Parents Ask. We Answer.

More than okay. That's our default. The vast majority of Stockton campers are first-timers, and our novice track is designed specifically for kids who've never spoken in front of a group before. We start from the absolute basics.

Stockton Camps is open to students entering 6th through 12th grade in fall 2026 who are residents of San Joaquin County. Non-SJC families are welcome to attend through our parent organization, Ascend Speech & Debate, at standard rates.

Commuter campers arrive at 9 AM and head home at 6 PM. Mornings are skill workshops and lectures, midday is lunch on campus, and afternoons are practice rounds and team activities. Residential campers continue through the evening with dinner, additional instruction, and fun activities until lights-out at 11 PM.

Commuter campers come for the 9 AM – 6 PM instructional day and head home for dinner. Residential campers live on campus the full two weeks. Tuition for the residential option covers housing, all meals, evening instruction, and supervised activities through 11 PM. Both options include the same coaching, curriculum, and Saturday showcase.

Stockton Camps is the same program as Ascend's national California camp, offered to San Joaquin County families at a steep local discount. Third-party sources subsidize the lower San Joaquin County resident rate so cost isn't a barrier for local students. Families outside the county are welcome to attend through Ascend Speech & Debate at standard rates.

Yes. We don't want tuition to be the reason a Stockton family doesn't try camp. Financial aid and sibling discounts are available for every tier. Schedule a call and we'll walk through what works for your family.

Housing in the dorms, all three meals daily, evening instruction, supervised evening activities, 24/7 staff supervision, on-site nurse, and access to the same campus amenities all campers enjoy. You drop your student off on the first day and pick them up at the end. We handle the rest.

Drop-off is at a designated spot on the University of the Pacific campus between 8:45 and 9:00 AM. Pickup is at the same location at 6:00 PM for commuters. We send a packet with the exact details after you register. Residential families drop off Sunday before camp and pick up after the Saturday showcase.

Because we commit to coaching staff and facilities well in advance, we're unable to offer refunds. We do allow you to defer your spot to next summer if you let us know by May 31, 2026.

Stockton Camps is directed by founder Quest Sandel, who grew up in Stockton. The program is operated by Ascend Speech & Debate, which has trained over 1,000 students since 2019 and is the premier Congressional Debate camp in the country. Our coaching staff are national champions and award-winning educators.