Strategic Intelligence Camp functions as a unique environment for Christian teens to interact with the idea of “How should intelligence look from a Christian perspective?” In our era, terrorism, privacy, security, legality, technology, and culture present increasingly thorny situations that touch intelligence and are extremely relevant to everyday citizens, both as patriots and as Christians. Through lectures, activities, simulations, and discussions, SI Camp attempts to help students begin developing a framework for understanding key questions. While at Strategic Intelligence camp, you will:
ADVANCED TRACK
Have you attended the Strategic Intelligence Camp before? If so, there is a special track available just for you! SI: Advanced Track is designed to allow students who have already been to SI Camp to dive a little deeper into some of the more complex challenges of the intelligence field. This addition to Strategic Intelligence Camp replaces Strategic Intelligence: Level 2 and will run concurrently with the Entry Track camp.
This Advanced Track will involve special lectures and additional guided research into specific issues and countries that are likely to be major international players in the next few years. Campers in this track are expected to help shepherd the Entry Track campers who have not attended before, as much of their prior experience will carry over.
If you are serious about pursuing strategic intelligence as a career, dive deeper into the field with this Advanced Track for returning campers only.
Welcome & Move-In Day | What Intelligence Is and Isn't | Counter-Intel & Game of Pawns | Modern Imagery, Techniques, & Problems | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Public Choice, Policy, & Presentations | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Guest Lecture (SI Professor) |
Guest Lecture (Intel Operations) |
Guest Lecture (FBI Field Officer) |
Monuments & Memorials | Crisis Management Exercise (CME) | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Intelligence Community Q&A | Military Covert Operations Q&A | Cybersecurity & the Internet Q&A | (cont'd) | (cont'd) | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Interactive Film Analysis | Interactive Film Analysis | Interactive Film Analysis | Smithsonian Museums | (cont'd) | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Customs, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Missions | Dinner & Evening Missions | Dinner & Evening Missions | Dinner & Evening Missions | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
Sam Watkins is a graduate of PHC's Strategic Intelligence track ('15) and proud Kentuckian who has vowed to keep her southern roots intact no matter where she goes. During her time at PHC, she enjoyed working on several projects, including leading the FBI Counterintelligence Journal, teaching and mentoring new freshmen in PHC's Introduction to Intelligence, and playing the U.S. President during crisis simulations.
Sam interned at the Bureau of Diplomatic Security in the State Department and hopes to go back someday as a full time employee overseas. She has been involved with SI camp for 5 years and continues towards her goal of making each year better than the last. During her limited free time, she spends entirely too much time cuddling with her beloved cats, and she loves nothing more than dancing, fiction writing, and making messes in the kitchen and calling it cooking.
When our government officials take the oath of office, they do not pledge faithfulness to the government, the president, or even the nation itself—they promise to support and defend the Constitution of the United States. But many Americans are functionally illiterate when it comes to the Constitution. The nation and the courts now seem to use the Constitution to support ideologies and policies directly contrary to the Founding Fathers’ intent. How have we arrived here and is there a way forward where these issues can be addressed?
At Constitutional Law Camp, you will explore our nation's founding documents and precedent-setting Supreme Court decisions. You’ll get familiar with legal terms and complex judicial and legislative concepts, while learning to reflect critically about the Constitution’s original intent. You will receive cases to decide as if you were a member of the Supreme Court, and you will get to apply the legal principles that you have learned to come up with an oral opinion as Supreme Court Justices. Leave camp with a thorough understanding of the world’s first and longest-standing written constitution, the basis for how our country and its freedoms work.
Students will take an active role in learning the Constitution through group exercises, research, and presentations. In a dynamic, hands-on format, Constitutional Law Camp will scratch the surface of these issues and help you think through what your response will be and how you might be a part of recovering important pieces of our great republic.
Welcome & Move-In Day | Foundations of Government | The Big Ideas of Constitutional Law | The Bill of Rights & Case Review | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Principles of Interpretation | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Intro to American Government | Mapping the Constitution | Principles of Interpretation | Monuments & Memorials | Dobbs Decision | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Political Theory & Rule of Law | Democracy vs. Republic | Substantive Due Process | (cont'd) | Free Speech and Religion | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Our Unique Constitution | Guest Lecture (PHC Professor) |
Guest Lecture (Gov. Official) |
Smithsonian Museums | Game Show & Review | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
Peter Kamakawiwoole is the Director of Litigation for the Home School Legal Defense Association. During his 12 years as a staff attorney on the HSLDA litigation team, he has represented homeschooling families before state and federal tribunals, including the United States Circuit Courts of Appeals for the Second and Fourth Circuits, and the Supreme Court of Virginia. Kamakawiwoole earned his law degree from St. Louis University School of Law and is also an adjunct professor of government at Patrick Henry College. Additionally, Kamakawiwoole is a Patrick Henry College alumnus and was the first PHC American Moot Court Association national champion in 2005.
We are each called to be influencers for the glory of God. Part of working out that calling is learning about your unique “leadership shape”—the way that God has hard-wired you to interact with people, to process information and to make decisions. In this camp we will help students discover their leadership strengths as well as areas where they have the opportunity for growth. The material is interactive and involves fast-paced team projects, fun simulations and constructive feedback. We will learn about vision statements, organizing and running team meetings, and even develop a marketing campaign for the Lake Bob Underwater Marine Observatory and Discovery Center, just for fun.
Leadership also includes the ability to listen well and interact with people who are very different from you. The Worldviews portion of the camp will focus on examining four principle worldviews (humanism/atheism, polytheism, pantheism and monotheism) to understand how each would answer four basic questions of:
Origin - Where did we come from? Is there a God?
Meaning - Why are we here? Is there meaning for our existence?
Morality - What accounts for the way we interact with each other? Do right / wrong, good / bad really exist?
Destiny – Is this all there is? Is there life after death? How do our actions now impact that destiny?
Is there any common ground? What are the major differences?
Does a particular worldview pass the two tests for truth: correspondence and coherence?
Students need a well-reasoned apologetic (defense) of their faith now more than ever! They also need to understand what it means to have a faith that is based on the Person of Christ versus a faith that is based on ever-changing cultural norms. This camp will help students develop a mental and spiritual grid for sifting and sorting through the barrage of cultural messages that confront them every day. In addition, it will give them tools for leading and interacting in a diverse environment in ways that add light, not heat, to potentially divisive conversations.
Welcome & Move-In Day | Learning Your Leadership Style | Implementing Your Leadership Style | Understanding Why Worldview Matters | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Team Presentations & Recap | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Definition of a Leader | Time Management & Resolving Conflict | Deciphering Worldviews | Monuments & Memorials | Debrief of D.C. Tour | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Leadership Personality Test | Team Presentation Breakout & Report | The Big 4 Worldviews | (cont'd) | Team Worldview Presentations | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Project Mgmt. & Presentation Intro | Field of Dreams Case Study | Team Presentation Preparation | Smithsonian Museums | Wrap-Up & Open Mic Session | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
President Jack Haye is a 30-year veteran of the corporate banking world. He holds degrees from Baylor University and American Graduate School of International Management, including a Masters of International Management-Finance and Accounting. President Haye spent nearly twenty years as a banking executive at Wells Fargo and for ten years (2002-2012) held the position of Executive Vice President and National Manager. He served on the Board of Visitors at Baylor University (1986-1992), and as a founding member of PHC's Board of Trustees (1998-Present), having served as the Board Chairman since 2000.
Before becoming President of Patrick Henry College in August 2015, President Haye served as Executive Pastor of First Baptist Church of McKinney, a 5000-member church located near Dallas, Texas. His responsibilities there included staff development, budget management, development and delivery of apologetics teaching series, and oversight of both local and international missional engagement in the areas of orphan care, education, and human trafficking.
Leland Ryken writes in The Liberated Imagination: Thinking Christianly About the Arts that history "tell[s] us what happened, while literature tells us what happens." Both are vitally important for Christian education. How does good literature interact with history? What can the Western canon teach us about humans and cultures? What makes a book a classic that history will remember? Last year we came together to discuss Classics & Culture, exploring what worldview and culture surround several Western classics and how these classics reflect the history of their time. This year's camp will focus on the impact of great authors Homer, William Shakespeare, Jane Austen, and C.S. Lewis, whose writings shaped society and history.
Welcome & Move-In Day | Ancient to Medieval Times | Renaissance to Reformation | Romanticism to Realism | Washington D.C. Field Trip | 20th Century to Postmodern |
Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Lit Analysis & Historical Context | Lit Analysis & Historical Context | Lit Analysis & Historical Context | Monuments & Memorials | Lit Analysis & Historical Context | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Creative Application Project | Creative Application Project | Creative Application Project | (cont'd) | Creative Project Presentation | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Guest Lecture (PHC Professor) | Guest Lecture (Jupiter Theatre) | Guest Lecture (PHC Alumni) | Smithsonian Museums | Guest Lecture (PHC Professor) | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
Jennifer Schlaudt is a former Teen Camper, a PHC alumna, and a lover of classic literature. Her Literature degree has opened doors for tutoring, teaching, and curriculum advising—not to mention zealous book clubbing. For over 10 years, Jennifer has invested in high school students at HSLDA Online Academy. Several of those years were focused on teaching and several more on oversight and administration. Her current role as the Academy Director is a privilege, though her love for AP® English Literature & Composition is undiminished.
As an English teacher and a lifelong reader, Jennifer loves opening students’ eyes to the beauty of language and literature—especially poetry. She is thrilled to be part of this year’s Literature & History camp. When she is not reading, Jennifer loves paddleboarding, scrapbooking, and tracking classic authors through beautiful, historic places.
Moot Court provides an opportunity for students to explore Constitutional issues. A traditional law school activity, now growing in the undergraduate arena, Moot Court prepares students for the rigors of arguing a case before the United States Supreme Court. This camp will introduce campers to Moot Court, teaching them how to analyze and defend a case. Campers will have the opportunity to work with and be coached by former collegiate Moot Court national competitors. Beginners and veterans alike are welcome!
Welcome & Move-In Day | What is Moot Court & How to Win | Case Analysis & Issue Statements | Arguments & Courtroom Tips | Issue Prep & Practice Rounds | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Moot Court Intro & 2022 Demo Video | Legal Argumentation | Rhetoric & Demeanor | Hearing #1 & Debrief | Monuments & Memorials | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Reading Case Law & FIHRRs | Brainstorming the Case Issue | Counselor Demo Round | Hearing #2 & Debrief | (cont'd) | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Case Amendments & Breakout | Rule Statement & Argument Outlines | Practice & Refine Arguments | Hearing #3 & Debrief | Smithsonian Museums | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Moot Court Prep | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
PHC Forensics Program Director Susan Johnson brings more than a decade of coaching and organizational experience in high school and collegiate Mock Trial, Moot Court, and Debate to her role as Patrick Henry College Forensics Program Director.
Serving on the Boards of Directors for the American Mock Trial Association (AMTA), American Moot Court Association (AMCA), and National High School Mock Trial Competition (NHSMTC), she is deeply involved in the forensics community nationwide. Sue has been published in the North Carolina State Bar Journal and various newsletters and has authored or co-authored more than a dozen mock trial cases at the high school and collegiate levels. She earned her B.A., summa cum laude, and M.P.H., magna cum laude, from the University of North Carolina in Chapel Hill, as well as a certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University. As a strong supporter of Patrick Henry College, Sue is passionate about developing young men and women to lead the nation and shape the culture for Christ.
At this camp, you will discover the crucial role of economics and the entrepreneur in our society. We will venture beyond the basics and explore the interplay of Christian values, free markets, economic policy, analytics, and cutting edge business practices. This camp is for all levels of business or economics experience. You will benefit from direct interaction with PHC's experienced faculty and staff. The camp culminates in a capstone project of your choice in either entrepreneurship or economic policy. At Entrepreneurship & Economics camp, you will:
Guest presenters will include Prof. Nathan Russell, Assistant Professor of Economics, and Howard Schmidt, PHC’s Executive Vice President and Director of the Economics & Business Analytics program. Read his bio here.
Welcome & Move-In Day | Market, Money, & the Bible | How to Run a Business | The Numbers Behind a Business | Economic Policy & Presentations | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast and Depart for D.C. | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Money & the Bible (VP Schmidt) | Free Enterprise (Professor Russell) | The Market (Professor Russell) | Christ & Business (Dr. Kucks) | Monuments & Memorials | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Vision, Mission, & Purpose | Strategy & Winning in the Market | Thinking Like a CEO | Guest Lecture (PHC Alumni) | (cont'd) | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Executive Summary Overview | Executive Summary Breakout Session | Executive Summary Breakout Session | Executive Summary Group Presentation | Smithsonian Museums | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Presentation Prep | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
Professor Nathan Russell holds an M.A. in Economics from George Mason University and specializes in Public Choice, Public Finance, practical economics, the morality and culture of markets, and communicating economic ideas—particularly ideas related to policy and everyday application of economics. Professor Russell has been with PHC since 2006 and is currently an assistant professor of economics. He previously worked for the Charles G. Koch Foundation where he developed economic education methodology and theories of economic management, the Regulatory Economics Group where he analyzed corporate cost and profitability, and the Mackinac Center for Public Policy where he assessed state economic and educational policy.
From college applications and internships, to job interviews and casual conversations, communications skills are paramount to success. Whether you love being center stage and already have experience in public speaking or you prefer to stay behind the scenes and feel ill at the thought of an audience, this camp is perfect for you. This camp places a special emphasis on the importance of both character and critical thinking in communication. Packed full of practical instruction and personal coaching, this camp will help students step outside of their comfort zone and develop the ability to:
This camp is for any student who wants to increase their influence as an articulate leader. Students can expect to practice all principles taught through personalized coaching, drills, games, and friendly competition.
There are no prerequisites required to attend this camp. Camp material is revamped each year, so returning students are welcome and can expect new lessons and activities to take their communication to the next level! The objective of this camp is for all students to leave with an ignited passion for communication and a solid foundation for how to successfully develop the logical premises of their position.
Welcome & Move-In Day | The Role of the Speaker | Shaping Culture Through Rhetoric | Political Theory in the 18th Century | The Modern Era & Our Response | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Introduction to Oratory | Speeches on War & Inspiration | The Two Revolutions | The Success of American Oratory | Monuments & Memorials | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Rhetorical Devices & How to Utilize | Speeches on Religion | Rhetoric in Defense of Liberty | Rhetoric as a Means of Change | (cont'd) | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | The Rhetoric of the Ancients | Speeches on Politics & Duty | Rhetoric as a Means to Gain Power | Impassioned Rhetorical Triumphs | Smithsonian Museums | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
An alumnus of Patrick Henry College, Professor Christian Fernandez holds a Bachelors of Arts in Literature and a Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance. As a student, he competed in Mock Trial all four years of college, leading several teams, earning multiple individual awards, and competing at the National Championship Tournament twice. Furthermore, he has coached several students to National Championship rankings in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Moot Court.
Professor Fernandez's studies include English literature, classical rhetoric, orations, and theatrical history. His focus is on the intersection between classical rhetorical theory and the rhetoric of early modern English drama. Alongside his studies, Professor Fernandez has directed multiple classical plays, including Shakespeare's As You Like It and Macbeth and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.
Debate Camp will be a stellar experience for anyone who wants to learn how to think, communicate, and persuade. Whether you're a seasoned debater who wants to win nationals or just wants to persuade someone on Facebook, this camp is for you. We will cover everything from basic logic and rhetorical skills to advanced non-verbal persuasion strategies. Through sessions, practice debate rounds, and practical drills, students will leave better equipped to speak truth in a winsome, loving manner.
Never debated before? Debate Camp will help you grasp the skill. Advanced debater? We will dive into the intricacies of persuasion and advanced debate theory to help you refine your skill.
Debate tactics for Team Policy and Lincoln Douglas will be covered during camp, giving you a head start on your preparation for the coming competition year. Students will also learn the finer points of rhetoric, tying their preparation into everyday life that you can take with you into adulthood.
Welcome & Move-In Day | Affirmative Case & Research Methods | Negative Case & Cross Examinations | Ethics, Philosophy, & Argumentation | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Logical Fallacies, Practice, & Recap | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Introduction to Debate | Negative Case Construction | Philosophy Terminology | Monuments & Memorials | How to Debunk Fallacies | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Affirmative Case Construction | Cross Examination Practice | Sun Tzu: The Art of Argumentation | (cont'd) | Presentation & Delivery | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Debate Etiquette & Customs | Case Study: Clausewitz On War | Case Study: Aristotle | Smithsonian Museums | Debate & Recap | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
Ryan McDonald is a federal enforcement attorney working at the Federal Communications Commission in Washington, D.C. He was hired through the Honors Attorney program immediately upon graduation from Scalia Law School and passage of the Virginia Bar Exam. Professor McDonald himself competed in forensics and competitive speaking events of varying forms for more than 15 years, and he now employs his skills teaching Civic Debate to the forensics students of Patrick Henry College. The Civic Debate program at Patrick Henry College entails research and preparation for topic-specific events and enables students to intelligently, critically, and competitively engage in dialogue to persuade judges and citizens alike. The topics range from social justice reforms, economics, and climate topics, to international policy and diplomacy. Professor McDonald uses his class to help develop the critical thinking, research, and truth-seeking capabilities of his students, all while preparing them to compete against some of the best teams in the country.
At Multi-Media Journalism Camp, you’ll experience life as a reporter in a digital world. You will learn how to conduct interviews, how to record and edit video and audio files, and how to tell stories. Mostly importantly, you’ll discover how to think biblically about the news. You will find and craft stories for several platforms and practice engaging your audience. Learn how to:
Watch Summer 2022 award-winning camper videos here!
Welcome & Move-In Day | The Impact of Great Storytelling | Writing, Lighting, & Scripts | Narrating & The Journalism Life | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Audience-Building & Final Edits | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | Storytelling 1: The Structure of Stories | Guest Speaker: Audio Recording | Storytelling 4: Documentaries | Monuments & Memorials | Introduction to PHC Journalism Program | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Storytelling 2: Telling Audio Stories | The Art of the Interview | Project Work | (cont'd) | Project Work | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Storytelling 3: Telling Video Stories | Profile Project Brainstorming | Narration & Voicing Exercise | Smithsonian Museums | Project Presentation (Panel) | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
Dr. Les Sillars directs the Journalism Program at Patrick Henry College. He teaches courses in the Journalism major, directs internships, serves as a student adviser, and oversees the student newspaper. Dr. Sillars is Mailbag Editor at WORLD magazine and a commentator and reporter for WORLD’s radio show, The World & Everything In It. His writing has appeared in The Weekly Standard, Touchstone, The National Post, The Gospel Coalition, The American Conservative, and other publications. His first book, Intended for Evil: A Survivor's Story of Love, Faith, and Courage in the Cambodian Killing Fields, came out in November 2016.
You can listen to one of his TW&E commentaries here.
Guest instructors will include Paul Butler, features editor at WORLD Radio, and more.
Get ready to learn the skills of the stage! Every camper will receive hands-on instruction in stage and screen acting, beginning with the audition process and ending with a final performance of several scene selections from plays of old. If you are interested in production, you will be able to train in the design and presentation of a production, from the pitch to producers to the final fadeout. If you’re interested in both aspects - even better. Every actor/crewmember should expect to learn both on and offstage elements throughout the week.
Welcome & Move-In Day | Producing & Planning | Directing & Managing a Scene | Acting & Character Development | Washington D.C. Field Trip | Final Rehearsal & Show | Pick-Up & Departure | |
- Sunday - | - Monday - | - Tuesday - | - Wednesday - | - Thursday - | - Friday - | - Saturday - | |
7:00 A | Weekend Camper Breakfast | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Devotions | Breakfast & Depart for D.C. | Breakfast & Devotions | Airport Shuttles Depart |
9:00 A | Weekend Camper Church Service | The Art of Production | The Challenge & Reward of Directing | Making a Character Your Own | Monuments & Memorials | Modern Marvels in Drama & Theater | Parent Pickup Begins |
11:00 A | Weekend Camper Lunch | Developing a Concept | Energy, Dynamics, & Stakes | Soliloquy vs. Dialogue | (cont'd) | Scene Rehearsal 4 | (cont'd) |
12:15 P | ~ | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch Break | Lunch on the National Mall | Lunch Break | Parent Pickup Ends |
1:15 P | ~ | Scene Rehearsal 1 | Scene Rehearsal 2 | Scene Rehearsal 3 | Smithsonian Museums | Full Show | ~ |
3:00 P | Check-In, Tour, & Q+A | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Recreation & Free Time | Return to Campus | Recreation & Free Time | ~ |
5:00 P | Dinner & Wing Meetings | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Evening Games | Dinner & Closing Ceremonies | Weekend Camper Dinner |
8:00 P | Opening Ceremonies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Corporate Chapel | Wing Bible Studies | Farewell Fellowship Social | Weekend Camper Activity |
10:00 P | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out | Lights Out |
An alumnus of Patrick Henry College, Professor Christian Fernandez holds a Bachelors of Arts in Literature and a Master of Letters in Shakespeare and Performance. As a student, he competed in Mock Trial all four years of college, leading several teams, earning multiple individual awards, and competing at the National Championship Tournament twice. Furthermore, he has coached several students to National Championship rankings in Lincoln-Douglas Debate and Moot Court.
Professor Fernandez's studies include English literature, classical rhetoric, orations, and theatrical history. His focus is on the intersection between classical rhetorical theory and the rhetoric of early modern English drama. Alongside his studies, Professor Fernandez has directed multiple classical plays, including Shakespeare's As You Like It and Macbeth and Sophocles' Oedipus Rex.