Debate camp

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For the West Wing episode see: Debate Camp (West Wing)

A debate camp or debate institute is a training workshop for high school and collegiate policy debaters. The camps exist so students may learn about the upcoming topic or "resolution". Usually these camps are held over the summer for weeks a time at different universities around the country between two and seven weeks. While once attended by only highly competitive policy debaters, many high school students now attend debate institutes, and often urban debate leagues will pay for the students to go to these camps.

[edit] Structure

During instruction, students are divided up into different focus groups, or "labs". The instructor(s) is called the "lab leader". Each group has its own focus and goal during the day or week. The lab leader will guide them through the topic and how to argue it. Many institutes will divide students into based on skill level and experience. Many even offer specialized "advanced" or "scholars" workshops, to which acceptance is highly limited.

Often there are mini tournaments at the end of each camp, and students are given speaker and team awards to cap off the institute.

Part of the series Policy Debate

Organization
Policy debate competitions Inter-Collegiate policy debate
Format
Structure of policy debate · Resolution Constructive · Rebuttal · Prep Time Evidence · Flow
Participants
Affirmative · Negative · Judge
Types of Arguments
Stock Issues · Case· Disadvantage Counterplan · Kritik Impact calculus · Topicality
Argumentative Concepts
Offense · Defense · Turn · Drop