Debate Camp
Given the complexities and nuance of the annual topic, students traditionally attend a camp over the summer to gain topic knowledge and understanding. These camps are hosted by universities and colleges with highly competitive policy debate teams, and are very expensive. While at camp, students experience a college environment as they learn about the intricacies of the policy debate topic. They experience lectures from professionals, collaborate to build research briefs, and engage in practice speeches.
The Disparity
Due to the high costs of policy debate camps, many students from at-risk communities and unequal backgrounds cannot attend these camps. Correspondingly, these students begin their debate seasons needing more topic knowledge and experience. Inevitably, these students either quit debate or lower their participation because they cannot compete with students from highly funded schools and affluent backgrounds.
Competitive Debate Camps
These camps are renowned for their superior staff, teaching methods, and production of highly competitive and successful debaters.
GDDI Fellows
Cost: $9,999
Description: Hosted by Georgetown and Dartmouth, this seven week program offers the opportunity to experience two elite college campuses. The experience is research-intensive and focused on developing deep mastery of strategy and substance and guiding debaters toward building self-sufficiency for the regular season. The program is taught by some of the best college debate minds in the country.
Michigan Debate Institutes
7 Week Cost: $6,750
If you are looking for one of the most comprehensive and challenging summer workshop experience, the Michigan Seven Week Program is for you. These labs offer the only cohesive, continuous Seven Week summer program for high school debaters. The Seven Week Program offers a student to faculty ratio of 8 to 1 or better a better ratio than any major lab in the country. In addition, students participate in dozens of practice debates, attend dozens of lectures, and produce research.
Northwestern National High School Institute
4 Week Hybrid Cost: $3,500
Northwestern University’s Debate Society has an unparalleled record of success based on the foundations, fundamentals and techniques taught at the Northwestern Debate Institute. Debate Cherubs learn the same principles that have led the Northwestern Debate Society to 15 NDT championships, 16 final round appearances, 12 top speakers – a record of success unmatched in college debate.
Emory National Debate Institute
2 Week In-Person Cost: $2000
This is Emory's signature program, which they have offered since the Emory National Debate Institute was founded in 1966. The majority of the students attending the ENDI will attend this session tailored to the experience level of the student - from students with no debate experience to those who have been debating for a few years.
RKS Workshop at Wake Forest
Cost: $800-2000
Students will initially spend the bulk of their time engaging and discussing critical readings with these phenomenal teachers. A heavy emphasis will be on reading and understanding theory. The students here will have great cards, but the real work is done in working with the instructors. Students of all styles and debate formats are welcome.
Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshop
Cost: $3,849
HDC will offer a comprehensive curriculum that prepares students to debate and research the upcoming year’s topic along with perennial debate arguments. Each lab will focus on the three pillars of research, argumentation, and persuasion. Students will conduct their research using the Harvard Libraries, the largest private library in the world; will learn to construct strategic, compelling arguments; and will practice speaking with clarity, conviction, and passion.