Private Debate Tutoring

Our policy on refunds is dependent on the timing of cancellations. You will see a copy of our policy below, and you will also see and agree to this policy as part of the registration process. We make significant advance commitments to our faculty and our college/university hosts in order to provide an excellent experience for our students. Accordingly, we need to depend on the assumption that registrations will translate into our true headcount for students at sessions. Of course, we never like to see a student not receiving value for their registration. If scheduling concerns arise after reserving your spot at an NSD camp, we are happy to assist students in transferring to other sessions over the summer and/or to finding alternative summer debate education options, such as tutoring or online sessions.

1. 30% of your total required payment is a non-refundable deposit. This deposit cannot be refunded under any circumstances.
2. After February 1st, any cancellation will require that 45% of your total required payment is non-refundable. Any outstanding balance is still required to be paid.
3. After March 1st, any cancellation will require that 60% of your total required payment is non-refundable. Any outstanding balance is still required to be paid.
4. After April 1st, any cancellation will require that 75% of your total required payment is non-refundable. Any outstanding balance is still required to be paid.5.
After May 1st, any cancellation will require that your total required payment is wholly non-refundable. After May 1st, no refunds of any amount will be given. Any outstanding balance is still required to be paid.

For online sessions, the price of camp covers tuition. For residential students attending in-person sessions, the price of camp covers tuition, room, and board (meals). For commuters, the price covers tuition and board (meals), but does not cover a dormitory room. Our meal plan covers lunch and dinner. We have found that very few students utilize the breakfast option when it is available, so we removed it from our meal plan. However, at each of our camp locations, breakfast options are readily available for students who wish to eat breakfast. Those options are simply not included in the meal plan itself.

Students and faculty reside in college/university dormitories for the duration of camp. Dormitories are supervised by our dedicated student life administrators, along with college/university dormitory staff and college/university security. We eat in dormitory cafeterias, as well as cafes on campus near our classrooms. All classes are hold in college/university buildings.

Students are consistently supervised by a mix of NSD teaching faculty, dedicated student life administrators, college/university dorm staff, and college/university security. Here is how supervision works on a typical day:In the morning, as they head to their first class, students are checked out of the dormitory by our student life administrators. Students then walk to our classrooms. Within a set of reasonable parameters, students have some freedom about where they eat lunch and dinner, and we elongate meal times so that students have some time to relax, socialize, and do work with their peers during the day. However, students are checked in to each curriculum activity they participate in throughout the day, so that student attendance is consistently tracked throughout the day. After evening classes, students are checked back into the dormitory building by our student life administrators. In the dorm, students have free time and the opportunity to participate in office hours, after which they are then checked in to their individual dorm rooms by our student life administrators.Student dormitory rooms and floor areas are separated by gender, and students are not permitted to be alone in their dorm room with other students with the door closed. Our student life administrators, as well as college/university staff, are on hand throughout the day and night to help address any issues that arise. During camp, parents have direct contact information for our student life administrators, so that they can always reach us with any questions or concerns.

Once you register for camp, you will have access to NSD’s student and family portal, where you will complete a number of supplemental registration forms in preparation for camp, e.g. forms where you tell us about your student’s important health information and previous debate experience. These forms allow you to tell us the key information that enables us to give students a safe and educational camp experience.Among these supplemental forms, you will find forms concerning medications that students will be bringing to camp, as well as forms concerning other health or medical needs of your student.In most cases, we ask that our student life administrators keep and dispense student medications. We find that students who are away from home may not keep careful track of their medication or when they need to take it. If students check in their medication with our student life administrators, then we can make sure they take it, on schedule and as prescribed. Of course, in some cases, it is important or preferred for a student to keep their medication in their possession. We can arrange for this, as appropriate, with permission and discussion with the student’s parents. You will find a place to note this on your student’s health forms in the student and family portal to which you receive access after completing registration.

Our meal plan covers lunch and dinner, and students and faculty are covered by the meal plan to eat in nearby college/university cafeterias and dining facilities. Students also have the option to eat in nearby cafes and restaurants (in groups, within a permitted perimeter). We have found that very few students utilize the breakfast option when it is available, so we removed it from our meal plan. However, at each of our camp locations, breakfast options are readily available for students who wish to eat breakfast. Those options are simply not included in the meal plan itself.College/university dining facilities are able to accommodate a wide range of dietary needs and restrictions, as well as food allergies. Once you register for camp, you will have access to NSD’s student and family portal, where you will complete a number of supplemental registration forms in preparation for camp, e.g. forms where you tell us about your student’s important health information and previous debate experience. These forms allow you to tell us the key information that enables us to give students a safe and educational camp experience. Among these supplemental forms, you will find a dietary needs form where you can report dietary restrictions and food allergies. We gather this information from all students and report it to our college/university dining partners in advance, so that they can accommodate our needs.