Growing a stronger speech and debate community across the Upper Valley.
UVSDC is an independent, student-led community built to grow speech and debate across the Upper Valley. Our flagship summer camp is the main way we do it — and everything we raise gets reinvested back into local debate: helping teams reach circuit tournaments and helping new programs get off the ground.
A stronger debate community, built by students, sustained by students — one camp, and one program, at a time.
UVSDC exists to grow speech and debate across the Upper Valley — not just for one school, but for the whole region. We're an independent, student-founded community organization, not an official program of any single school or district.
Our main way of doing that is a flagship summer camp: a welcoming, hands-on week that helps students build confidence, sharpen their public speaking, and develop critical thinking and argumentation skills, no experience required.
But the camp is a means, not the whole mission. Registration fees and anything else we raise go right back into the local community — supporting travel for teams headed to major circuit tournaments, and helping new debate programs get on their feet. Grow the camp, grow the community.
The camp is how we fund the community.
UVSDC isn't set up to make money — it's set up to move it. Camp fees and any additional support we raise go back into the Upper Valley debate community in a few concrete ways.
Circuit tournament travel
Helping local teams cover the cost of getting to major regional and national circuit tournaments they might otherwise have to skip.
New programs getting started
Mentorship and support for Upper Valley schools that are just standing up a speech and debate program, from finding a coach to running a first practice.
Camp access for every student
Keeping the flagship camp affordable, so cost isn't the reason a student misses out.
By the end of the week, campers will
A half-day, week-long format that moves from fundamentals to a final tournament — no experience required.
Gain confidence in public speaking
Daily practice in front of a small, supportive group — built to make speaking up feel normal, not nerve-wracking.
Learn Public Forum Debate
The structure and strategy behind one of the most widely used competitive debate formats.
Practice impromptu speaking and constructive argumentation
Hands-on drills in building a case on the spot and defending it under questioning.
Get feedback from experienced debaters and coaches
Direct coaching from nationally ranked high school debaters and the coaches who train them.
Compete in a final tournament
A fun, low-pressure round-robin to put the week's skills to use.
Started by two debaters who wanted more people in the room.
UVSDC was founded in 2025 by Oliver Benedict and Daniel Mann — two of Vermont's top-ranked high school debaters, then students at Hanover High School and Thetford Academy respectively — who built the community to bring speech and debate to Upper Valley students who might never otherwise try it.
UVSDC isn't an official program of either school. It's an independent, student-run community organization. Our flagship camp has been hosted on Thetford Academy's campus with the school's generous support, and our founders' roots are at Thetford Academy and Hanover High School — but UVSDC itself is built to serve students from any school across the Upper Valley.
We're backed by Corin Benedict and Kristen Downey, longtime debate coaches who volunteer their experience to support the student-run community.
UVSDC is founded, and hosts its first summer camp at Thetford Academy.
A second camp is held on Thetford Academy's campus, again directed by Oliver Benedict and Daniel Mann.
Planning for our next summer camp in 2027.
Directed by students. Backed by coaches.
Led by passionate, experienced high school debaters and coaches from Thetford Academy and Hanover High School.
Oliver Benedict
Hanover High School '26, nationally ranked top-50 debater. Coaches the RMS debate team and attends Hobart and William Smith Colleges.
Daniel Mann
Thetford Academy '26, former debate team captain. Represented Vermont at the U.S. Senate Youth Program and attends Dartmouth College.
Corin Benedict
Math teacher and department coordinator who coaches the HHS debate team. Favorite part of debate: digging into the research on a new topic.
Kristen Downey
English teacher and Teaching & Learning Coordinator who coaches the TA debate team. Loves the surprising ways students tackle an argument.
The principles behind the podium
These are the principles our founders and coaches try to build into every camp session and every program we support.
Excellence
We set high expectations and challenge every camper to reach their highest potential.
Commitment
We value initiative and dedication, and take personal responsibility for the goals we set.
Cooperation
We work and learn together — coaches as guides, campers as teammates.
Caring
We give each camper personalized support and guidance, and look out for one another.
Diversity
We welcome different perspectives as part of a rich, flexible camp culture.
Plan your week
confirmed with registration
Registration for 2027 is coming soon.
Have a question or want to hear when 2027 registration opens? Send us a message below.