Designed for students competing in Original Oratory, Advocacy, and Expository events, our Platform Speaking events program helps speakers craft ideas that resonate and deliver them with clarity and confidence.
Students work closely with nationally ranked coaches through writing labs, delivery practice, and revision cycles that ensure every speech is both persuasive and competition-ready.
Being at Stanford University is a dramatic plus, and for many students, Stanford is the first environment where their curiosity feels fully supported. That shift—from “student” to “future scholar”—that comes from being on a truly world class campus, can be transformative.
Why This Program Works
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Expert coaching in structure, storytelling, and persuasion
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Concept-to-application model for immediate skill growth
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Continuous feedback on content and delivery
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Clear preparation for tournament-level performance
The institute is divided into three divisions:
(Scroll below for more information about each division)
Varsity Platform Speaking Curriculum Outline
Week 1: Message, Structure & Competitive Strategy
What Makes Platform Speech Competitive (Not Just Persuasive):
Understanding how judges evaluate platform events and how winning speeches differ from strong classroom presentations.-
Topic Selection & Thesis Precision:
Refining ideas into clear, arguable theses that are appropriate for competition and sustainable across a season. -
Organizing a Winning Speech:
Structural models for OO, Advocacy, and Expository; building logical progression, narrative flow, and strategic emphasis. -
Evidence, Storytelling & Support:
How to balance data, examples, and narrative so speeches feel authentic, credible, and judge-friendly. -
Writing Powerful Introductions & Conclusions:
Crafting openings that establish authority and focus, and endings that reinforce ballot-level impact. -
Delivery as Strategy:
Using pacing, emphasis, vocal variation, and physical presence intentionally rather than performatively.
Week 2: Refinement, Adaptation & Tournament Readiness
Revision as a Competitive Skill:
Learning how to revise speeches based on feedback, ballots, and judge paradigms.-
Judge Adaptation:
Adjusting tone, depth, and emphasis based on different judge expectations without losing core message. -
Professionalism & Tournament Etiquette:
Understanding dress, demeanor, round presence, and how to read and use ballots effectively. -
Performance Polishing:
Refining gestures, transitions, timing, and emphasis for consistency across rounds. -
End-of-Camp Platform Tournament:
Students compete in a camp-wide platform tournament judged by experienced coaches and speech champions, receiving detailed feedback.
Novice Platform Speaking Curriculum Outline
Week 1: Foundations of Platform Speech
What Is Competitive Platform Speaking?:
Introduction to Original Oratory, Advocacy, and Expository events and how they differ.-
Finding a Topic That Works:
Identifying ideas that are meaningful, appropriate, and competition-ready. -
Basic Speech Structure:
Learning how to organize introductions, bodies, and conclusions clearly. -
Research & Support:
Using evidence responsibly and effectively to support claims. -
Delivery Fundamentals:
Building confidence through posture, eye contact, vocal clarity, and pacing.
Week 2: Growth & Application
Strengthening Arguments:
Improving clarity, depth, and focus.-
Introduction & Conclusion Practice:
Learning how to clearly frame and close speeches. -
Practice Speeches & Feedback:
Multiple performance opportunities with coach guidance. -
Mock Tournament Experience:
A structured final event to help students feel confident entering the season.
To register for the California Competitive Speech Institute at Stanford University, please follow the below steps
- Click "Apply Now" on the top right of this screen.
- Follow the prompts to enter parent and student information on screens 1 and 2.
- On screen 3, select the following options:
- Camp Category: Competitive Speech
- Camp Name: Platform
- Camp Session: Select the Session you prefer
- Camp Major: Select Novice or Varsity (see below)
- Price Option: Select Extended Day Camp or Overnight Camp
- Camp Category: Competitive Speech
- Camp Name: Platform
- Camp Session: Select the Session you prefer
- Camp Major: Select Novice or Varsity (see below)
- Price Option: Select Extended Day Camp or Overnight Camp
The institute is divided into three divisions:
- Novice Speech: Students entering their first year of competitive speech.
- Varsity Speech: Students who have competed in individual events for one or more years.
- Summer Encore: A unique division of the Varsity Lab for students who have previously completed another speech camp in the same summer. Rather than investing time on finding, cutting or writing speeches, an emphasis will be placed on refining the performance to maximize the performer's competitive edge. Students interested in Summer Encore should register for the varsity lab and submit an email to Encore@eucamps.net with information about their previous competition camp.
| Program | Grades | Location | Start Date | End Date | Price Options | Register |
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| Platform Speaking (OO, OA Etc) | 9 - 12 | Stanford University | Jul 19, 2026 | Aug 1, 2026 | Enroll |
Price Options for Platform Speaking (OO, OA Etc)
| Extended Day Camp | $2,585 |
| Overnight Camp | $3,950 |
Sample Schedule Speech |
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|---|---|
| 8:00 am | Breakfast in the dining hall (overnight campers) |
| 9-9:15 am | Extended day camper check-in |
| 9:15 am | Warm-Ups |
| 10:00 am | Morning Lab/Practicum |
| 12:30 pm | Lunch in the dining hall (included for all campers) |
| 1:30 pm | Lecture |
| 2:45 pm | Afternoon Lab/Practicum |
| 5:30 pm | Dinner in the dining hall (included for all campers) |
| 6:30 pm | One-on-One Sessions |
| 8:00 pm | Group Session |
| 9:00 pm | Extended day camper check-out |
| 10:00 pm | Floor check |
| 10:30 pm | Room check |