Best Midwestern Speech camp?

[TruRavenclaw]

I know the season has just barely ended, but deadlines may come soon for speech camps. Does anyone know of good ones in the Midwest.

If they're in Illinois, that'd probably be better, but just curious about what's out there. My teammates and I are curious.

Places we've considered are Bradley and Northwestern, but I'm sure there's more.

Are there any opinions on the Bradley and Northwestern camps? Any successful people come out of them?

Thanks for the help guys!

[gwspeech]

ISU is totally totally awesome, lots of fun and laid back but still great preparation. I've been for 4 weeks and loved every one. My only recommendation there is to go for an event you don't know as well rather than one you're really solid at because you don't know the skill levels of the other people. Still, tons of individual coaching and lots of fun. Lots of people do very well from it: I can make a list in any given event if you're curious, but it's certainly great for competition.

[garma3]

I hear the Gustavus Adolphous speech camp in St. Peter, MN, is excellent.

[jeawagne]

Bradley is one of the gold standards, nationally and regionally. I highly recommend it. Lots of college national finalists coach the campers, as well as the Bradley coaches themselves. And hey, Peoria is where state will be for a while...

ISU is also good, but Bloomington-Normal always depresses me.


I've known people who have gone to both and have ended up in state final or as state champs.

Northwestern is another option, but a little different. It is pricey, but that is mostly because it is three weeks (I think they expanded it from two weeks.) Also, it is considered a summer school-type program so you have to apply, which is about as difficult as getting into the school itself. Someone told me that if you get into the summer program, it's a good chance you'll get into school there.

Northern IL Univ. has a program, and it is an on-campus program like the above. Not quite as prestigious of a coaching staff but the program has been getting better in recent years. Grad student coaches there recently were from the Bradley team.

One of the south-west suburban junior colleges has a day program -- I think it's Prairie State College.

[IwillSing4U2222]

Totally great point about state being in Peoria the next few years. There actually haven't really been any college meets the weekend of IHSA state, so I'm sure IHSA would be smart to employ some of the Bradley staff to judge... It is also just a really killer camp in general.

[TruRavenclaw]

Hmmm who are some people who've gone to Bradley and ISU?

[popper2014]

ISU state qualifiers: (off the top of my head)

Jenni McCarthy
Tess Mody
Taylor Adams
Kevin Giffin
Michael Lopesciolo
Annie Larsen
Mickie Anderson
Eric Baker
Mike Duffy
Mike Tristano
Todd Schumacher
Jon Williamsen
Chris Skurka
Jessica Galang
Chris Rife
Lauren Histed
Julian Glover

in addition to other campers who qualified in PIR and did well throughout the enitre season.

[IwillSing4U2222]

ISU accommodates more for IHSA specific speech.

Bradley accommodates kids around the entire country. It's a huge camp with tons of options. They may not host as many IHSA-specific state finalists or winners....but they can whip up national final ready performances in a week. I'd go there over ISU's any day, as someone that has actually been on the inside of both. Plus, when I just sat in on a seminar they gave one morning at the Bradley camp when I was helping coach there... just listening to some of the incredible speakers they provide the students...changed my entire performance style and perspective on forensics in general.

[jeawagne]

It's a huge camp with tons of options. They may not host as many IHSA-specific state finalists or winners....I'd vote for Bradley. But they have a lot of IHSA results of their own. Two words: Mark Schmidt.

[loveandpeace]

Gustavus is a very good speech camp. My friend went there last summer and came home with some amazing stuff.

[TruRavenclaw]

On a side note... I decided on ISU... anyone know people going this year?