15 Best Debate Camps for High School Students
- Stephen Turban
- 3 minutes ago
- 10 min read
If you are a high school student looking to strengthen your public speaking skills, attending a debate camp can provide focused practice. Through structured instruction, guided practice rounds, and feedback from experienced coaches, you can improve your case construction, evidence analysis, and delivery. Debate camps also help you build confidence, think critically under time pressure, and connect with peers who share your interest in competition and academic discourse.
What are the benefits of a debate camp?
Debate camps are hosted by universities and established organizations, giving you access to experienced instructors and specialized formats. Depending on the camp, you may participate in lectures, small-group labs, research sessions, and mock tournaments designed to sharpen both your speaking and writing skills. Whether you are preparing for your first season or aiming to compete at a national level, these programs offer structured environments that help you refine your strategy and grow as a communicator.
To help you evaluate the options, we curated a list of the 15 best debate camps for high school students.
If you’re looking for debate competitions, check out our blog here.
Location: Stanford University, California; residential and commuter options available
Cost: $750–$4,500, depending on program track
Acceptance rate/cohort size: Open enrollment; 5,000+ students attended in the past decade
Program dates: Vary by debate format
Application deadline: Rolling until May 1 for guaranteed admission; late fee after June 10
Eligibility: Grades 7–12; open to international students, no visa assistance provided
The Stanford National Forensic Institute is one of the country’s most established debate camps, hosted by the Stanford Debate Society since 1990. You’ll learn from accomplished educators and top-tier coaches while exploring specialized tracks in policy, Lincoln-Douglas, parliamentary, public forum, and congressional debate. Each format emphasizes different aspects of argumentation — from deep policy research to spontaneous speaking — letting you tailor your experience to your debate goals. Across sessions, you’ll refine your reasoning, strategy, and communication skills through lectures, labs, and practice rounds. Limited financial aid is available for students demonstrating both need and potential.
Location: Harvard University, Cambridge, MA; online and in-person options
Cost: Varies by program
Program dates:Session 1: June 28 – July 10, online and in-personSession 2: July 12 – July 24, in-person
Application deadline: Registration opens December 1
Eligibility: Open to high school students of all experience levels, from beginners to national competitors
The Harvard Debate Council Summer Workshops have been one of the most respected training grounds for high school debaters worldwide. Taught by current and former members of the Harvard Debate Council, these programs immerse you in advanced argumentation, case construction, and speaking strategy. You can choose from tracks in Policy Debate, Lincoln-Douglas, Public Forum, World Schools, Congressional Debate, and Public Speaking—each offering tailored instruction to your experience level. Whether you’re aiming to join your school’s team or prepare for national championships, you’ll train under top-tier instructors in an academic setting that values precision, logic, and persuasive delivery.
Location: Online, live via Zoom
Cost: $399 per week
Cohort size: Limited spots per session
Program dates: June 23 – August 29
Application deadline: Rolling admission until spots are filled
Eligibility: Students in grades 4–12; no prior experience required
The American Debate League Online Summer Debate Camp offers a structured yet accessible way to sharpen your debate and public speaking skills. Whether you’re just starting out or already competing, you’ll learn to craft persuasive arguments, analyze evidence, and speak with confidence in a live, interactive environment. Led by national award-winning coaches, classes are divided by grade and experience level, with a clear progression from introductory to intermediate Public Forum (PF 101–203). Each session includes real-time feedback, team collaboration, and guided practice in a supportive setting. The program emphasizes critical thinking, research, and communication skills that carry well beyond the debate round and into academic and professional life.
Location: London; New York City; San Francisco; Tokyo
Cost: Varies by location; financial aid available
Program dates: Two weeks during the summer
Application deadline: Rolling admissions across multiple summer cohorts
Eligibility: High school students aged 15–18
The Career Insights Program offers high school students an introduction to professional environments across multiple industries. As a participant, you can expect to engage in hands-on projects with established companies and connect with industry experts through interactive workshops. You'll also visit operational sites, including offices, factories, and headquarters. At the end of the program, you’ll present your work to industry professionals. You can explore career paths in subjects such as medicine, engineering, law, business, journalism, fashion, and more. The program also includes weekly 1:1 career coaching sessions and sessions for personalized feedback. You can find more details about the application here!
Location: Cornell University, Ithaca, New York
Cost: $3,750 residential | $1,000 commuter
Program dates: July 25 – August 3
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: Middle and high school students, age 12 and older, proficient in English
Hosted on Cornell’s Ithaca campus, the Cornell International Debate Camp offers an immersive training experience that combines academic rigor with world-class debate instruction. Over the course of the program, you’ll engage in lectures by Cornell faculty, workshops with top debate coaches, and practice rounds in the World Schools Debate (WSD) format. The curriculum emphasizes analytical reasoning, academic writing, and argument construction across various debate styles—including Policy, Public Forum, and Parliamentary. You’ll also participate in a final tournament, applying your new skills in real debates on topics drawn from faculty lectures. Residential students live in Cornell dorms and enjoy staff-led evening activities, while all participants receive an official Cornell certificate upon completion.
Location: Emory University, Atlanta, Georgia
Cost: $2,200 residential | $1,850 commuter
Program dates: May 31 – June 13
Application deadline: Rolling until full
Eligibility: High school students of all experience levels
The Emory High School Debate Camps are one of the country’s oldest and most respected summer debate programs. Hosted by Emory University’s Barkley Forum—home to one of the nation’s top-ranked intercollegiate debate teams—the camp focuses on policy debate while offering instruction adaptable to beginners and advanced students alike. You’ll explore the upcoming year’s national policy resolution, develop research-backed cases, and practice advanced techniques in argumentation and refutation. The camp emphasizes critical thinking, strategic reasoning, and evidence-based writing skills directly transferable to academic success.
Location: Multiple U.S. cities and online options available
Cost: Varies by location; early registration discounts offered
Program dates: Multiple summer sessions
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Middle and high school students of all experience levels
Capitol Debate offers summer programs focused on public speaking, argumentation, and leadership development. Through workshops, practice rounds, and live debates, you’ll learn how to command attention, structure persuasive arguments, and respond critically to opposing viewpoints. The camp emphasizes communication as a core skill for academic and career success, especially in an AI-driven world where human expression and reasoning matter most. Sessions are led by experienced debate coaches and take place in over 40 locations nationwide, combining academic rigor with an engaging, confidence-building environment.
Location: Virginia Commonwealth University School of Business, Richmond, VA
Cost: $455, includes lunch and snacks
Program dates: July 28 – August 1
Application deadline: Rolling; topics announced in late June
Eligibility: Open to high school students of all backgrounds and experience levels
At the Richmond Debate Institute High School Camp, you’ll sharpen your speaking, reasoning, and analytical skills through a week of immersive debate and speech practice. Led by PhD lecturers and state-champion coaches, the program covers Lincoln-Douglas and Public Forum debate, as well as multiple speech categories, including platform, interpretation, and extemporaneous events. Each day combines lectures, collaborative prep sessions, and practice debates, culminating in a professionally judged tournament and awards ceremony. Hosted at VCU’s School of Business, the camp blends academic rigor with a supportive, social environment—perfect for building both skills and confidence.
Location: Bergen County and Essex County, including Fort Lee, Glen Rock, and Livingston
Cost: Varies by session; half-day and full-day commuter options available
Program dates: June 22 – August 21, multiple two-week sessions
Application deadline: Rolling until sessions fill
Eligibility: Students entering grades 5–12
The Bergen Debate Club Summer Debate Camps offer a mix of Model United Nations, Public Forum Debate Labs, and Young Entrepreneurship seminars designed to build your academic writing and analytical thinking. Through puzzles, structured arguments, and real-world case discussions, you’ll learn to organize your ideas clearly and write persuasively—skills that translate directly into stronger debating. Whether you’re a newcomer or an experienced competitor, each session emphasizes logic, evidence-based reasoning, and effective rhetoric across both individual and group exercises. You can choose between morning, afternoon, or full-day programs, all focused on enhancing your ability to write, speak, and argue with clarity and confidence.
Location: Bryn Mawr College, Philadelphia area; University of Nebraska–Lincoln, Nebraska; St. Edward’s University, Austin; and online
Cost: $600–$4,695, depending on program type; financial aid available
Program dates: Multiple summer sessions, 2–3 weeks
Application deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
The National Symposium for Debate (NSD) is one of the longest-running and most respected debate camps in the U.S., known for its rigorous academic approach and personalized instruction. You can focus on Public Forum or Lincoln-Douglas debate through residential, commuter, or online formats, each emphasizing research-based argumentation, logical writing, and persuasive speaking. NSD’s curriculum integrates academic writing and critical thinking to help you construct clear, evidence-driven arguments—a foundation that translates directly into college-level writing and reasoning. Faculty-to-student ratios are small (1:4 or 1:5), ensuring individualized coaching and feedback. Whether you’re a beginner or a national-level debater, you’ll refine your ability to write analytically, argue strategically, and present confidently.
Location: University of Massachusetts Boston, Massachusetts; Drake University, Iowa; and online
Cost: Varies by program length and format
Program dates: Summer, 1- or 2-week sessions
Application deadline: Rolling admissions until full
Eligibility: Open to middle and high school students
With over twenty years of experience training top competitive speakers, Summit Debate blends advanced debate instruction with practical academic writing and communication skills. Through interactive workshops and practice rounds, you’ll learn to structure arguments, write persuasive cases, and analyze evidence using methods similar to academic research writing. The camp offers both in-person and online options, so you can choose between intensive summer sessions at UMass Boston or Drake University—or join virtually through Summit’s Online Academy. Whether you’re refining debate strategies or improving your clarity in written analysis, you’ll strengthen the core skills essential for both debating and academic scholarship.
Location: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and online
Cost:Residential, 2 weeks: $3,899 | 1 week: $2,799Commuter, 2 weeks: $2,599 | 1 week: $1,999
Program dates:Session 1: June 27 – July 10, or June 27 – July 3 for one weekSession 2: July 12 – July 25, or July 12 – 18 for one week
Application deadline: Rolling until filled
Eligibility: Middle and high school students
The ISD Summer Camp at UNC Chapel Hill is a nationally recognized debate and public speaking program designed for students who want to refine both their argumentation and academic writing skills. You’ll work with championship-level instructors to develop persuasive cases, strengthen research-based writing, and engage in structured debates that emphasize clarity, logic, and depth of thought. ISD focuses on long-term skill building rather than short-term tricks, helping you become a stronger analytical thinker and communicator. The camp balances rigorous academic training with social events and team activities, offering both residential and commuter options to fit your schedule.
Location: University of California, Riverside
Cost:Five-Week Intensive: $7,000 resident | $6,550 commuterCore Session: $4,700 resident | $4,250 commuterSecond Session: $3,500 resident | $3,100 commuter
Program dates: July 13 – August 16, varies by session
Application deadline: Rolling
Eligibility: Students in grades 6–12
The Debate Intensive (TDI) is one of the nation’s most respected Lincoln-Douglas (LD) debate camps, offering a rigorous academic experience that blends competitive debate with research-based writing and argument development. You’ll participate in practice rounds, small-group labs, and personalized coaching sessions designed to refine your case construction, evidence analysis, and rhetorical precision. With a 4:1 student-to-instructor ratio, TDI ensures every student receives individualized guidance and feedback. Each session, from the two-week Second Session to the five-week Intensive, is structured to build your analytical reasoning, academic writing, and debate strategy, helping you transition from intermediate to advanced competition levels.
Location: Online, 1:1 virtual format
Cost: Varies by instructor and duration
Program dates: Flexible scheduling throughout the summer
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Open to students of all ages and skill levels, elementary through adult
The DebateDrills Private Summer Camps offer fully individualized, one-on-one coaching for students seeking a highly personalized approach to debate training. Each participant works closely with expert coaches—many of whom have led students to national titles—to sharpen research, case construction, and argumentation techniques. The curriculum adapts to your skill level, whether you’re just starting or already competing at a national level. Conducted entirely online, the program offers flexible scheduling and a professional learning environment that mirrors the rigor of elite debate academies. You’ll receive detailed feedback, develop advanced critical thinking and academic writing skills, and refine your persuasive speaking through tailored drills and mentorship.
15. Debate Camp
Location: Multiple cities across the U.S. and Canada
Cost: Varies by location; day and overnight options available
Program dates: Weekly sessions during the summer
Application deadline: Rolling admissions
Eligibility: Students entering grades 5–10
Debate Camp helps you build confidence in public speaking, teamwork, and analytical reasoning through a mix of parliamentary debate, Model UN, and speech workshops. Over the course of the week, you’ll practice forming arguments with a partner, refining rebuttals, and responding to live questions—mirroring the fast-paced dynamics of real-world discussions. The camp’s interactive format encourages spontaneous thinking, while impromptu speaking exercises make you more comfortable presenting ideas with minimal preparation. By engaging in multiple practice rounds daily, you’ll strengthen your research, reasoning, and delivery skills. Whether you’re new to debate or experienced, instructors group campers by ability level to ensure the right balance of challenge and support.
One other option—the Lumiere Research Scholar Program
If you’re interested in pursuing independent research, consider applying to one of the Lumiere Research Scholar Programs, selective online high school programs for students founded with researchers at Harvard and Oxford. Last year, we had over 4,000 students apply for 500 spots in the program! You can find the application form here, check out students’ reviews of the program here and here.
Also check out the Lumiere Research Inclusion Foundation, a non-profit research program for talented, low-income students. Last year, we had 150 students on full need-based financial aid!
Stephen is one of the founders of Lumiere and a graduate of Harvard College, where he earned an A.B. in Statistics. He founded Lumiere as a PhD student at Harvard Business School. Lumiere is a selective research program where students work 1-1 with a research mentor to develop an independent research paper.
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