Communication Camps:      Public Speaking, Leadership, Mock Trial and Acting

Too many young people have something to say but don’t yet have the tools to speak publicly with comfort and impact. Education Unlimited’s Communication Camps help students develop the real-world skills that show up everywhere: in class discussions, presentations, interviews, leadership roles, and beyond.

Our programs are practical, supportive, and skill-focused — built for students who want to express themselves more clearly, think faster on their feet, and communicate with confidence.

Explore our program offerings below!

Public Speaking Institute

Education Unlimited is the national leader in providing noncompetitive public speaking summer programs for kids and teens. Education Unlimited was founded in 1993 by a group of speech and debate coaches who developed our innovative curriculum. Today, our curriculum directors and on-site faculty include coaches at premier high schools and universities, as well as former speech, debate, and mock trial competitors who reached national levels of success.

Sharpening communication abilities helps students succeed in a world that demands confidence, articulation, and the ability to clearly communicate ideas. By building superior speaking skills, students prepare to excel in school, advocate for their beliefs and values, and become leaders in their schools and communities.

5 Reasons to Focus on Public Speaking This Summer

• Public speaking is a necessary, indispensable life skill — most people are called upon to speak in public at some point.
• Public speaking improves research and organization abilities, crucial skills for high school and college success.
• Employers consistently rank communication among the top skills they look for — students can get a head start on future careers.
• Speech and debate activities involve active construction of knowledge: students synthesize, analyze, and apply information.
• Speech helps develop social skills such as confidence, eye contact, poise, and articulation.

Programs are offered at multiple levels (Elementary, Middle School, and High School), so students can grow from their starting point.

Mock Trial

Our Mock Trial camps take students step-by-step through the process of preparing and performing a trial. Students learn the legal process, argument construction, delivery skills, critical thinking, and cross-examination. By the end of the week, students can complete multiple full trials — and motivated students may complete four or five practice rounds.

Programs include: One-Week Middle School Mock Trial, One-Week High School Mock Trial, and a Two-Week Competition Intensive.

"Mock trial teaches a student invaluable skills of critical thinking, argument attack and defense, and persuasive public speaking. Having been in a real free speech case that went to the U.S. Supreme Court, and having coached high school and college debate, I can state without reservation that this type of training can be amongst the most effective a student can receive for success in school and beyond."
— Matt Fraser, former litigator in Bethel v. Fraser, and former high school & college debate director

California Actors Workshop

California Actors Workshop offers a concentrated summer training experience in the art and craft of acting. Students learn how to build characters, play objectives, and express interior emotions physically and vocally — while also developing collaboration and ensemble skills.

This hands-on, conservatory-style program draws from influential modern theatre practices, including core concepts from Stanislavski’s An Actor Prepares, along with faculty-led coursework that may include Improvisation, Voice, Movement, Script Analysis, Shakespeare, Acting for the Camera, and more.

Students learn from real theatre artists devoted to nurturing the next generation of actors. Instructors often teach at universities such as UC Berkeley and Stanford University or bring substantial professional acting and directing experience.

Programs include: Middle School Actors Workshop and High School Actors Workshop.

A+ Summer Leadership

We developed our leadership programs around a simple premise: students should strive to be effective leaders who demonstrate excellence through their approach and accomplishment. Our programs go beyond “leadership enthusiasm” and focus on skill-building: communication, perspective, problem-solving, and project execution.

Leadership camp is designed to help students improve from their current starting point — whether they’re already leading or are just beginning to explore how they can grow into leadership roles.

Leadership skill areas include:

• Knowing yourself as a leader: values, motives, and leadership style
• Communicating with others: presentations, meeting leadership, and professional communication
• Practical experience: hands-on projects simulating entrepreneurial and community leadership