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Testimonies
Training minds for action successfully for several years...
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2010 Testimonials
Colorado Conference
Most of our coaching staff flew out to beautiful Colorado for up to two weeks of training events.
The Training Minds Ministry camp was one of the best speech and debate experiences I have ever had. The coaching and informative sessions were extremely helpful in improving my skills in both speech and debate, and combined with Miss Maggie's gourmet meals, this conference was worth every penny.
- Zach Webb, Colorado
If you are interested in team policy debate, I would consider it suicide not to attend camp.
- Kasey Leander, Colorado
Camp was great! I learned loads of history about Russia that will influence my debate. Plus, I made lots of new friends!
- Lauren Edmonson, Utah
Research camp was extremely helpful mostly in that it gave me as a debater a deep understanding of the Russia topic as well as many good sources of evidence for the topic well before the year began. Because of this information, all successive research throughout the year will be much more productive. Additionally, this year research camp covered many strategies on how to develop and deploy generic briefs. This gives all of the debaters from research camp a definite leg up for competition.
- Mark Edmonson, Utah
I learned a lot! I loved it! I hope to come back next year!
-Grace Bryce, Utah
I learned so much during camp. I came in thinking a certain ways, and my perspective completely changed over the course of camp. I did things I didn't know I was capable of and things that I knew I loved. Camp created certain views, and inforced others. I loved it!
-Morgan Levy, Colorado
The Training Minds Debate Camp was great! I learned so much about how to improve my debate skills and feel prepared for the next tournament.
- Ben Landis, Minnesota
I had convinced my school to pay for this and had told them that it would help me have the knowledge for research to pass on to my students who could use it not just for debate but for life. That is just what I did get. I'm pleased that the money was well spent.
- Jeannette Walker, New Hampshire
The two weeks of camp were an exciting blessing! The complete immersion in speech and debate was a very fun and helpful learning experience. I intend to continue returning to camp until I graduate.
- Margot Brose, Wyoming
California Lincoln-Douglas Camp
A couple dozen LD debaters made for a cozy and effective debate camp in Laguna Hills, Calif.
LD camp was both informative and encouraging. It was an overall good experience! I am glad we made the effort to attend.
- Ann Bartholow, California
Training Minds gave me one of my first debate camp experiences, and every time I come to an event of theirs, I am blown away by the quality of the program and how much I come away having learned! I would highly recommend it to any serious competitor and look forward to attending again in the near future!
- Lauren Blankenship, California
Nationals Intensive Training Camp - San Diego (Stoa)
Our "NITC" event took place from coast to coast in two different homeschool leagues. First, Stoa's first National Tournament in San Diego, and two weeks later in Virginia Beach for NCFCA's 12th National Tournament.
My camp experience in Colorado last August was phenomenal. I thought it could not have been any better. Then I came to NITC. NITC was an extremely fun, mind sharpening, knowledge gaining experience. The RedBook final installment was very instrumental in the rounds I had at NITOC. Of course, playing Ultimate Frisbee on the beach with all my former camp buddies was a blast. But the single best part of the camp was getting into the proper mindset; "Tournament mode". I really did feel ready to tackle what came my way. Actually, I take that back. The single beat part was the people. Old friends, new friends, the wonderful staff and the amazing coaches. This camp: from the practice rounds, to the incredibly fun drills and the intense round table discussions, was a truely incredible experience, one which I sincerely hope to repeat in 2011.
- Jacob Phillip, Texas
I really, really liked the practice debates and subsequent feedback. I needed a refresher after nearly 3 months of not doing much debate. I am fairly sure that NITC improved my record.
- Eric Thompson, California
Come to NITC! Come to NITC! Come to NITC! Second only to debate camp, this was the best investment I made all season. I showed up because I had heard that it was helpful in preparing for Nationals...but I didn't understand just HOW beneficial it is until I came and experienced it for myself. I received invaluable insight from the coaches along with students who have an obvious drive for excellence, while in a fun and engaging atmosphere that I am looking forward to experiencing again. If you want to meet your goals at the biggest tournament of the season, make a little extra effort and come to NITC...Believe me, it will be TOTALLY worth it! Thank you, Training Minds, for making my first Nationals experience a truly satisfying one!
- Lauren Blankenship, California
The coaches were phenomenal at communicating valuable information to the students. I am glad that I was able to participate at NITC with the Herches. Cody's last speech on how to approach the tournament mentally, was quite a confidence booster. I believe I succeeded at achieving personal success because of that final speech.
- Tommy Gehrig, California
The great thing about NITC is that the camp does not end after the 2 days. The coaches are still present to guide you and help coach you throughout the tournament. Overall, the contacts formed with both the coaches and the competitors proved critically important at the National Tournament.
- Jon Bateman, Illinois
Attending NITC was a great experience in my nationals preparation. The coaches were encouraging and very helpful, with lots of advice and feedback. Working, prepping, (and debating!) with friends was a highlight of NITC. This was a wonderful help to me, and I would recommend it!
- Elena Trueba, California
Nationals Intensive Training Camp - Virginia Beach (NCFCA)
At NITC I was able to get re-focused on debate, due to a several month hiatus. At NITC I was able to get several practice debates in and get extensive feedback from the coahces. Cody Herche also gave an amazing speech on setting goals for nationals. I was able to realize what I wanted to get out of my "nationals experience" with his speech. However, the most useful thing of NITC was the online society in which fellow NITC members traded flows, discussed value, applications, and even how to get prepared to face certain debaters. All in all I had an amazing time, and hope I qualify to nats next year so I can attend NITC.
- Brett Howard, Oregon
NITC gave me the information that I was looking for. Going through applications and drills really increased my confidence and mad me feel more prepared to field whatever was thrown at me. The coaching during NITC and Nationals was so helpful- i.e. Travis showed me a new way to look at and execute rebuttals and I didn't give a single rebuttal throughout Nationals that went without compliment! I may not have broken, but attending NITC made me comfortable and confident in my performance.
- Rachel Seay, Colorado
I came to NITC thinking "I really don't think I deserve to be at Nationals. I got an At-Large slot; I couldn't even qualify the 'legitimate' way." By the time NITC was finished, I was confident that even if I didn't think I deserved to be there, I was ready, prepared, and equipped to do well at Nats. However, I lost sight of that. In my first 3 rounds, I constantly thought that I was at the national tournament, forgetting what Cody said at one point at NITC "Think of each round as the final round." Quite fittingly, I lost all three. However, as I began to apply the mindset that had been provided at NITC, the rounds became less daunting. Because of the encouragement I received at NITC, I went from 0-3 after three rounds, to 3-3 at the end of the tournament. The Florida Training Minds camp got me to Nationals, and NITC got me through it.
- Alex Sargent, Florida
Fear and Trembling lead to Confidence and Readiness over the course of just two days at NITC. NITC helped us to be mentally prepared and not as afraid, and the coached practice rounds helped knock the rust off after a month of inactivity. Should I qualify again next year, I'll be back, but I'll have already left the Fear and Trembling behind.
- Jacob Dean, Florida
"I truly enjoyed my time in NITC ... there was excellent camaraderie and good information about debate and debate techniques. Specifically, Cody's speaking drills definitely stretched me and pulled me out of my comfort zone. They made me feel much more aware of how I sounded, what I looked like, and how to use my tone and voice to communicate more than just words. I appreciated the feedback I received from the coaches. They put a lot of time and effort into reviewing my cases and giving me personal critique. Thanks so much! "
- Damaris Jimenez, Virginia
NITC really helped me to be mentally ready for Nationals. NITC helped me to realize that the "big and scary" teams were beatable. It helped me to realize that it really is possible to win at Nationals and that gave me a confidence boost!
- Haley Russell, Florida
As this was my first year in the NCFCA and my first nationals, I walked into NITC with phrases like "Nationals is a whole new animal!" and "Why aren't you more nervous?!" crowding my mind. NITC helped me step back and see the tournament for what it was, an awesome opportunity to compete and glorify God through competition. At the same time, it prepared me for the intensity of the week by shaking me out of the after-regionals stupor and handing me challenges and critiques that echoed in my brain throughout the week. While short, NITC was a useful, enjoyable kick-off to Nationals.
- Whitney Rutherford, Florida
At NITC, I gained the confidence I needed for going against cases ran by nationally qualified teams. I felt prepared to handle anything from the tournament well. I liked how I got to meet and work with some of my competition in more of a laid-back, friendly manner. I made great friends! The coaches were all fantastic in their attitude and what they had to offer. I wouldn't have felt nearly as focused without something to keep me going; assignments, research, discussions, ect. I am very thankful NITC was an option to prepare me for the best tournament of my life.
- Amber Liddiard, Colorado
Usually, my first and second rounds at tournaments are a little 'meh'. Being able to overcome that by debating other competitors the day before benefited me greatly. Additionally, meeting so many other LDers helped a ton. I knew that if I needed to ask someone a question about a certain case, or borrow something, there were 13 other NITC debaters willing to help!
- Natasha Torrens, Virginia
With the overwhelming stress of preparing for Nationals, Training Mind's NITC camp gave me the confidence and intense training that I needed to succeed. Valued time with coaches, packed sessions with exceptional information, and excellent practice rounds gave me and my partner a great start for Nats. We couldn't have done as well as we had if it weren't for NITC!
- Catherine Gardiner, Hawaii
NITC is a pre-nats essential. It helped my partner and I mentally prepare for the competition and get our heads in the game. Instead of diving head first into cold water Tuesday morning, NITC provided the opportunity to practice and thoroughly re-examine cases and debates to shake off any rust from Regionals. The coaches bend over backwards to provide support and aid to whomever needs it. It's a worthwhile investment!
- Mary Claire Birdsong, Georgia
Testimonies
Training minds for action successfully for several years...
