7 Best Debate Summer Camps for 2025 [Full Comparison]

Debate camp is an incredibly enriching environment that immerses students in the middle and high school speech and debate world. There’s nothing else quite like it for students interested in public speaking, philosophy, policy analysis, and the art of debate itself. 

Surrounded by other motivated and talented peers who share the same passion, students can develop and hone their skills under seasoned instructors who have excelled at competitive speech and debate—and get to share their vast knowledge and experience directly. 

Selecting the best debate camp for your child comes down to finding a place that’s safe and has excellent educational standards, the right coaches, and other high-caliber students. 

To help offer some insight so you can make the best choice for you and your child, we compiled a list of the top 7 debate camps based on the following criteria:

In addition, we also provide some unique pros and cons for each camp. We’ll start with our own summer camp here at NSD. 

National Symposium for Debate (NSD)

Led by a renowned group of speech debate teachers and coaches, the National Symposium for Debate (NSD) is built on academic excellence and personalized, hands-on education in a driven, fun, and supportive community. 

Our students come from a wide range of backgrounds, and NSD believes that students should receive high-quality instruction regardless of their debate skills. That’s why NSD hires championship faculty that tailors education to every skill level, from the highest to the lowest—making it unique from other camps—so training can be tailored to meet students’ needs. 

Thanks to years of program refinement on debate fundamentals (critical thinking, academic research and writing, public speaking, advocacy, and strategic vision), NSD has successfully trained 5,000+ students for excellence, with NSD alumni going on to champion 500+ of the country’s most prominent tournaments. Plus, NSD provides an exceptional summer camp experience, with alumni consistently sharing years later that their fondest high school memories are still attending camp and making friends from all over the country.

Key Facts About NSD

Location(s):

Ages: 6th-12th Grade

Numer of Students:

Instructor-to-student ratio:

Number of alumni: 5000+ (NSD has been hosting sleep-away summer debate camps since 2006.) 5000+ (NSD has been hosting sleep-away summer debate camps since 2006.)

Types of camps offered:

Programs/events:

Price: Cost ranges from $600 for online, private tutoring to $4,695 for in-person 3-week residential camps.

Pros

Track record: Top-ranked students consistently attend NSD summer camps. This season, NSD Alumni represent X of the top 100 ranked competitors in Lincoln-Douglas debate and Y of the top ranked competitors in Public Forum debate. 

‍Broad and diverse faculty: Over 100 staff members skilled in both Lincoln-Douglas and Public-Forum debate contribute to student education every summer.

‍Flexibility: With various locations and dates offered, students can more easily fit camp with other activities into their summer schedule.

‍Camp tournaments: Flagship LD and Philadelphia Session 2 have camp tournaments judged by NSD’s championship faculty, giving students real tournament exposure in high-stakes competitive matches to refine the skills they learned at camp.

‍Tech-enhanced learning experience: NSD has invested heavily in modernizing the camp experience. Students benefit from a modern, accessible learning experience via personalized learning portals and pre-camp curriculum (the NSD Skill Builder). 

‍Safety and campus exposure: NSD camps offer students the ability to experience collegiate life in a safe setting and make lifelong friends.

Cons

Cost: Heavy investment in top-tier coaches comes at a price, so it’s not the cheapest program available. NSD awards significant need-based aid every summer for families who are on the fence due to affordability. 

‍Rigor: NSD is a rigorous program focused on debate. Although there are free days and popular camp activities like Trivia, students looking to focus on lifestyle or other activities may find other alternatives are a better fit. 

‍University campuses: Students may find other camps offer them the ability to tour and live on college campuses they are more interested in attending. 

‍Size: Core sessions attract 150+ students, so those looking for a smaller camp experience may find a better fit elsewhere.

Learn more about NSD Camps.

Institute for Speech and Debate (ISD)

Known for its highly individualized instruction, the Institute for Speed and Debate (ISD) is led by nationally recognized faculty and accomplished former competitors. Students benefit from small group sessions, focused mentorship, and a supportive community.

ISD emphasizes skill-building, critical thinking, and effective communication in an inclusive environment that fosters friendships through residential and online activities. Similar to NSD, many alumni return as instructors, ensuring a cycle of mentorship and growth.

Key Facts About ISD

Location(s):

Ages: 6th-12th Grade

Numer of Students: No specific numbers are available, but sessions accommodate multiple groups.

Instructor-to-student ratio: Not explicitly stated, but small group settings are emphasized.

Number of alumni: Though not explicitly stated, the program has been open for 10+ years, with hundreds of students participating annually.

Types of camps offered:

Programs/events:

Price:

Pros

Expert instruction: Classes are taught by nationally recognized faculty with proven success in speech and debate.

‍Diverse program/event options: ISD offers one of the largest varieties of events and programs of focus.

‍Strong community: Group activities between students, faculty, and junior instructors provide a great communal foundation.

‍Inclusive environment: ISD offers financial aid and actively works to break down barriers to access.

‍Proven success: Alumni have achieved success at the highest levels of competition.

Cons

Cost: Tuition is on the higher side, especially for residential programs. 

‍Limited locations: Outside of online programs, there is currently only one on-campus location, which may restrict access for some students. 

‍Shorter programs: ISD only offers 1–2 week programs vs. other camps with 2+ weeks.

‍Non-refundable enrollment: The financial commitment may be challenging for families unsure about participation.

The Debate Intensive (TDI)

The Debate Intensive (TDI) is a well-regarded summer debate program known for its personalized approach, meticulous curriculum, and specialization in Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate.

The TDI program offers a range of sessions designed to cater to all skill and experience levels in Lincoln-Douglas debate. It also provides hands-on labs, practice debates, and tailored mentoring sessions for students to develop their knowledge and talents.

Featuring a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, TDI prides itself on creating a supportive, challenging, and academically enriching environment that fosters growth and confidence in debate.

Key Facts About TDI

Location: California State University, Los Angeles

Ages: 6th-12th Grade

Numer of Students: No exact number provided, as numbers vary by session.

Instructor-to-student ratio: 1:4

Number of alumni: Not explicitly stated

Types of camps offered:

Programs/events:

Price:

Pros

Highly personalized: Instruction has a 4:1 teaching ratio and small lab sizes. 

‍LD experts: Students have access to top-tier Lincoln-Douglas debate coaches. 

‍LD focus: Comprehensive curriculum offered, with hands-on practice and feedback for those who want to focus or specialize in Lincoln-Douglas. 

‍Flexible: A variety of session lengths are available to fit different needs and schedules.

Cons

Cost: Tuition costs are on the higher end of the spectrum.

‍Limited formats: With a focus on Lincoln-Douglas and Policy Debate formats, students interested in other styles (such as Public-Forum debate) may find a better fit elsewhere.

‍Single location: With no online options and only one location, travel and lodging arrangements are required for non-local students.

Summit Debate

Summit Debate, formerly National Debate Forum, is a premier program with over two decades of experience in speech and debate education. Known for its commitment to skill development, the program offers an enriching environment for students to grow in various formats, including Public Forum, Lincoln-Douglas, Interpretation Events, and Original Oratory. 

Summit features a dedicated team of award-winning educators, a focus on innovation, and tailored teaching methods. Their programs emphasize building lifelong skills, from critical thinking to effective communication, ensuring students excel in debate rounds and beyond.

Key Facts About Summit

Location(s):

Ages: 6th-12th Grade

Numer of Students: Hundreds participate annually across locations.

Instructor-to-student ratio: Not explicitly stated

Number of alumni: Not stated explicitly, but hundreds of students have participated every year for 20+ years.

Types of camps offered:

Programs/events:

Price: $1,200–$2,600, depending on camp and session length

Pros

Range of programs: Summit Debate offers one of the largest varieties of programs and events. 

‍High-quality instruction: Nationally recognized coaches are found in all events and locations 

‍Flexible: Multiple locations, online options, and session lengths are available.

‍Cost: Prices range from inexpensive to moderately expensive compared to other programs.

Cons

Tight deadlines: Limited spots for financial aid are available and come with early deadlines. 

‍Cost: While less expensive options exist, longer sessions aren’t cheap, especially without scholarships.

DebateDrills Summer Programs

DebateDrills is a fully online coaching service that offers individual, private summer learning options to families who want more hands-on, personalized summer debate coaching experience.

Offering training in Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum, DebateDrills programs feature a mix of one-on-one tutoring, bespoke lectures, structured round analyses, and guided research assignments. Program lengths vary in design, cost, and scope and are customized to each family's individual needs.

Key Facts About DebateDrills

Location: Online

Ages:

Numer of Students: All programs are based on individual instruction.

Instructor-to-student ratio: 1:1

Number of alumni: DebateDrills has been running online programs since 2015 and has over 1,000 alumni.

Types of camps offered: Online only

Programs/events: Programs vary in design and are individually customized to each family’s needs.

Price: Reach out to the DebateDrills team to design your own bespoke program and get a quote. 

Pros

Range of programs: Summit Debate offers one of the largest varieties of programs and events. 

‍High-quality instruction: Nationally recognized coaches are found in all events and locations 

‍Flexible: Multiple locations, online options, and session lengths are available.

‍Cost: Prices range from inexpensive to moderately expensive compared to other programs.

Cons

Tight deadlines: Limited spots for financial aid are available and come with early deadlines. 

‍Cost: While less expensive options exist, longer sessions aren’t cheap, especially without scholarships.

Bergen Debate Club (BDC)

The Bergen Debate Club (BDC) is a highly sought after middle school academy known for its comprehensive approach to middle school speech and debate education and critical thinking development. It offers an inclusive environment for students to sharpen their public speaking, analytical, and team collaboration skills.

BDC’s robust curriculum emphasizes real-world applicability, preparing students for competitions and fostering skills in rhetoric, persuasion, and critical evaluation, and it delves into topics like entrepreneurship and Model UN.

Key Facts About BDC

Location(s):

Ages: 5th - 12th grade

Numer of Students: About 100 students per summer.

Instructor-to-student ratio: 1:12

Number of alumni: BDC has been running in-person and online debate programs since 2016 and has over 4,000 alumni.

Types of camps offered:

Programs/events:

Price:

Pros

Flexibility: By offering half- and full-day options all summer, families can mix and match debate camp with other activities.

‍Focused on younger students: The club specializes in teaching public forum debate to younger students in 5th to 8th grade, preparing them for success at the high school level—perfect for those in the New York metro area who want an introduction to debate skills.

‍Regional focus: A focus on debate in the tri-state area (New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut) allows participants to meet other motivated rising stars in the region while learning close to home. 

‍Skills-based instruction: Focuses on critical thinking and real-world skills like entrepreneurship and leadership.

Cost: One of the most affordable options on the list for both half-day and full-day camps.

Cons

Regional day camp: You must live in the area to attend.

‍Less competitive focus: While great for younger students, NSD’s Concierge Coaching and DebateDrills’ Online Tutoring offer better and more comprehensive preparation for competitive events, such as the High School Tournament of Champions.

‍Tailored to be paired: While the camps are open to all, they work better for students who are also part of the Bergen Debate Club so they can be paired together in teams moving forward. Families who register for the camp typically also register for the academic semester classes run by BDC.

American Debate League (ADL)

The American Debate League (ADL) is a nonprofit organization dedicated to offering debate and public speaking opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds. Established in 2014, ADL aims to develop students’ critical thinking, communication skills, and confidence through a range of programs, including summer camps, after-school initiatives, and competitions. 

Known for its supportive and engaging environment, ADL focuses on empowering students to become articulate thinkers and informed leaders. Designed by experienced instructors, ADL’s curriculum emphasizes hands-on learning through practice debates, public speaking drills, and critical analysis exercises.

Key Facts About ADL

Location(s): While based in New York City and surrounding areas (Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey), some programs are also online.While based in New York City and surrounding areas (Long Island, Westchester, and New Jersey), some programs are also online.

Ages: 1st - 12th grade

Numer of Students: Not explicitly stated, as their program and location attendance vary.

Instructor-to-student ratio: Not explicitly stated, but small class sizes are mentioned and emphasized.

Number of alumni: Not explicitly stated, but likely thousands given their 10+ years of experience and a large number of locations.

Types of camps offered:

Programs/events:

Price: $399/week

Pros

Inclusive/accessible: Costs are reasonable compared to many other programs, with scholarships for financial support available. 

‍Year-round learning: While the summer camps are popular, ADL offers year-round learning opportunities that build on camp experiences. 

‍Skills-based instruction: The curriculum is designed to enhance critical thinking, communication, and leadership skills. 

‍Debate opportunities: ADL offers opportunities for competitive debate at local and national levels.

Cons

Geographically limited: Given its focus on a specific geographic region, most in-person programs are centered in New York.

‍Small scale: ADL is small compared to larger, nationally recognized debate camps, which tend to have a broad range of prestigious coaching staffs and broader alumni networks.

In-Person Camps

OverviewFlagship (LD)Philadelphia S2 (PF)Philadelphia S1 (PF)Philadelphia (LD)Texas (LD)Texas (PF)

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