your child’s place in the Ultimate 3-Week Public Speaking & Creativity Summer Program today!